Kodagu Pays Tribute to Squadron Leader AB Devayya on 58th Balidan Diwas

Squadron Leader Devayya, who hailed from Kodagu district also known as Coorg in Karnataka, was a member of the No. 1 Squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Madikeri: Residents of Kodagu came together on Saturday to pay tribute to Squadron Leader AB Devayya, the posthumous recipient of the Maha Vir Chakra, on the 58th anniversary of his "Balidan Diwas." 

Squadron Leader Devayya, who hailed from Kodagu district also known as Coorg in Karnataka, was a member of the No. 1 Squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF). He made the ultimate sacrifice during the 1965 Indo-Pak war on 7 September 1965, becoming the first officer from the IAF to be awarded the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously.

In Kodagu, ex-servicemen and residents honoured Squadron Leader Devayya’s memory in ceremonies held at Madikeri and Ponnampet. Wreaths were laid at his statues as the community remembered the courage and sacrifice of a local hero whose legacy continues to inspire.

According to Honourpoint Foundation, on that fateful day, Squadron Leader Devayya was part of an IAF mission targeting the Pakistani airbase at Sargodha. Initially, he was a standby pilot for the mission, ready to step in if needed. When one of the 12 aircraft originally assigned for the mission was unable to participate, Devayya joined the airstrike on the Sargodha airfield.

During the mission, his aircraft was intercepted by an enemy F-104 Starfighter piloted by Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain of the Pakistan Air Force. Devayya, a skilled flying instructor with extensive experience, managed to evade the enemy’s attacks despite the superior speed of the Starfighter. However, his aircraft was eventually damaged by the enemy's machine guns.

Ex-servicemen honoured the memory of Squadron Leader Devayya during a ceremony held in Ponnampet.

Even with a compromised aircraft, Squadron Leader Devayya demonstrated extraordinary bravery by launching a counterattack. His actions severely damaged the enemy aircraft, which lost control and crashed, forcing the Pakistani pilot to eject. Tragically, Squadron Leader Devayya's aircraft also went down behind enemy lines, and his fate remained unknown for years.

It wasn’t until British author John Fricker, who had been commissioned by Pakistan to write about the war, revealed the true events that Devayya's bravery came to light. In 1988, the Indian Air Force officially recognized his sacrifice and awarded him the Maha Vir Chakra posthumously.

(With inputs from Mohan Devaiah Ballimada & Annira Harish Madappa)

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