Ravinder Nath Bhardwaj

Ravinder Nath Bhardwaj
Air Marshal; Ravinder Nath Bhardwaj; PVSM MVC VM
Born	Lahore, Undivided British India
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Air Force
Rank	Air Marshal
Unit	No. 20 Squadron IAF "Lightnings"
Commands held	No. 20 Squadron IAF "Lightnings"; 15 Wing IAF; Southern Air Command
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965; Indo-Pakistani War of 1971;
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal; Maha Vir Chakra[1]; Vayu Sena Medal

Air Marshal Ravinder Nath Bhardwaj PVSM MVC VM was an ex-officer of the Indian Air Force and a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Maha Vir Chakra (India's second highest gallantry Award) and the Vayu Sena Medal.

Early life

Air Marshal Ravinder Nath Bhardwaj was born in Lahore, Undivided British India on July 1935. His father's name was Shri P.N.Bhardwaj.

Military career

Air Marshal Ravinder Nath Bhardwaj was commissioned into the Indian Air Force (IAF) on 8 Oct 1955.[2] After joining the Indian Air Force, he saw action in both the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistan Wars.

In January 1971, as he served in an operational training squadron, where he instituted measures bringing about improved flying skills and knowledge of the trainees, for which he was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal.

During the 1971 war, he held the rank of Squadron Leader, in No. 20 Squadron IAF, a fighter bomber squadron equipped with Hawker Hunter aircraft and as senior officer of the squadron, led a number of deep penetration missions into Pakistani territory attacking heavily defended targets including Pakistani airfields, oil refineries and in support of ground operations. For bravery and leadership displayed in combat missions, Squadron Leader Ravinder Nath Bhardwaj was awarded the Mahavir Chakra, India's second highest gallantry award.[3]

After the war, he went on to hold senior responsibilities:

Director, Plans at Air Headquarters
Air Officer Commanding of 15 Wing
Deputy Commandant & Chief Instructor of National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla
Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Southern Air Command, Trivandrum

He rose to the rank of Air Marshal, before retiring on 31 Jul 1993.

References

"SQUADRON LEADER RAVINDER NATH BHARDWAJ". Ministry of Defence, Govt of India official website.
"Air Marshal Ravinder Nath Bharadwaj". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
Chakravorty, B. (1995). Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners. 112: Allied Publishers. p. 387. ISBN 9788170235163.CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: date and year (link)

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[1] "SQUADRON LEADER RAVINDER NATH BHARDWAJ". Ministry of Defence, Govt of India official website.

[bharat-service-2] "Air Marshal Ravinder Nath Bharadwaj". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 11 June 2020.

[3] Chakravorty, B. (1995). Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners. 112: Allied Publishers. p. 387. ISBN 9788170235163.CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: date and year (link)