https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Dara_Phiroze_ChinoyDara Phiroze Chinoy - Revision history2026-07-31T13:45:08ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Dara_Phiroze_Chinoy&diff=495564&oldid=prevStephania3380 at 14:12, 29 April 20262026-04-29T14:12:33Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Retired Indian Air Force Group Captain}}<br />
{{Infobox military person<br />
| name = Dara Phiroze Chinoy<br />
| image = Dara Phiroze Chinoy.jpg<br />
| birth_date = {{birth year and age |1944}}<br />
| birth_place = Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India<br />
| allegiance = {{flag|India}}<br />
| branch = {{air force|India}}<br />
| service_years = 1963–1990<br />
| rank = Group Captain<br />
| unit = No. 32 Squadron IAF<br />No. 30 Squadron IAF<br />Flying Instructors School<br />
| commands = Commanding Officer, No. 30 Squadron<br />
| battles = [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]<br />
| awards = [[Vishisht Seva Medal]]<br />
| other_work = Civilian pilot<br />Author<br />
}}<br />
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'''Dara Phiroze Chinoy''' (born 1944) is a retired Indian Air Force [[Group Captain]] and war veteran, known for his escape from enemy territory during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]. As the only Indian officer in recorded military history to successfully evade capture after ejecting over Pakistan, Chinoy was awarded the [[Vishisht Seva Medal]] for his bravery and continued service. He later chronicled his experiences in the memoir ''[[Escape from Pakistan: A War Hero's Chronicle]]'' (2023).<br />
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== Early life ==<br />
Chinoy was born in 1944 in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, to a Parsi family. While studying at [[Loyola College, Chennai|Loyola College]], he joined the Air Wing of the [[National Cadet Corps (India)|National Cadet Corps]], igniting his passion for aviation. Despite initial family resistance, he enrolled in the 83rd Pilots Course in 1961 and was commissioned as a [[Flying Officer]] on 9 March 1963, earning his wings two years later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dara Phiroze Chinoy |url=https://www.frontlist.in/dara-phiroze-chinoy |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=www.frontlist.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dangwal |first=Ashish |date=2023-11-04 |title=Indian Fighter Pilot 'Checkmates' Pakistan To Escape From Hell: Recalling The Daring 1965 Incident |url=https://www.eurasiantimes.com/checkmates-pakistans-security-to-escape/ |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=EURASIAN TIMES |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-09-23 |title=भारतीय फ़ाइटर पायलट के पाकिस्तान से बचकर पैदल भारत आने की दास्तान - विवेचना |url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/articles/cevzv4rvqxeo |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=BBC News हिंदी |language=hi}}</ref><br />
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== Military career ==<br />
Chinoy served 27 years in the [[Indian Air Force]], rising to the rank of Group Captain by 1985. His postings included roles as a flying instructor at the Flying Instructors School in [[Tambaram]] (1973–1976 and 1979–1980), where he later served as Chief Flying Instructor. From 1977 to 1979, he trained pilots for the Iraqi Air Force in Tikrit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Service Record for Group Captain Dara Phiroze Chinoy 7199 GD(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/indianairforce/database/7199 |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Bharat Rakshak |language=en-gb}}</ref><br />
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He commanded No. 30 Squadron at Tezpur from 1983 to 1984 and held the position of Joint Director (Offensive Operations) at Air Headquarters in Delhi. Chinoy retired voluntarily on 31 January 1990.<br />
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During his career, he survived multiple ejections: one from an Ouragan fighter in 1964 due to engine failure while with No. 29 Squadron, another from a [[Dassault Mystère|Mystère IVa]] in 1965 during the war, and a third from a [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21]] in 1987 after a bird strike.<br />
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== Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 ==<br />
On 10 September 1965, at age 20, Chinoy flew a low-level strike mission in a Mystère IVa from Adampur air base, targeting Pakistani artillery near the Ichogil Canal in Lahore sector. His aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire, forcing him to eject over enemy territory in [[Pakistani Punjab]]. Landing in a sugarcane field amid gunfire, Chinoy evaded capture for over five hours by zigzagging through fields, destroying sensitive documents, and crossing the canal under darkness, despite dehydration and exhaustion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=arZan |date=2015-08-31 |title=Dara Phiroze Chinoy and the Great Escape of the 1965 War |url=https://parsikhabar.net/individuals/dara-phiroze-chinoy-and-the-great-escape-of-the-1965-war/11149/ |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Parsi Khabar |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=29 August 2015 |title=Our Search-And-Destroy Missions in '65 war: Group Captain Chinoy (Retd) |url=https://www.ndtv.com/video/our-search-and-destroy-missions-in-65-war-group-captain-chinoy-retd-380862 |work=[[NDTV]]}}</ref><br />
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Initially detained by Indian troops who mistook him for an enemy, he was verified and returned to base, resuming combat sorties. He completed 10 operational missions during the war.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |title=In '65 War, His Plane Crashed in Pak. Then, a Great Escape. |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-65-war-his-plane-crashed-in-pak-then-a-great-escape-1212690 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250607233345/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/in-65-war-his-plane-crashed-in-pak-then-a-great-escape-1212690 |archive-date=2025-06-07 |access-date=2025-09-16 |work=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}</ref><br />
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Chinoy’s escape is described as legendary, outwitting Pakistani forces in a rare successful evasion by an Indian pilot.<ref name=":1" /><br />
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== Later career ==<br />
Post-retirement, Chinoy continued flying as a civilian pilot for over two decades, logging extensive hours with corporate clients including the Tatas and Ambanis. His career spanned nearly 49 years in aviation.<br />
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== Personal life ==<br />
Chinoy is married to Margaret "Margie" Chinoy. In his memoir, he candidly discusses personal challenges, including his wife’s battle with [[schizophrenia]] and his elder son’s struggle with drug addiction.<br />
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== Awards ==<br />
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• [[Vishisht Seva Medal]] (1 January 1966) {{col-end}}<br />
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== Bibliography ==<br />
''• Escape from Pakistan: A War Hero’s Chronicle'' (Om Books International, 2023) {{ISBN|978-93-92834-74-5}}<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dara Phiroze, Chinoy}}<br />
[[Category:1944 births]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Air Force officers]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Vishisht Seva Medal]]<br />
[[Category:People from Vijayawada]]<br />
[[Category:Parsi people]]<br />
[[Category:Indian autobiographers]]</div>Stephania3380