Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, son of Warrant Officer (Hon Flt. Lt.) Trilok Singh Sekhon, was born on 17 July 1943, in Ludhiana, Punjab.

He was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 4 June 1967. He won the first Param Vir Chakra for the Indian Air Force during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Flying Officer N.J.S. Sekhon was a Gnat pilot in the No.18 Flying Bullets Squadron, based in Srinagar for the air defence of the valley.

India was bound by an international agreement not to base its air defence aircraft at Srinagar. Therefore, the pilots who were hurriedly brought to Srinagar at the outbreak of the hostilities with Pakistan, were neither familiar with the terrain nor acclimatised to the winter rigours of Kashmir. Nevertheless, during the war, Flag Officer Sekhon and his colleagues fought Pakistani air raids with valour and determination. The reputation of the Gnat was safe in their hands.

On 14 December 1971, Srinagar airfield was attacked by a wave of six PAF F-86 jets. Flying Officer Sekhon was on readiness duty at that time. Soon the enemy aircraft started hovering over the airfield. Straffing of various targets on the ground followed.

Attempting to take-off with enemy aircraft overhead was inviting mortal danger. However, Flying Officer Sekhon, unmindful of his safety, flew his Gnat to engage the two attacking Sabres. In the air battle that ensued, he secured a direct hit on one Sabre and set another ablaze. The latter was seen heading away towards Rajauri, trailing smoke and flame.

At this juncture four more Pakistani Sabres came on the scene and surrounded his aircraft. He chose to give a fight again. In the dog fight that ensued at tree-top level, he held on against the numerically superior enemy for some time.

Eventually, his aircraft was hit and he was killed. But Flying Officer Sekhon had achieved his objective. The enemy aircraft fled from the scene of the battle, without pressing home, the intended attack on Srinagar airfield and its surrounding areas.

The bravery, flying skill and determination displayed by Flying Officer Sekhon, earned him the highest wartime gallantry medal, Param Vir Chakra.