“If we all die and become stars then I must believe that our souls live in the stars. Now I know why people look up to the sky when they think of someone they wish to see” – Nicola An.
The Star who brought down the Starfighter.
Sqn Ldr Ajjamada Bopayya Devayya, was born on 24 December 1932, at Manchalli village, in Kodagu. At 22 years, he was commissioned as General Duties (Pilot) in the Indian Air Force on 6 December 1954.
During the Indo-Pak War, on 7 September 1965, Squadron Leader Ajjamada Devayya was assigned the mission of attacking the heavily-defended Sargodha airfield in Pakistan. That was the last day he was heard of by the Indian Air Force and his family. Presumed to have been killed in action, his body never returned to India.
Devayya, along with other Indian pilots, was flying the Dassault Mystère IVA. The Pakistani Air Force, on the other hand, deployed the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter (Mach 2), piloted by Ft Lt Amjad Hussain Khan. Starfighter was a supersonic jet that was technologically far superior to the subsonic Mystère in almost every aspect of performance.
The French word Mystère means Mystery. What happened to Devayya and his Mystère remained a mystery for 14 years.
In 1979, British aviation and military reporter John Fricker, who had been commissioned by the Pakistan Air Force, published his book Battle for Pakistan: The Air War of 1965. It was through his account that Devayya’s extraordinary courage and dogged determination came to light for the first time.
According to Air Commodore(Retd) Kaiser Tufail, Khan later recalled that he was certain he had also hit Devayya with his Starfighter’s deadly six-barrelled Vulcan revolver cannon bullets and then moved on in search of other Mystères. To his surprise, Devayya was trying to outflank him and was closing in on his tail.
An aerial dogfight ensued. Using the Starfighter’s superior climb and speed, Khan pulled the combat up to 7,000 feet to gain an advantage. Undeterred, Devayya gave chase and capitalised on Khan’s miscalculated move when the Pakistani pilot attempted to reduce speed in an effort to out-turn him. Fricker records that Devayya had successfully tailed Khan, turning the tables on the Starfighter.
In the clash that followed, the two aircraft collided, leaving both damaged, according to Khan. Yet, it seems that Devayya, refusing to eject, pressed home his attack and, according to Fricker, scored direct cannon hits on the Starfighter. While the Pakistani pilot ejected to safety, Devayya went down fighting in his crippled Mystère – a display of rare gallantry that remained unknown for years.
Fricker, in his book, notes that one of the most creditable yet least-publicized achievements of the Indian Air Force during the 1965 war was the shooting down of a Pakistan Air Force Lockheed Starfighter by an obsolescent Dassault Mystère IVA.
The Indian Air Force eventually came to recognize the events that had taken place and the gallantry of Squadron Leader Ajjamada Devayya. In 1988, it honoured its STAR by posthumously awarding him the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC)
Reading about Sqn Ldr Ajjamada Bopayya Devayya fills one’s heart with pride and sorrow. His story is not just of a valiant dog fight in the skies, but of determination, extreme bravery and selflessness. A tale that every Indian should know and every Kodava should cherish with pride.
A salute to the brave son of Kodagu. 🫡
An inspiring story of extraordinary courage. Sqn Ldr Devayya’s bravery against a superior enemy aircraft is a testament to his skill and determination. It’s heartbreaking that his sacrifice remained unknown for years, yet his legacy now shines like the star he truly was.
It’s humbling to read how his story came to light not through national recognition, but through an account written years later by a foreign author. It speaks volumes about the sacrifices of our Armed Forces that remain unsung for decades.
Devayya didn’t just go down fighting — he made sure his last act was one of triumph, turning the tide in a near-impossible situation. He truly became a star, not just in the sky, but in the history of Indian aviation.
May his story continue to inspire generations, and may we never forget those who gave everything for the nation. A true hero who deserves to be remembered and honored.
Would love to see comments from Retired and Serving Armed Forces personnel from Kodagu.