Vonthibettu Prabhakara Hegde

Vonthibettu Prabhakara Hegde (24 August 1925 – ?) was a Squadron Leader in the Indian Air Force who was awarded the Vir Chakra.[1] The third highest military decoration in India for the services rendered by him during the Kashmir Operations carried out by India during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.[2]

Hegde was the first to make a landing in the Mangalore International Airport, then known as Bajpe Aerodrome on a DC-3 (Dakota) airliner on 25 December 1951. His passenger was Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India. He retired from service in 1968.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Indian Air Force Gallantry & Service Awards Register [www.bharat-rakshak.com]
  2. ↑ Service Record for Wing Commander Vonthibettu Prabhakara Hegde 3080 GD(P) [www.bharat-rakshak.com]
  3. ↑ "First man who landed in Mangalore: Airport is fine". Rediff.com. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
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