FLT SRGT PVNR PRASAD

Sergeant Pilla Venkata Narayan Ravi Prasad was born in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, on an auspicious day of our independence day,15 August 1965. He joined the IAF in 1985 at an age of 20 and got into No 152 Squadron Helicopter Unit. He took training to become a specialized flight gunner in 1994.

During 1999, the No. 152 squadron Helicopter Unit, was operating in J&K, the unit was operating Mi-17 helicopters. By May 1999, Indian Forces, got to know about the infiltration of Pakistan army-backed terrorists. Indian Forces were tasked to eliminate them and take our posts and area in our control. 152 Squadron was also tasked for the same, in Drass. On the 28th of May, Sergeant PVNR Prasad was in a Mi-17 helicopter as a flight gunner, and the helicopter was flown by Flight Lieutenant Muhilan. The enemy forces were equipped with anti-aircraft and surface-to-air missiles, but despite these dangers, all the forces were doing their tasks with full dedication and with full passion to win for the country. The Mi-17 helicopter repeatedly carried out attacks in the face of fierce enemy opposition in the form of ground fire and missiles. Unfortunately, in one of the retaliatory actions by the enemy forces the helicopter got hit by the U.S made Stinger SAM (surface to air missile). The helicopter got hit directly by the missile, and the helicopter crashed immediately without giving any time to evacuate from the helicopter. And all the air force personnel inside the helicopter died in this accident. There was a total 5 person, which was Squadron Leader Rajiv Pundir, Flight Lieutenant S Muhilan, Sergeant Raj Kishor Sahu, and Sergeant PVNR Prasad. All the personnel displayed exemplary courage and bravery despite heaving high risk to themself, but they choose to serve the country and prioritized the operation before anything.

Sergeant PVNR Prasad is survived by his wife Mrs. P Anuradha and daughter, P Hyndavi.