Sqn Ldr Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya MVC

Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya, a distinguished son of Kodagu district, Karnataka, was born on 24 December 1932 in the tranquil village of Manchalli in South Kodagu. The son of Dr. Ajjamada Bopayya and Smt. Neelamma, he grew up in a household that fostered discipline and a deep sense of service. At just 21 years of age, Sqn Ldr Devayya began his illustrious journey with the Indian Air Force (IAF), receiving his commission on 6 November 1954 as part of the 64th Pilots’ Course. He joined the prestigious flying stream and excelled as a fighter pilot, demonstrating exceptional skill, dedication, and commitment.

Throughout his career, Sqn Ldr Devayya served with distinction in various flying squadrons across multiple Air Force bases. His relentless pursuit of excellence allowed him to hone his skills, gain extensive experience in air operations, and emerge as a competent and respected pilot within the IAF. After a few years of service, Sqn Ldr Devayya married Ms. Sundari, and the couple was blessed with two daughters, Smitha and Preetha. Despite his professional commitments, he remained a devoted family man, balancing his responsibilities as a husband and father with his duties as a fighter pilot.

On 6 November 1959, Sqn Ldr Devayya was promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant. Soon after, he was posted as a fighter aircraft pilot instructor at the prestigious Air Force Flying College (AFFC) in Dundigal, Andhra Pradesh (now in Telangana). Remarkably, he became one of the few fighter pilots to achieve this role within just five years of service—a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. By 1965, Sqn Ldr Devayya had completed a decade of illustrious service and earned a promotion to the rank of Squadron Leader. He had evolved into a highly competent fighter pilot, recognized for his proficiency in various air operations and his ability to train and inspire future pilots. Although Sqn Ldr Devayya was serving as an instructor at the AFFC in 1965, he was posted to the 1st Squadron at Adampur Air Force Station, Punjab, a few months before the outbreak of the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. His transfer reflected the Air Force’s trust in his abilities, as the squadron played a crucial role during the conflict.

Sargodha Air Attack (Indo-Pak War): 07 Sep 1965

In September 1965, during the Indo-Pak War, Sqn Ldr Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya was serving with 1 Squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF), known as The Tigers. Formed on 1 April 1933 at Karachi, the squadron was initially equipped with Westland Wapiti aircraft. In 1953, the Squadron moved to Palam and then to Air Force Base at Kalaikunda in 1957, with Squadron Leader Dilbagh Singh (who later became Chief of Air Staff) as its commanding officer. Over the years, it evolved into a premier fighter unit. By 1964, it had moved to Air Force Station Adampur, Punjab, under the leadership of Wing Commander Om Prakash Taneja. When the war broke out, the squadron was tasked with defending the Punjab sector and providing air cover to Indian forces penetrating deep into enemy territory. As part of the IAF’s strategy to neutralize the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), a daring air strike was planned on the heavily defended Sargodha Air Base. Sqn Ldr Devayya was assigned as a standby pilot in the event of any aircraft from the main strike force being unable to participate. Despite this, he joined the mission and became a part of history.

The mission, led by Wg Cdr OP Taneja, began under challenging circumstances. The base itself was under enemy attack, with anti-aircraft guns firing as the squadron prepared to take off. Despite the threat, the mission took off with remarkable precision and courage, even as the runway lights were damaged during the attack. This exemplified the unyielding resolve of the pilots and ground crew to fulfill their mission. During the attack on Sargodha, Sqn Ldr Devayya encountered a formidable enemy aircraft, the F-104 Starfighter, piloted by Flt Lt Amjad Hussain of the PAF. The Starfighter, known for its advanced speed and weaponry, engaged Sqn Ldr Devayya in an intense aerial dogfight. However, Sqn Ldr Devayya, leveraging his experience as a flying instructor and his superior flying skills, managed to evade multiple attacks. Despite his aircraft being damaged in the exchange, Sqn Ldr Devayya displayed extraordinary courage and determination. In a rare and bold counterattack, he turned the tables on the Starfighter, severely damaging it. The enemy aircraft lost control and crashed, forcing Flt Lt Amjad Hussain to eject. Unfortunately, Sqn Ldr Devayya’s aircraft also sustained critical damage, and he crashed deep inside enemy territory. His fate remained unknown, and he was declared Missing in Action (MIA). Later, he was reclassified as Killed in Action (KIA) when there was no further information about his whereabouts.

