Vinod Neb
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India
Indian Air ForceVinod Kumar Neb | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 December 1942 |
| Died | 30 January 2024 (aged 81) Delhi, India |
| Allegiance | India |
| Branch | Indian Air Force |
| Service years | 1963-1992 |
| Rank |  Wing Commander |
| Service number | 8189 F(P) |
| Conflicts | Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 |
| Awards |  Vir Chakra Vir Chakra |
Wing Commander Vinod Kumar Neb VrC and Bar was a retired Officer and fighter pilot of the Indian Air Force and a hero of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and Indo- Pakistan War of 1971.[1] He was awarded with medals for bravery twice during his service. He was awarded the Vir Chakra twice ( hence the Bar) for shooting down a Pakistan Air Force Sabres in each war in 1965 and 1971.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
He died on 30 January 2024, aged 81.[8]
Flying Officer V.K. Neb, a young and inexperienced Hawker Hunter pilot of No. 27 Squadron, scored his first aerial kill in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 on 6 September 1965, while on a dusk patrol with Flt Lt D.N. Rathore, Neb was called back to Halwara Airfield, which was under attack. As they engaged retreating PAF Sabres, Neb shot down aircraft Flt Lt Yunus Hussain, KIA with a 1.5-second cannon burst.[9]
Six years later, during Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 on 4 December 1971, now flying a Hawker Hunter with No. 17 Squadron in the Eastern Sector, Neb claimed another Sabre kill during an attack on Dacca. While Hunter pilots reported downing four Sabres that day, PAF confirmed losing only three, leaving Neb’s second kill unverified from Pakistani sources. Independent sources have identified the downed pilot as Flt Lt Saeed Afzal Khan, KIA.[9]