Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar (retd.) remembers 60 Years of the Sargodha (Pakistan) strike

On September 7, 1965, during the Indo-Pak war, a young Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot took part in the world’s first daring daylight airstrike on Pakistan’s Sargodha airbase. That pilot, Air Marshal Philip Rajkumar (Retd), now 84, recalls the mission that earned him a Mention in Despatches for gallantry and remains one of the most iconic operations in IAF history.

“The Sargodha strike was about courage, precision, and faith in one’s squadron. Even after six decades, the memory of that mission is etched in my mind,” said Air Marshal Rajkumar. India struck again at Sargodha airbase, besides other targets, in the recent Operation Sindhoor.

Distinguished Career in the IAF

Born in Davangere, educated in Mysuru and Bengaluru, Rajkumar joined the Flying Branch of the IAF in November 1962. After serving nine years in fighter squadrons, he trained as an Experimental Test Pilot in France (1971) and went on to fly 55 different aircraft types and log 5,200 flying hours. He is a Graduate from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, and the Royal College of Defence Studies, London.

Speaking to The Hindu, retired Air Marshal Rajkumar In 1994, late President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, then scientific adviser to Defence Ministry, requested for his services to oversee the flight test  programme of the Tjeas aircraft, being developed by Aeronautical development agency.

He retired as Director, Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), after playing a pivotal role in shaping India’s indigenous fighter programme.

The President of India awarded him the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vayu Sena Medal (VM) for his distinguished service.

Legacy with Tejas

The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) – Tejas, which he helped bring to life, was inducted into the IAF in 2016. In a remarkable feat, Rajkumar flew the Tejas trainer at the age of 78, documenting the journey in his book Radiance in Indian Skies: The Tejas Saga, released at Aero India 2021 by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

“To fly Tejas decades after my first sortie was not just a privilege, but proof of how far India has come in aviation technology,” he reflected.

The legendary Sargodha strike has also inspired cinema. The Bollywood film Sky Force, released in January 2025, dramatises the daring daylight operation that showcased India’s air power on the global stage.

At 84, Air Marshal Rajkumar remains active, serving earlier as President of the Aeronautical Society of India and continuing to pursue his passion as an avid golfer.