Gallantry Awards: Deepika Misra becomes 1st woman IAF Officer

Wing Commander Deepika Misra – 1st woman IAF Officer to get Gallantry Award

Being the first female officer in the Air Force to be awarded a heroism medal, Wing Commander Deepika Misra has made history. She was given the Vayu Seva Medal for valour on Independence Day of the previous year by the President of India, and she most recently received it at an investiture ceremony in New Delhi from the Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force.

Following catastrophic floods in northern Madhya Pradesh in August 2021, Wing Commander Deepika Mishra was tasked with carrying out humanitarian assistance and disaster relief activities. She was the only one to reach the tragedy site that evening despite the bad weather, which included strong winds and the impending night. She became the first female Air Force officer to receive the Vayu Seva Medal for gallantry, which she received at an investiture ceremony in New Delhi from Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, for her selfless deeds that assisted in the rescue of 47 people.

She was the first woman officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF) to be awarded a Gallantry Award.

Wing Commander Misra was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) for her outstanding performance during the Kargil War in 1999. She was part of the IAF’s No. 10 Squadron, which was deployed to carry out strike missions in the Kargil region. Her squadron was responsible for attacking enemy positions and providing close air support to the Indian Army.

During the conflict, Wing Commander Misra flew several sorties in the face of heavy enemy fire, displaying exceptional courage and professionalism. She was instrumental in destroying enemy positions and providing vital intelligence to ground troops. Her actions played a significant role in the eventual victory of the Indian armed forces in the Kargil War.

Wing Commander Misra’s bravery and dedication have been an inspiration to many young women in India who aspire to join the armed forces. She has broken many barriers and paved the way for more women to serve their country in the military.