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Cecil Vivian Parker: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Indian Air Force officer}} | {{short description|Indian Air Force officer}} | ||
{{for|the actor|Cecil Parker}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} | ||
{{Use British English|date=May 2020}} | {{Use British English|date=May 2020}} | ||
{{Infobox military person | {{Infobox military person | ||
|honorific_prefix=Air Vice Marshal | |honorific_prefix=[[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]] | ||
|name= Cecil Vivian Parker | |name= Cecil Vivian Parker | ||
|honorific_suffix=[[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] [[Vayu Sena Medal|VM]] | |honorific_suffix=[[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] [[Vayu Sena Medal|VM]] | ||
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}} | }} | ||
[[Air Vice Marshal]] '''Cecil Vivian Parker''' [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]] [[Vayu Sena Medal|VM]] | [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]] '''Cecil Vivian Parker''', [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]], [[Vayu Sena Medal|VM]] is a former [[air officer]] of the [[Indian Air Force]]. During the [[Indo-Pak War of 1971]], he was awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]], India's second highest gallantry Award. He last served as the [[Commandant of the Air Force Academy]]. | ||
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
Parker was born in [[Secunderabad]], [[India]] to P. R. Parker and E. S. Parker. | |||
==Military career== | ==Military career== | ||
Parker was commissioned into the Indian Air Force | Parker was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on 31 Aug 1952.<ref name=bharat-service>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/4346|title=Air Vice Marshal Cecil Vivian Parker|publisher=Bharat Rakshak |access-date= 30 May 2020}}</ref> | ||
After joining the Indian Air Force, he saw action in both the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|1965]] and [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|1971 Indo-Pakistan War]]s. | After joining the Indian Air Force, he saw action in both the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|1965]] and [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|1971 Indo-Pakistan War]]s. | ||
In October 1966, as [[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]], he formed an operational training unit and was the Unit's first Commanding Officer. Here, he implemented a high level of instructional technique, standardisation and ensured a high quality of training for the pupils that passed through the unit, for which he was awarded the [[Vayu Sena Medal]].<ref name="bharat-service" /> | In October 1966, as [[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]], he formed an operational training unit and was the Unit's first Commanding Officer. Here, he implemented a high level of instructional technique, standardisation and ensured a high quality of training for the pupils that passed through the unit, for which he was awarded the [[Vayu Sena Medal]].<ref name="bharat-service" /> | ||
===Indo-Pak War of 1971=== | |||
During the 1971 war, as commanding officer of the [[No. 20 Squadron IAF]], a fighter bomber squadron equipped with [[Hawker Hunter]] aircraft. | During the 1971 war, as commanding officer of the [[No. 20 Squadron IAF]], a fighter bomber squadron equipped with [[Hawker Hunter]] aircraft. | ||
He also led a number of deep penetration missions into Pakistani territory attacking heavily defended targets including Pakistani airfields, oil refineries and in support of Army operations. On one of the missions, his formation was attacked by Pakistani [[North American F-86 Sabre|F-86 Sabre]] aircraft. In the ensuing air fight, Wing Commander Parker shot down one Sabre and heavily damaged another. During another strike mission, Wing Commander Parker attacked an [[Attock Refinery Limited|oil refinery at Attock, Pakistan]], in the face of intense anti-aircraft and small arms fire, causing serious damage to the refinery. For bravery and leadership displayed in combat missions, Wing Commander Parker was awarded the [[Mahavir Chakra]], India's second highest gallantry award.<ref name="bharat-service" /> | He also led a number of deep penetration missions into Pakistani territory attacking heavily defended targets including Pakistani airfields, oil refineries and in support of Army operations. On one of the missions, his formation was attacked by Pakistani [[North American F-86 Sabre|F-86 Sabre]] aircraft. In the ensuing air fight, Wing Commander Parker shot down one Sabre and heavily damaged another. During another strike mission, Wing Commander Parker attacked an [[Attock Refinery Limited|oil refinery at Attock, Pakistan]], in the face of intense anti-aircraft and small arms fire, causing serious damage to the refinery. For bravery and leadership displayed in combat missions, Wing Commander Parker was awarded the [[Mahavir Chakra]], India's second highest gallantry award.<ref name="bharat-service" /> | ||
