During the Indo-Pak war in 1965, Flt Lt Vinod Patney was serving in an operational squadron in a forward area. He flew 16 operational sorties within the short period. On 13th September 1965, he took part in a ground attack mission in the Kasur-Khem Karan Sector and flew as No.3 in a four aircraft formation.

During the attack, the formation met with heavy and determined ground fire from the enemy guns. One of our aircraft was shot down. Undeterred by this, he pressed home five effective attacks on different enemy targets and destroyed three Patton tanks. For this he was awarded the Vir Chakra. For his actions during the 1971 Indo-Pak war he was mentioned-in-despatches.

During his long and illustrious career he held various Command and Staff appointments which include Air Officer Commanding of Jammu and Kashmir, Air Officer Commanding Air Defence Control Centre and Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters WAC, AOC-in-C of WAC and AOC of Central Air Command.

On 6th April, 2000, Air Marshal Vinod Patney, was decorated with the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal for leading the Indian Air Force in the Kargil war, which ultimately proved to be the turning point in Operation Vijay. He was the first officer of the IAF and the sole recipient of the SYSM. He thus became the most decorated serving officer in all three services. On August 1, 2000, Air Marshal Vinod Patney took over as the Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force. Air Marshal Patney, who was AOC of Central Air Command before this promotion, was AOC of Western Air Command during the Kargil operations.