With the release of Sky Force, fans are in a whirlwind with one lone question: Is the movie inspired by true events? The realistic plot, similar characters, and straightforward plot have left everyone wondering if the movie is entirely fictional or inspired by real life.
In Akshay Kumar's film Sky Force, he plays the role of Wing Commander K.O. Ahuja, a fictionalized character inspired by Wing Commander O.P. Taneja VrC, a real Indian Air Force officer, and the film is inspired by the 1965 Sargodha airstrike.
Who was Om Prakash Taneja
Om Prakash Taneja, by his common names Omi, Wild Jack, or OP, was in the Indian army between April 15, 1950, and August 31, 1975. With his courage, he attained prestigious ranks in 25 years of service. Amonsg was famous for leading the IAF squadron that destroyed the Sardodha Air Base of Pakistan in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War. He was awarded the Vir Chakra, India's third-highest wartime gallantry award, in 1966 for operations during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965.
Om Prakash Taneja was born on 29 October 1928 in the Punjab Province of British India. He had studied at Lahore Government College (Government College University, Lahore now).
O.P Taneja's life and career
On 1 December 1962, after being promoted to squadron leader rank, he was deployed at Adampur, Punjab, where he was a flight commander in the 8th Squadron. As war was imminent between India and Pakistan, he was deployed at the Adampur Air Force Base, commanding the 1st Squadron.
On 30 November 1963, he was commissioned to attend the 17th Defence Service Staff College course at Wellington and stood out. On 7 September 1965, his squadron, with which the Mahavir Chakra recipient Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya also served, was tasked with the job of mounting an air raid on the strategically placed Pakistani Air Force base at Sargodha.
Taneja led his squadron in a Dassault Mystere IVA ground attack fighter aircraft and was successful in destroying a large number of Pakistani aircraft, including the Lockheed F-104 Starfighters and North American F-86 Sabres manufactured by America. His wing also managed to destroy some fuel and ammunition dumps, missile hangars, and ATC buildings.
For the purpose of evading detection by the Pakistani radar, Taneja requested his pilots to land and take off from Adampur Air Base without illuminating the runways. He also requested them to be in "radio silence" mode when they penetrated the adversary's territory.
In an interview, Taneja's colleague officer explained that they had around four aircraft that were recalled to the base due to Taneja's command because they could not locate their team and the target.
The entire air raid mission lasted for over 90 hours, and when the aircraft returned safely to Adampur, the crew members and pilots were given Rs. 250 per head as a flying hour allowance. O. P. Taneja remained in Adampur until 1967.
He was posted to Amritsar on 22 Sep 1969 and continued as a station commander till 11 May 1970. There, he was posted to the 230 Singal Unit, which was handling the air traffic. He remained as the Officer in Charge Flying (OiC Flying) at Kalaikunda Air Force Base from 1 May 1970 to 1 Dec 1970.
Where is O.P. Taneja now?
After 25 years of military service in the Indian military, he retired from the Air Force as group captain in 1975. He was diagnosed with liver cancer in 2017 and passed away in New Jersey, USA, at the age of 88 years