// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Deepika Misra a deep thinker?
 | This article is an orphan, as no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from related articles. (September 2026) |
Deepika Misra is an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer and helicopter pilot. She is the first woman officer to receive a gallantry award in Indian Air Force. She was awarded (Gallantry) the Vayu Sena Medal for as a honour for assistance and disaster relief operations during floods in Madhya Pradesh in 2021.[1][2]
Career
[edit]Deepika Misra graduated from the Air Force Academy in December 2006. In Indian Air Force she was commissioned in helicopter stream. She fly Chetak and Cheetah (single engine helicopters) and gained around 1600 flying hours on the two helicopters.[3]
India Air Force introduced changes in 2010 that allowed women helicopter pilots to convert to twin engine, medium and heavy-lift helicopter types. Misra volunteered for the Sarang helicopter team and after selection, joined the team in 2014.[4]
Deepika Misra and Sandeep Singh became the first women officers to join the Sarang team in February 2015.[5]
Flood rescue operation
[edit]Deepika Misra was assigned to conduct Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations due to flash floods in northern regions of Madhya Pradesh on 2 August 2021.[6]
The operation included evacuations and winching of people from flooded areas. The rescue operation continued for eight days, during which 47 people were rescued, according to the Ministry of Defence.[7]
Awards and recognition
[edit]Deepika Misra was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry). The award was announced by the Smt Droupadi Murmu, President of India in 2022.[8][9]
She received the medal in New Delhi on 20 April 2023. She is the first woman officer of the service to receive a gallantry award (According to Indian Air Force).[10]
References
[edit]- ↑ Dongare, Akshay (2023-04-21). "Wing Commander Deepika Misra is first IAF woman officer to receive gallantry award". India Today. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "Deepika Mishra: The 1st IAF Lady Pilot To Win A Gallantry Medal". Rediff. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "Wing Commander Deepika Misra becomes first IAF woman officer to get gallantry award - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "Just a moment…". theprint.in. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "Times of India brings the Latest & Top Breaking News on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Cricket, Sports, Business, Bollywood News and Entertainment, Science, Technology, Health & Fitness news & opinions from leading columnists". The Times of India. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "First IAF Woman Officer To Receive Gallantry Award". www.pw.live. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "Deepika Misra Gallantry Award: Deepika Misra becomes 1st Indian Air Force woman officer to get Gallantry Award - The Economic Times Video | ET Now". m.economictimes.com. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "2023: 11 Women Who Broke Military Barriers". Rediff. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "Wing Commander Deepika Misra; First woman IAF officer to get gallantry award". Business Today. 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2026-09-29.
- ↑ "Meet Deepika Misra, The First Woman Pilot To Join The IAF Sarang Team". femina.in. Retrieved 2026-09-29.