Mangalore: Mortal Remains of Flt Lt Serrao Brought Home
by Richie Lasrado
Daijiworld.com
Mangalore
Pics by Ganesh S Perla
Saturday, 1-45 pm
Mangalore, Jan 20: The mortal remains of Flt Lt Ronald Kevin Serrao were flown by a special IAF aircraft from Ambala this noon and they were brought in an armed forces motorcade, accompanied by vehicles of family members, relatives and well-wishers.
Flt Lt Deepika too arrived with the coffin. The funeral cortege will leave residence at 3 pm for Kulshekar church.
Saturdy, January 20, 2007
9-20 am
Memories, Mere Memories...
by Richie Lasrado, Resident Editor, Daijiworld.com
Fate snatched away a brave young man on the evening of Thursday, January 18 in the deserts of Rajasthan.
The story appears to be more poignant as we gathered more details.
Flight Lieutenant Ronald Kevin Serrao's father, Lt Col John Serrao, had served in the army for 37 long years. He had this ambition to send his both male issues to serve in the armed forces.
Somehow, the elder Kenneth had different plans and pursued Engineering at the National Institute of Technology - Karnataka (formerly Karnataka Regional Engineering College - KREC), at Suratkal, Mangalore. Currently, he is a vice president with Kotak Mahindra, Mumbai.
A close-knit family: Col Serrao, Dr Jessica, Kenneth and Kevin
With Col Serrao's army postings in different centres over the years, Ronald Kevin had his initial education in Meerut, Hyderabad, Nasirabad in Rajasthan, Yol in Himachal Pradesh and Chennai. In 1998 he joined the National Defence Academy and passed out with highest marks in 2001-2002.
He passed out as the 'Best Warrior' from the Air Force Academy in Dindigul, followed by a posting in Tezpur, Rajasthan. After training in MIG-21 fighter planes there, he had training in MIG-23 fighters in Haldar near Ludhiana. On the extracurricular side, he was a swimming champion.
With an accomplishment of the best pilot distinction, in 2006 he was assigned fighter bomber aircraft duties. With such brilliant achivements at such a young age, it is heart-rending that he should have met with a tragic end while rehearsing for the Republic Day parade to be held on January 26, 2007 !
During the service he met Flt Lt Deepika and they got married quite young on April 29, 2006 in a Delhi church. A reception was held the soon after in Mangalore as well.
Lt Col Serrao grievingly recalls his brave son's visits to Mangalore once in three months. He had come with Deepika just over a month ago. Because of a brief holiday, they could not stay for Christmas, but he made it up by decorating the house and setting up a Christmas tree well in advance.
Every time he went up on flights and sorties, Ronald Kevin used to call up his home and brother in Mumbai. Before flying the ill-fated Jaguar on Thursday, he had spoken to his parents and brother, who wished him well. That was the last call from him and the soon after he had his last call from the One Above.
The senior Serrao was watching the TV around 5-45 pm that day when the news was flashed about the crash. He had a hunch of the tragegy, when the details like Naal base and Pokharan matched those of the place where his son was posted. He prepared himself for the bad news at the back of his mind when the flash report was repeated. Within a few minutes he got an official call from the Air Force authorities informing him of the tragedy.
Well-deserved request
Lt Col Serrao, an upright army officer having served the country for 37 years, is a shattered man today. Having lost his brave warrior-son, he has one wish - the renaming of the Kuchikad road passing by their residence after detouring from national highway 13 at Kalpane as Flt Lt Ronald Kevin Serrao Road.
This is certainly a matter which the district and city administration should immediately attend to and all citizens whole-heartedly support.
Our duty
Incidentally, Daijiworld did its best in conveying the news to the world within hours (Thursday, 9-15 pm) with maximum available details of the crash and family details. While on the one hand not many details were available even in the Google search until Friday, on the other the confusion was worsened by the the limited reports quoting the name of the deceased as S Rao instead of Serrao.
On Friday, Daijiworld's Mangalore office was flooded with messages and calls, some to check if the news was confirmed, while many complimented us on our speed and accuracy. Mention of two cases in particular, perhpas, would not be out of place.
