Vir Chakra (VrC)

Wing Commander Anil Kumar Sinha was the Commanding Officer of a MT-17 helicopter unit. On 28 May 1999 he was tasked to lead a four aircraft formation to fly a live air-to-ground rocket attack, on feature 5140 located on the Tololing ridge. The enemy, located on this ridge, was bringing down accurate fire on the highway linking Srinagar with Leh. The enemy was armed with shoulder fired Stinger surface-to-air missiles and were firing these missiles at the formation. Two of the missiles missed Wing Commander Sinha's helicopter and was seen in a video recording. It was during this attack that the number three aircraft of the formation was shot down, killing all four crew members. The rocket attack was successful and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. The leadership and sense of commitment, displayed by Wing Commander Anil Kumar Sinha in the face of danger to himself and his aircraft was in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.