PM releases commemorative stamp to honour IAF Marshal late Arjan Singh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi released commemorative stamp to honour Marshal of Air Force late Arjan Singh in New Delhi. It was released ‘at home’ programme of the Indian Air Force to mark its 87th raising day. The stamp was released as a tribute to his exemplary service to nation.

About Arjan Singh

Born on 15 April 1919 in Lyalpur (now Faislabad, Pakistan). Died on 16 September 2017 in New Delhi.

Airforce Career: He was selected to Empire Pilot training course at Royal Air Force Cranwell at age of 19 years. During British India rule, he had served on different positions in RAF. He holds unique honour of leading fly-past of over hundred IAF aircrafts over Red Fort in Delhi on 15 August 1947. He had served as IAF chief from August 1964 to 69. He was first Indian Air Chief to be elevated to rank of Air Chief Marshal in 1966. He had led Indian Air Force (IAF) in 1965 India-Pakistan war, during which he had launched IAF’s Operation Grand Slam that targeted at vital town of Akhnoor of Pakistan. He retired from IAF in August 1969.

Important posts held: He had served as Ambassador of India to Switzerland. He also had served as Lieutenant Governor of New Delhi (1989-90).

Awards and Honours: Government of India had conferred rank of “Marshal of the Indian Air Force” on him in 2002. He was first and only ‘Five Star’ rank IAF officer. He was awarded Padma Vibhushan. In his honour, Union Government had renamed IAF’s Panagarh Air Force Base in West Bengal as ‘Air Force Station Arjan Singh’  in 2016.

Month: Current Affairs - October, 2019