M. A. Ganapathy

Squadron Leader Mandepanda Appachu Ganapathy was an officer of the Indian Air Force who was awarded the Vir Chakra in 1972 when as a Flight Lieutenant he shot down Pakistani Sabre Jets. He belonged to the 22 Squadron unit. During the Boyra Encounter in the 1971 war (on 22nd November 1971), he and another pilot and flight officer Don Lazarus rode Gnats while bringing down the Sabres near Calcutta (now Kolkata). They were led by Flight Lieutenant Roy Massey. Ganapathy died in service by committing suicide in the 1970s.