Quick Info
| Profession | Indian Air Force Personnel |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Date of Birth | 01/01/1975 |
| Age | 51 years |
| Birthplace | Lucknow |
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Physical Stats & More
| Height | 164 cm |
|---|---|
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Black |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Education | Graduate |
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| Field of Study | Electronics Engineering |
Personal Life
| College/University | Hansraj College, University of Delhi |
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| University | Indraprastha University |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Married |
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Family
| Father | Lt. Col. Ashok Kumar Saxena (Indian Army Officer) |
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| Mother | Name |
| Siblings | Anshuman Saxena (Indian Army Officer) |
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| Children | Pragya (born in 2004) |
Career
| Joined the Indian Air Force in 1994 as part of the fourth batch of women air force trainees. | |
| Became one of 26 women pilots in 1996. | |
| First posting at Udhampur with the 132 Forward Area Control as a Flying Officer. | |
| Stationed in Srinagar during the 1999 Kargil War at age 24. | |
| Flew Cheetah helicopters for casualty evacuations, supply transport to Dras and Batalik, and surveillance of enemy positions under enemy fire at high altitudes. | |
| Evacuated over 900 casualties as one of ten pilots based in Srinagar. | |
| First woman to fly in a combat zone during the Kargil War. | |
| Career as helicopter pilot ended in 2004 after eight years of service due to lack of permanent commissions. | |
| Commissioned as a Flying Officer on 27 June 1994 after completing basic training at the College of Air Warfare (COAW) at Pune Air Force Station. | |
| Only woman in the Indian Armed Forces who flew into war zones during the Kargil War. | |
| Achieved the rank of Flight Lieutenant. |
Favourites
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Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Gunjan Saxena finished her schooling and then studied at Hansraj College in Delhi. | |
| 2. She enrolled at Safdarjung Flying Club in New Delhi to begin learning flying skills. | |
| 3. In 1994, Gunjan Saxena was chosen to be among the first group of women IAF trainee pilots. | |
| 4. In the 1999 Kargil War, she piloted her helicopter on missions like medical evacuations, spotting enemy positions, and rescuing wounded soldiers. | |
| 5. Her bravery during the Kargil War led to Gunjan Saxena being recognized with the Shaurya Chakra Award by the Indian Army. | |
| 6. She was able to fly solo at age 16. | |
| 7. She was the first female officer in her pilot training class. | |
| 8. She is one of the few women who have flown Chetak and Cheetah helicopters. | |
| 9. Her autobiography, 'The Kargil Girl', was co-written with author-duo Kiran Nirvan and published by Penguin Publishers in 2020. |