WING COMMANDER ASPARI RAGHUNATH, VIR CHAKRA, 9122 F(N)
NAVIGATION TRAINING SCHOOL, 1971 INDO-PAK WAR
Wing Commander Aspari Raghunath was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in the year 1964 as a Navigator and later was trained on Canberra Bomber in 1966 under the Command of the-then Squadron Leader P Gautam. As a Flight Lieutenant, he again served under Wing Commander P Gautam during Bangladesh Liberation war in 1971 and carried out bombing missions over West Pakistan as well as East Pakistan. He was awarded Vir Chakra for his role in this war.
He served Indian Air Force as an Instructor, Local Examiner, Systems Test Navigator on various aircraft at ASTE, the premier Test Flying Centre of IAF in addition to operational flying, administrative and counter-intelligence duties. He took premature retirement in 1986 and was Senior Vice President of Kirloskar Group of Industries till 2015.
CITATION:
During the operations against Pakistan in December 1971, Flight Lieutenant Aspari Raghunath was serving with a bomber squadron. He volunteered for every sortie and mission, because of his keenness and ability, he was assigned a special task, which was completed successfully despite enemy Ack Ack* and air defence. Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Aspari Raghunath displayed gallantry, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order. For his actions, he was awarded the Vir Chakra on 26 January 1972.
Flight Lieutenant Aspari Raghunath rose to the rank of Wing Commander. Let Knowledge Prevail! Jai Hind!!
* Ack Ack – anti-aircraft gunfire, “a quick burst of ack-ack fire”
