Sanjeev Rakhshale

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Sanjeev Rakhshale (संजीव रक्षाळे) was born and brought up at Udgir in Latur district of Maharashtra State in India. He completed his B.E. (Electrical) from the Government College of Engineering, Aurangabad, Maharashtra in the year 1988. He joined the Air Force immediately after his graduation. He has been in the service of the Indian Defense Services since that time.

Squadron Leader Rakshale Sanjeev Kumar (19037) Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) is posted as a Senior Technical Officer at a Helicopter unit since 23 September 2002.

On 21 November 2003, a Cheetah helicopter from this unit faced control problems and was forced to land at an altitude of 17,200 feet near a forward post on the Siachen glacier close to the AGPL. The helicopter remained overnight on the glacier and its retrieval was a must the very next day as further delay would have resulted in oil and lubricants solidifing and the helicopter becoming submerged under the snow due to bad weather conditions, which would result in the loss of the entire helicopter worth many crores. It was under such circumstances that Squadron Leader RS Kumar volunteered to take on the daunting and challenging task of recovering this helicopter. He landed at the crash site the very next day without any acclimatization to the harsh conditions, which could have caused him permanent disability or even death. After performing the required mechanical checks and rectification of the problems encountered, the major task was then to get the aircraft started. Starting at such an altitude calls for innovation and use of unorthodox measures, something not taught in any training institute or learned from any technical manuals and required a creative and fertile mind. By directly inserting petrol into the fuel filter and blowing oxygen into the air intake manifold he was able to successfully start the engine and subsequently retrieve a fully serviceable aircraft, which was otherwise destined to become a beacon on the glacier. He also displayed exemplary courage by opting to fly the helicopter back, a tribute to his belief in himself. He was thus personally responsible for the recovery of a valuable strike helicopter.

For this act of exemplary courage and dedicated professionalism wherein he risked his own life to save an aircraft worth many crores to the exchequer, the Honorable President is pleased to award the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) to Squadron Leader Rakshale Sanjeev Kumar.