Vijay Vasant Tambay

Flight Lieutenant Vijay Vasant Tambay was an officer of the Indian Air Force whose aircraft was shot down on December 5, 1971 over West Pakistan while on a strike against the Pakistani airbase of Rafiqui, during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Officially recorded by the Indian Air Force as killed in action,[3] Flt Lt Tambay is believed to have been one of the five pilots reported by Pakistan Observer to have been captured alive on 5 December 1971.[4] However, although a number of reports from eyewitnesses have subsequently suggested that Flt Lt Tambay was indeed captured alive, he was not repatriated at the end of the war, while the Pakistan Government denies having in their possession any Indian Prisoners of War from the 1971 war,.[5] making him one of The missing 54 Indian defence personnel from the war who are believed to be in Pakistani custody.[6]

Flight Lieutenant Vijay Vasant Tambay
Nickname(s)	Uncle[1]
Born	(1943-04-11)11 April 1943 Nagpur, Maharashtra[2]
Allegiance	India
Indian Air Force
Years of service	1963-1973
Rank	Flight Lieutenant
Service number	7662 F(P)
Unit	No.32 Squadron IAF
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Operation Cactus-Lilly
Alma mater	Bishop Cotton School, Nagpur.
Spouse(s)	Mrs Damayanti V. Tambay
Disappeared	December 5, 1971 (aged 28) Shorkot, Jhang District, Punjab province, Pakistan
Status	Missing for 48 years, 6 months and 16 days