Sqn Ldr J D Kumar

Sqn Ldr J D Kumar was born in Faridkot on 30 Nov 1933 and was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 16th April 1955 at the age of 21 years. He got trained as a fighter pilot in the IAF and served in various front line Air Force bases. By the year 1971, he had risen to the rank of Squadron Leader and developed into an ace fighter pilot with expertise in various combat air operations.

Indo – Pak war (Air Operations) : 05 – 13 Dec 1971

During Dec 1971,  Sqn Ldr J D Kumar was serving with No 3 Squadron of the IAF based in the Western Sector. The Squadron was operating Mystere IVA aircraft nick named as Cobra. In the beginning of the war, the Squadron operated from Sirsa Air Force base and subsequently moved to the front line  Air Force base at Halwara. The Squadron undertook first operational missions on 05th Dec which were interdiction missions in the Christian Mandi area. Subsequently, the Squadron launched a number of missions against armour concentrations and ammunition dumps in the Haveli Pattan and Fazilka Suleimanke area. Sqn Ldr J D Kumar was part of many missions during this period.

On 13th Dec 1971, Sqn Ldr J D Kumar was tasked for a mission to search and destroy enemy targets over the Haveli area. It was a two Aircraft mission with Fg Off HS Kang as his No 2. Sqn Ldr J D Kumar took off at 1615 hours as planned along with his No 2. They reached over the target area which was heavily defended by the enemy Air Defence assets. The target area had enemy armour concentration and was being defended by heavy Anti Aircraft guns. Sqn Ldr J D Kumar received hits from Anti Aircraft guns while over the target area.

Sqn Ldr J D Kumar’s Aircraft was hit on the starboard wing and started trailing heavy smoke. Fg Off HS Kang gave warning about it to Sqn Ldr J D Kumar who then turned towards the Indian border. However the damage to the Aircraft was very severe and it exploded within a short time. He was seen ejecting from the aircraft but his whereabouts could not be known thereafter. He is still presumed to be alive and has been ever since part of the Missing in Action (POWs).

Sqn Ldr J D Kumar is survived by his wife Mrs Satish Kumar and three daughters Kiran , Kavita & Kamini .