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Wing Commander Parker led what was later called the greatest IAF air strike and acknowledged by a Pakistani Air Force officer, Air Commodore, M. Kaiser Tufail (retd), in his book 'In the Ring and on Its Feet'. In the book, he said the Indian Hunter aircraft destroyed five Pakistani [[North American F-86 Sabre|F-86 Sabre]] jets during the raid on its airbase at [[PAF Base Murid|Murid]]. The F86 was the Pakistan Air Force's premiere aircraft and the single-biggest challenge for the IAF in air battles in the 1965 and 1971 wars.<ref>{{cite news |last= Suares|first= Coreena |date=28 January 2018|title=Lightning Squadron shines in Pakistan after 47 years|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/280118/lightning-squadron-shines-in-pakistan-after-47-years.html|newspaper=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> | Wing Commander Parker led what was later called the greatest IAF air strike and acknowledged by a Pakistani Air Force officer, Air Commodore, M. Kaiser Tufail (retd), in his book 'In the Ring and on Its Feet'. In the book, he said the Indian Hunter aircraft destroyed five Pakistani [[North American F-86 Sabre|F-86 Sabre]] jets during the raid on its airbase at [[PAF Base Murid|Murid]]. The F86 was the Pakistan Air Force's premiere aircraft and the single-biggest challenge for the IAF in air battles in the 1965 and 1971 wars.<ref>{{cite news |last= Suares|first= Coreena |date=28 January 2018|title=Lightning Squadron shines in Pakistan after 47 years|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/280118/lightning-squadron-shines-in-pakistan-after-47-years.html|newspaper=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref> | ||
=== Maha Vir Chakra Citation === | |||
The citation for the [[Maha Vir Chakra]] reads as follows:<ref>{{cite web |title=Mahavir Chakra (MVC), Awardee: AVM Cecil Vivian Parker, MVC, VM (retd) @ TWDI |url=http://twdi.in/node/1441 |website=twdi.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gallantry Awards {{!}} Ministry of Defence, Government of India |url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/4242 |website=www.gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref> | |||
{{Quotation|Gazette Notification: 20 Pres/72,12-2-72 | |||
Operation: 1971 | |||
Date of Award: 15 December 1971 | |||
{{center|'''CITATION'''<br> | |||
'''WING COMMANDER CECIL VIVIAN PARKER, VM'''<br> | |||
'''(4346) FLYING (PILOT)'''}} | |||
Wing Commander C. V. Parker, the officer commanding of a fighter-bomber squadron, led many deep penetration missions into enemy-held territory attacking strongly defended targets. While returning from one such mission his formation was attacked by enemy Sabre aircraft. In the ensuing fight, Wing Commander Parker shot one Sabre and heavily damaged another. In another mission, Wing Commander Parker attacked the enemy oil refinery at Attock in the face of intense anti-aircraft and small arms fire and caused serious damage to it. | |||
Throughout the operations, Wing Commander Parker displayed conspicuous gallantry and outstanding leadership. | |||
|sign=|source=}} | |||
===Post-war career=== | |||
During his career in the IAF spanning 35 years, he created a record of flying 22 types of aircraft and logged 3,850 flying hours. | During his career in the IAF spanning 35 years, he created a record of flying 22 types of aircraft and logged 3,850 flying hours. | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist}} | ||
{{s-start}} | |||
{{s-mil}} | |||
{{s-bef| before = Rajagopal Sriramulu Naidu}} | |||
{{s-ttl| title = [[Commandant of the Air Force Academy]] | years = 1983 - 1985}} | |||
{{s-aft|after= Jagdish Kumar Seth}} | |||
{{s-end}} | |||
{{Authority control}} | {{Authority control}} | ||
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[[Category:Recipients of the Vayu Sena Medal]] | [[Category:Recipients of the Vayu Sena Medal]] | ||
[[Category:People from Secunderabad]] | [[Category:People from Secunderabad]] | ||
[[Category:Commandants of the Indian Air Force Academy]] | |||