During the 1965 India-Pakistan War, Devayya (called 'Wings of Fire') was part of a strike mission targeting the Pakistani airbase Sargodha when he was attacked by an enemy aircraft.

[5] As a senior flying instructor, Squadron Leader Devayya was part of an aircraft strike mission which went to Sargodha airfield in Pakistan.

It was revealed much later by Pakistan that Devayya's body was found almost intact by villagers not very far from Sargodha and buried.

[6][7] From Fricker's work, the IAF realised what had truly happened and in 1988 announced that the Maha Vir Chakra was to be awarded to Devayya posthumously.

[5][6][2][3] Mrs. Devayya accepted the posthumous Maha Vir Chakra in 1988, nearly 23 years after the war.

[16][17] Sky Force is based on the attack on Sargodha now renamed PAF Base Mushaf on 7th September 1965 by 13-aircraft contingent led by Akshay Kumar portrayed as Group Captain O.P Taneja, Veer Paharia play Devayya, whose character is named T Vijaya, while Sara Ali Khan appear as his wife.