Bot at 12:48, 19 August 2021

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{{Short description|Indian Air Force officer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Squadron Leader]]
| name = M. A. Ganapathy
| honorific_suffix = [[VrC]]
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date =
| death_date =
| birth_place = [[Kodagu]]
| death_place =
| placeofburial =
| nickname =
| allegiance = {{flag|India}}
| branch = [[Indian Air Force]]
| serviceyears =
| rank = [[Squadron Leader]]
| unit =
| commands =
| battles = [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
| awards = [[File:Vir Chakra ribbon bar.svg|32px]] [[Vir Chakra]]
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
Squadron Leader '''Mandepanda Appachu Ganapathy''' was a fighter pilot and officer of the [[Indian Air Force]] , known for his involvement in the [[Battle of Boyra|Aerial Battle of Boyra]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. He was awarded the [[Vir Chakra]] for shooting down a [[Pakistan Air Force|PAF]] Sabre in the above-mentioned aerial battle

== Career ==
Ganapathy was commissioned as an officer in the Indian Air force on 16 May 1965 after graduating from the class of 92 Course. Five years later as war broke out between India and Pakistan, Ganapathy was posted with [[No. 22 Squadron IAF|22 Squadron IAF]] at the [[Dum Dum Airfield]] in [[Kolkata]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Service Record for Squadron Leader Mandepanda Appachu Ganapathy 9464 GD(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/9464|access-date=2021-05-12|website=Bharat Rakshak|language=en-gb}}</ref>

On the 22nd of November 1971, [[Canadair Sabre|Canadair Sabres Mk6s]] of the [[Pakistan Air Force|PAF]] took up ground attack operations against Indian and [[Mukti Bahini]] troop positions near the town of Garibpur during the [[Battle of Garibpur]].A formation of four [[Folland Gnat]]s led by Flt Lt Roy Andrew Massey took off from the Dum Dum airfield to intercept the Sabres. Ganapathy, then a Flight Lieutenant, was the second man in the formation.

On reaching the battle area, the Gnats spotted the three Sabres performing ground attack operations. In the dogfight that ensued Ganapathy shot down a Sabre piloted by [[Flying officer|Fg Offr]] Khail Ahmad.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mohan|first=P. V. S. Jagan|title=The Boyra Air Battle - 22 November 1971|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/1971war/1269-boyra-battle.html|access-date=2021-05-12|website=www.bharat-rakshak.com|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Pillarisetti|first=Jagan|title=Pakistani Air Losses of the 1971 War (Official List)|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/1971war/1289-pakistani-air-losses-of-the-1971-war-official-list.html|access-date=2021-05-12|website=www.bharat-rakshak.com|language=en-gb}}</ref> Ganapathy's wingman Fg Offr Donald Lazarus shot down [[Flight lieutenant|Flt Lt]] [[Pervaiz Mehdi Qureshi]],<ref name=":1" /> who would later on become the Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistani Air Force. The formation leader, Andrew Massey severely damaged Wg Cdr Afzal Chouwdary's Sabre. All three pilots were awarded the [[Vir Chakra]] for this feat.

This aerial battle is significant as it was the first engagement between the Air Forces of India and Pakistan during the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]] in 1971 and also the first aerial victories of the war.

Ganapathy was later promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader, unfortunately he died in the 1970s under mysterious circumstances by committing suicide.

== Vir Chakra ==
The citation for the [[Vir Chakra]] awarded to him reads:<ref name=":0" />

<div style="text-align: center;">'''CITATION'''
'''(Flight Lieutenant Mandepanda Appachu Ganapathy)'''
</div>

On 22 November 1971, at about 1450 hours order was given to intercept four Pakistani aircraft which had intruded into our territory. Flight Lieutenant Mandepanda Appachu Ganapathy who was detailed to fly as No. 3 in a formation of 4 Gnat aircraft proceeded to intercept the enemy. On sighting the enemy aircraft, he skillfully maneuvered his section and got behind one Sabre Jet and shot it down.

In this action, Flight Lieutenant Mandepanda Appachu Ganapathy displayed gallantry, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

== See also ==

* [[Pervaiz Mehdi Qureshi]]
* [[Battle of Boyra]]
* [[No. 22 Squadron IAF]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ganapathy, M. A.}}
[[Category:Indian Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Indian aviators]]
[[Category:Pilots of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
[[Category:Kodava people]]
[[Category:Indian military personnel of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
[[Category:People from Kodagu district]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vir Chakra]]

M. A. Ganapathy - Revision history

Bot at 12:48, 19 August 2021