New Delhi [India], November 22 (ANI): Indian Air Force ace pilot Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman was accorded the Vir Chakra by President Ram Nath Kovind in an investiture ceremony on Monday. He has been accorded the Vir Chakra for shooting down a Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft during aerial combat on February 27, 2019, a day after the Balakot airstrike.

In the process, he flew over Pakistan occupied Kashmir and his MiG-21 was hit and he had to eject over the territory controlled by the enemy. He was then taken into custody by the Pakistan Army. The Pakistan Army was forced to release him due to the extensive pressure exerted by the Indian side along with international intervention into the matter.

“Abhinandan on the posted strength of a MiG 21 Bison Squadron from May 19, 2018. On February 27, 2019, at around 9 am, a large force of Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft, consisting of advanced fourth-generation F-16 and JF-17, were detected heading toward the LoC. At about 10 am, Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Varthaman Abhinandan was scrambled to intercept this package,” the citation said.

“Displaying exceptional air combat acumen and knowledge of the enemy’s tactics, Wing Commander Varthaman Abhinandan scanned the low altitude airspace with his Airborne Intercept (Al) radar and picked up an enemy aircraft that was flying low to ambush the Indian fighter-interceptor aircraft. Wing Commander Varthaman Abhinandan alerted the other formation pilots towards this surprise threat. He then consolidated the riposte, by gathering his wingman in an offensive formation against the hostile Pakistani aircraft now dropping weapons on Indian Army positions. This audacious and aggressive manoeuvre forced the enemy aircraft into tactical chaos. All the enemy aircraft thereafter turned back including the rear echelon aircraft who were yet to launch their air to ground weapons,” it said.

“Wing Commander Varthaman Abhinandan then pursued a retreating enemy fighter bomber aircraft, and in the ensuing aerial combat, shot down an F-16 aircraft with his on-board missile. However, in the melee, one of the enemy aircraft fired multiple advanced BVR missiles, one of which hit his aircraft forcing him to eject in enemy territory. Despite being captured by the enemy, he continued to display exceptional resolve in dealing with the adversary in a stoic, brave and dignified manner till he was repatriated on March 1, 2019,” it said.

“His actions raised the morale of the armed forces in general and the IAF in particular. Wing Commander Varthaman Abhinandan showed conspicuous courage, demonstrated gallantry in the face of the enemy while disregarding personal safety, and displayed an exceptional sense of duty,” it added. India had launched an aerial strike on Pakistan’s terrorist facility in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa area run by the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on February 26. (ANI)

As Abhinandan Varthaman receives Vir Chakra, netizens recall IAF pilot’s gunslinger moustache

New Delhi [India], November 22 (ANI): As Indian Air Force Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman was conferred with the Vir Chakra in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday, netizens took a trip down memory lane recalling the officer’s iconic swashbuckling gun-slinger moustache that had become a sensation during early 2019.

People took to social media to congratulate the war hero who shot down a PAF F-16 fighter aircraft during a dogfight in February earlier this year, but they also expressed disappointment at not being able to see the famed handlebar moustache, which had left everyone awestruck. “I miss his moustache #abhinandan,” one user tweeted.
“The new Abhinandan Varthaman: Handlebar moustache is walrus now, Blue-collar tabs and Vir Chakra suffix,” another Twitter user remarked on the IAF ace pilot’s now thick and drooping moustache.

“Heartiest congratulations Wing Commander Abhinandan on the award of Veer Chakra. You deserved it. The country is proud of you. We would have loved to see you in your moustaches,” another user wrote on the micro-blogging site. Abhinandan Varthaman shot down a Pakistani F-16 fighter aircraft during aerial combat on February 27, 2019, a day after the Balakot airstrike.

After that, some salons had offered customers who wanted to sport similar signature moustache styles, free cuts. A lot of people began sporting the IAF hero’s look and it became a rage across the country.

Even Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had then proposed in the Lower House of Parliament that the moustache of Abhinandan should be given the status of “national moustache”.

During Pakistan’s counter-attack on India on February 27 in response to the Balakot airstrike, Abhinandan had flown a MiG-21 Bison fighter into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The pilot was captured by Pakistan troops after he ejected from his MiG-21 that had been shot down in the aerial conflict with Pakistan Air Force F-16s. He was released by the Pakistan government on March 1 after extensive pressure was put on their Army. Abhinandan Varthaman was a short while later seen flying a sortie with the then IAF chief BS Dhanoa in which he sported a trimmed moustache. Since then he has not been seen with a similar spectacular stache, netizens often dig up old photos to express their love for the iconic look. (ANI)