For years, the heroic actions of Sqn Ldr Devayya went unrecognized. It was through the account of British writer John Fricker, commissioned by Pakistan to document the war, that the IAF learned of his extraordinary valour. Based on these accounts, in 1988, Sqn Ldr Devayya was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC), India’s second-highest gallantry award, becoming the first IAF officer to receive the honor posthumously. So far,  21 IAF personnel (including two Canberra pilots, Wg Cdr Jag Mohan Nath and late Wg Cdr Padmanabha Gautham, who have the distinction of receiving the bar to the Maha Vir Chakra) have received the “Maha Vir Chakra” in four wars and numerous actions since 1947. Smt Sundari Devayya accepted the “Maha Vir Chakra” awarded to her husband in 1988, nearly 23 years after the war. The valour of Sqn Ldr Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya continues to inspire generations of air warriors, standing as a testament to his unwavering commitment to duty and his ultimate sacrifice for the nation.

Sqn Ldr AB Devayya is survived by his wife Smt Sundari Devayya and two daughters, Ms Smitha and Ms Preetha.

The citation for the "Maha Vir Chakra"  awarded to him reads:

Squadron Leader Ajjamada Bopayya Devayya (4810) flew as a member of a strike formation that was assigned the task of attacking the heavily defended Sargodha airfield at 0555 hrs on 07 Sep 65. All members of the mission except for Squadron Leader Devayya returned safely to base.

Having accomplished a successful raid over Sargodha airfield at the appointed time, the Mystere aircraft piloted by Squadron Leader Devayya was intercepted by a supersonic F-104 Star-Fighter, which fired Sidewinder missile. Squadron Leader Devayya successfully evaded and the missile hit the ground. However, by virtue of its faster acceleration, the F-104 rapidly closed in on the Mystere, fired a burst of its 20 mm multi-barrel canon and succeeded in damaging Squadron Leader Devayya’s Mystere.  The F-104 went ahead of the Mystere due to its higher speed. Undaunted and with utter disregard for his personal safety, Squadron Leader Devayya flew his damaged Mystere in pursuit after the F-104. Maneuvering a damaged aircraft, he finally shot down the F-104. In electing to get into an aerial combat with the F-104 even though his own aircraft was damaged, Squadron Leader Devayya displayed valor of very high order and thereafter followed it up with a display of exceptional flying skill by shooting down an aircraft.

For this exceptional act of conspicuous gallantry in the face of the enemy and the fighting spirit displayed under overwhelming odds and at the cost of his own life, Squadron Leader Ajjamada Bopayya Devayya is awarded Maha Vir Chakra, posthumously.

• • On September 7, 2009, the old private bus stand circle in Madikeri in Kodagu district of Karnataka was named after Sqn Ldr AB Devayya in his honour.
  • A bronze statue of Sqn Ldr AB Devayya weighing 600 kg and costing around 20 Lakhs has been erected in Madikeri in his memory.
  • Department of Sainik Welfare and resettlement near DC office has been named after Sqn Ldr AB Devayya in Mysore.

  • A feature film titled "Sky Force", based on India’s retaliatory attack on Pakistan’s Sargodha airbase, was released in January 2025. Veer Pahariya portrayed the role of Squadron Leader A B Devayya, while Akshay Kumar played the role of his commanding officer, Wing Commander Om Prakash Taneja. The film also starred Sara Ali Khan as Smt. Sundari Devayya, Sqn Ldr Devayya’s wife, and Nimrat Kaur as Mrs. Taneja, the wife of Wg Cdr Taneja. The film was directed by Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani, and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik under Maddock Films, alongside Jyoti Deshpande under Jio Studios.