A relative of the family called up from distant New Orleans in USA to thank us for the quick posting, when all his efforts of search for the news on the Net had failed.
Wing Commander Silver Julius D'Souza of Mangalorean origin, serving in the IAF and based in Karnataka, called us up and said he read the news on Daijiworld, an hour before an official announcement came from IAF.
In any hour of crisis, we just do our duty to do justice to the trust reposed in us by our readers.
PREVIOUS REPORTS
Update, Friday, Jan 19, 2-15 pm
Funeral on Saturday afternoon, Soon after Arrival of Mortal Remains
The latest information provided by the family sources is that the funeral will take place the soon after arrival on Saturday afternoon. In view of the nature of the crash and resultant injury resulting in death, the funeral could not be delayed. So, contrary to the earlier information of the funeral to be held on Sunday, it will take place on Saturday, immediately after the arrival of the mortal remains at the airport early afternoon.
Update, Friday, Jan 19, 12-10 pm
Mortal Remains may Arrive on Saturday, Funeral Soon after the Same Day
by Richie Lasrado from Kuchikad, Kulshekar
When the Daijiworld team visited the mourners at "The Nest", located at a depression on Kuchikad road opposite Kalpane bus stop in Kulshekar on Friday morning, the house was encircled in a pall of gloom.
As friends and well-wishers came to convey their condolences, Lt Col John Serrao (Retired), father of the late Flt Lt Ronald Serrao, who died in a tragic Jaguar crash in the Pokharan area in Rajasthan, was finding it difficult to control his grief. His younger brother Gregory Serrao, a well-wisher of Daijiworld from Padua-Nantur, was providing him with much support and solace. He is also helping the family with the funeral and other formalities.
Ronald Kevin posing with the Jaguar he flew
Carrying the Mass offerings on his wedding day with Deepika in Delhi church on April 29, 2006
Ronald and Deepika on the wedding day with their parents
Ronald as best man at his brother Kenneth's wedding
A close relative, David Fernandes, recalled that Ronald and Deepika had come down to Mangalore shortly before Christmas 2006 and happily spent their time with Ronald's parents. David also said Ronald was a quick-footed dancer and was a very jovial person. Deepika hails from Delhi and is also a pilot (Flt Lt) in the IAF. They got married just over eight months ago in Delhi (on April 29, 2006) She is also expected to fly with the mortal remains to Mangalore.
Kenneth and family were to airdash from Mumbai on Friday morning.
The big bunch of albums containing photographs of elder brother Kenneth's wedding in Mangalore, where Ronald was the best man and Ronald Kevin's wedding with Deepika in Delhi, followed by a grand reception in Mangalore will only remain as tokens of his memory for the parents.
In our presence, the family received a call from Air Marshal A K Singh from the air headquarters and he spoke to Gregory. According to their information Ronald's mortal remains would be flown from Ambala in Punjab to Mangalore on Saturday, January 20 by a special IAF plane, provided the long procedure of armed services post mortem is completed by then.
The special plane is expected to arrive in Mangalore around 2 pm. The body will be first taken to the residence "The Nest", Kuchikad Road, Opp Kalpane Bus Stop, Kulshekar and then to the Holy Cross Church, Cordel-Kulshekar at 2 pm on Sunday, January 21, followed by Mass.
26-year-old Mangalorean IAF Fighter Pilot Ronald Serrao Dies in Jaguar Crash
by Richie Lasrado, Resident Editor, Daijiworld.com
Thursday, 9-30 pm IST
Mangalore, Jan 18: Flight Lieutenajt Ronald Kevin Serrao (26), hailing from Kulshekar-Kuchikad here, was killed on Thursday, January 18 when an IAF Jaguar fighter aircraft blew up mid-air, while taking part in a live air-to-ground firing exercise in Pokharan range in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan.
Ronald, son of Lieutenant Colonel John Serrao and Dr Jessica Serrao, had joined IAF four-and-a-half years ago. He married Deepika, also a Flight Lieutenanat in the IAF on April 29, 2006. Tragedy struck Ronald on Thursday, a day after he turned 26 on Wednesday, January 17, 2007.
