Vinod Patney

Career

Patney was commissioned in Indian Air Force in 1961. He has participated in conflict of 1965 for which he was awarded a Vir Chakra. He also participated in the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

He is former Director General of HelpAge India.

Vir Chakra citation

Air Marshal Patney was awarded the Vir Chakra for operations during the 1965 India Pakistan War. His Vir Chakra Citation reads as follows:

CITATION
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT VINOD PATNEY

During the operations against Pakistan, Flight Lieutenant Vinod Patney was serving in an Operational Squadron in a forward area. He flew 16 operational sorties within the short period.

On 13th September 1965, he took part in a ground attack mission in the Kasur Khem Karan Sector and flew as No.3 in a four aircraft formation. During the attack, the formation met with heavy and determined ground fire from the enemy guns. One of our aircraft was shot down. Undeterred and undaunted by this, Flight Lieutenant Patney pressed home five effective attacks on different enemy targets and destroying 3 Patton tanks. The courage and initiative displayed by Flight Lieutenant Vinod Patney were in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.