Retired Air Chief Marshal Hrushikesh Moolgaonkar passes away

April 10, 2015

Retired Air Chief Marshal Hrushikesh Moolgaonkar passed away on 9 April 2015 in Pune, Maharashtra. He was 95.

Hrushikesh Moolgaonkar had joined Indian Air Force (then Royal Indian Air Force) in November 1940 as the rank of an acting Pilot Officer.
He was appointed Chief of Air Staff in February 1976. He had succeeded then Air Chief Marshal Om Prakash Mehra.
During this tenure, one of his major achievements was bring flight safety in the Indian Air Force (IAF). Moolgaonkar had personally implemented the new safety measures and brought down the accident rates at that time.
He had led the fly-past of IAF on Independence Day in August 15, 1947 and also on the Republic Day in January 26, 1951 when he was a Squadron Leader.
He had served in 38 years in the IAF and had retired in August 1978.
He was born on 14 August 1920 in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Awards- He was recipient of the prestigious Param Vishisht Seva medal and Mahaveer Chakra.