Raj Kishore Sahu, VM

Biography

Sergeant Raj Kishore Sahu was born on 29 November 1971 in the Cuttack district of Odisha. Inspired by the call of military service, he enlisted in the Indian Air Force on 3 August 1989. He qualified as a flight engineer in May 1997 and served on the Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters, building a reputation as a meticulous and reliable airman. By 1999, Sergeant Sahu was serving with the 152 Helicopter Unit, which was committed to Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil War — the air campaign launched to clear the intruders from the heights along the Line of Control. The unit flew the Mi-17 in the armed-helicopter role, striking enemy positions in the Dras and Batalik sectors. On 28 May 1999, Sergeant Sahu was the flight engineer aboard an Mi-17 detailed to attack enemy positions at Point 5140 in the Dras sub-sector. As the helicopter carried out its rocket attack on the heavily defended heights, it was struck by a shoulder-fired Stinger missile during its breakaway and came down with the loss of its entire crew — Squadron Leader Rajiv Pundir, Flight Lieutenant S Muhilan, Sergeant PVNR Prasad and Sergeant Raj Kishore Sahu. Sergeant Sahu laid down his life in the finest traditions of the Indian Air Force. For his courage and devotion to duty during Operation Safed Sagar, Sergeant Raj Kishore Sahu was posthumously awarded the Vayu Sena Medal.