Mandepanda Appachu Ganapathy-Squadron Leader

Mandepanda Appachu Ganapathy was a  born in Kodagu. He was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 16 May 1965.He was a skilled and devoted officer who fought during the Indo –Pak war in 1971.

Family

Father

Mandepanda Ganapathy

Mother

Pattamada not known

Wife

Pattamada Urmila

Son

• Mandepanda Kartik
• Mandepanda Pavan

Operation

1971 Indo Pak war

Achievements

• He was the first fighter pilot to shoot down a Pakistan Fighter aircraft in Dhaka during the Indo Pakistan war.
• He was No.3 in a formation of four gnat aircraft proceeded to intercept the enemy.  On sighting the enemy aircraft, he skillfully manoeuvred his section and got behind one Sabre jet and shot it down.
• He was in the Air Force working as Flight Lieutenant at the time of the Battle of Boyra and he rose up to the rank of Squadron Leader.

Award

• He received  the Vir Chakra award  in the year 1972.

Death

• He died in unusual circumstances as he took his own life a few years later