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Air Commodore

Harcharan Singh Mangat

MVC
Air Commodore; Harcharan Singh Mangat; MVC
Born	6 June 1932 (age 92); Ludhiana, India
Allegiance	India
Service / branch	Indian Air Force
Years of service	1954–1986
Rank	Air Commodore
Unit	No. 32 Squadron IAF
Commands	No. 32 Squadron IAF
Battles / wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965; Indo-Pakistani War of 1971;
Awards	Maha Vir Chakra;

Air Commodore Harcharan Singh Mangat MVC (born 6 June 1932) was an ex-officer of the Indian Air Force, who participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 for which he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, India's second highest military award.

Early life

Air Commodore Harcharan Singh Mangat was born on 6 June 1932 in Ludhiana, India. His father's name was Shri Ram Singh Mangat.

Military career

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the western sector, Wing Commander Harcharan Singh Mangat was commanding officer of the No. 32 Squadron IAF, an Operational Bomber Squadron, operating Sukhoi Su-7 aircraft. Wing Commander Harcharan Singh Mangat undertook a number of interdiction, close support missions and photographic reconnaissance missions, without fighter escort, deep into Pakistan territory. The information brought by him from the reconnaissance missions was used in the operational planning and success of Indian Army and the Indian Air Force operations.

For gallantry, professional skills and leadership of the high order, he was awarded India's second highest military award, the Maha Vir Chakra^[2]^[3]

He later rose to the rank of Air Commodore before retiring.