The Serrao couple have an elder son Kenneth, who lives in Mumbai. A grieving Col Serrao, displaying excellent composure and equanimity, spoke to Daijiworld with full details.
Air force sources said that the fighter aircraft got off the Naal airbase near Bikaner at 4-40 pm on a live firing mission and crashed within minutes between Delasar and Dhaysar villages, located at 55 kms from Jaisalmer.
The sources also said that the deep-penetration Jaguar aircraft were inducted in the late 1970's and had only recently undergone a comprehensive upgradation of its radars, avionics, engines etc.
Maritime operations were also conducted with the help of Jaguars. The debris of the fighter plane, which was blown into pieces, was spread over large sand dunes between the two desert villages, said the air force sources. The cause of the accident will be ascertained by a court of enquiry, said the IAF sources further.
The police sources said the body of the pilot had been located.
After the completion of formalities, the body might be brought to Mangalore, said the family sources.
Further updates will be posted on this website.
News Agency Reports:
AF pilot killed in Jaguar crash
New Delhi: An Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar combat jet crashed in Rajasthan Thursday killing its lone pilot, officials said.
The aircraft had taken off from the Nal air force base in north Rajasthan and crashed at 4.40 p.m. at the Pokhran range near Jaisalmer in west Rajasthan, over 600 km from state capital Jaipur, an IAF spokesman here said.
The name of the pilot will be released after the next of kin is notified, the spokesman added.
'The aircraft was on a routine range training flight. The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the crash,' the spokesman said, adding a court of enquiry had been ordered into the accident.
'So far, there are no reports of loss of civilian life,' he said.
This is the first IAF crash this year. Seven jets had crashed last year. They included three MiG-29s, two MiG-21s, a MiG-27 and a Suryakiran of the IAF's aerobatic display team. In addition, two Suryakirans were involved in a close shave during a display over Ahmedabad but both managed to land safely.
In June, the IAF had called a press conference to announce its lowest ever accident rate in four decades of 0.44 percent for every 10,000 flying hours.
Technical details of Jaguar
Courtesy: Indian Air Force
Aircraft - Jaguar
Country Of Origin - Anglo-French
Power Plants - Two 23.7kN (5320lb) dry and 35.8kN (8040lb) with afterburning Rolls Royce/Turbomenca Adour Mk 104 turbofans.
Performance - Max. speed : mach 1.6
Max. speed at sea level: 1350 km/hr
Max. rate of climb : *** ft/min
Service ceiling: 45,930 ft
Range with max. fuel: 1408 km
Intercept radius with four AAM's: 852km .
Weight - Empty approx : 7,700kg
Max. take off : 15,700kg
Dimensions - Span : 8.69m
Length : 15.52m
Height : 4.92m
Wing area : 21.18 sq.m
Accommodation - One
Armament (fixed) - Two 30 mm Aden guns.
Armament (disposable) - It has 7 underwing hardpoints. Two above wing (for AAMs only) hardpoints four underwing fitted with the Sea-Eagle missile and one centerline hardpoints for 4540 k (10,000lb) or ordance including bombs and rockets.
Operators - Ecuador, France, India, Nigeria, Oman and UK.
History - A Franco/British project, the result of collaboration between the British Aircraft Corporation (Now British Aerospace) and Dassault-Breguet, The SEPECAT Jaguar was first flown on September 8, 1968, as a single-seat attack aircraft with limited all-weather capability. It was Intended to serve both the Armee de 1'Air and the RAF; the French Jaguar A entered service first, in May 1972. The RAF took delivery of its first GR.Mk 1 in May 1973. A well-equipped tactical strike-fighter, it's equipment included an inertial navigation system, a head-up display and laser ranger. From 1983, navigation upgrades resulted in the GR.Mk 1A. Some were able to perform a secondary reconnaissance role. The GR.Mk 1B and two-seat T.Mk 2B was introduced in 1995 with the TIALD pod, which allows a Jaguar to deliver its own laser-guided weapons.