Marshal of Indian Air Force Arjan Singh's 101st Birth Anniversary: 11 Facts About IAF's Most Decorated Officer

India observes the 101st birth anniversary of Marshal of the Indian Air Force (IAF) Arjan Singh, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). The decorated officer served as the Chief of the Indian Air Staff from 1964 to 1969. Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh was born on April 15, 1919, in Lyallpur, Faisalabad which is now part of Pakistan. He was the first IAF officer who was promoted to the five-star rank of Marshal of the Air Force. The decorated officer played an important role in India’s military conflicts and wars against neighbouring countries – Pakistan and China. PM Modi Launches Commemorative Stamp to Honour Marshal of IAF Arjan Singh.

The decorated officer was 19 years of age when he was selected for training at Royal Air Force (RAF) Cranwell in 1938 and was commissioned as a pilot officer in December 1939. Arjan Singh was awarded the DFC in 1944 for displaying outstanding leadership, great skill and courage in the Burma Campaign during World War II. In August 1945, Wg Cdr Arjan Singh was selected to undergo the RAF Staff College at Bracknell in the United Kingdom. Sam Manekshaw 105th Birth Anniversary: Remembering Indian Army's 1st Field Marshal With His Memorable Quotes!

Facts About Marshal of Air Force Arjan Singh:

• On August 15, 1947, Singh led the flypast of over a hundred IAF aircraft over the Red Fort and on the same day assumed the command of Air Force Station, Ambala in the rank of Group Captain.
• In 1949, Air Commodore Arjan Singh took over as the Air Officer Commanding of Operational Command, which later came to be known as Western Air Command.
• The decorated officer had the distinction of having the longest tenure as the AOC of Operation Command, from 1949-1952 and again from 1957-1961.
• After getting promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal, he was the AOC-in-C of Operation command.
• Towards the end of the 1962 war, he was appointed the DCAS and became the VCAS in 1963.
• As Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Arjan Singh led the IAF in the 1965 War against Pakistan.
• Under his leadership, the IAF was able to blunt the Pakistani armoured thrust at Chamb, gained air superiority over the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) which helped the Indian Army in scoring Strategic victories.
• For his distinguished service in commanding the IAF during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan.
• In 1966, Arjan became the first IAF officer to be promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal.
• He flew more than 60 different types of aircraft ranging from Pre World War II-era planes to the supersonic MIG-21.
• In 1971, Arjan Singh was appointed as India’s Ambassador to Switzerland.

On completion of five years as the Chief of the Air Staff in two ranks, Arjan Singh retired on July 16, 1969. Three years later, he was appointed as the country’s High Commissioner to Kenya. Arjan Singh also served as a member of the minorities commission in 1978. In 1989, he was made the Lt Governor of Delhi. In recognition of his services, the Government of India conferred the rank of the Marshal of the Air Force onto Arjan Singh in January 2002. Marshal of Air Force Arjan Singh's 100th Birth Anniversary: Remembering First And Only Five Star Officer of IAF.

He was the first and the only "Five Star" rank officer of the IAF. During his career, Arjan Singh remained a flyer till the end of his career. His health deteriorated in the final stages of his life. Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh died at the age of 98 years on September 16, 2017, after suffering a cardiac arrest. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative stamp in honour of Marshal of the Indian Air Force late Arjan Singh.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 15, 2020 08:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).