72 men, 22 of whom died in service. Battle-hardened over Germany, Arakan, Burma, NWFP, Kashmir War, Goa ops, 62, 65, 71 war. In 1971 –all AOC-in-Cs & all PSO’s to the chief – were from this single pilot course. This is the 4th pilot course (4 PC) of @IAF_MCC . #IAFHistory (1/19)
The first 22 officers commissioned in the IAF between 1932 and 1939 were all trained outside India as no facilities existed in India. Hence these officers did not carry any “course number”. In 1939, the govt took a call to raise an IAF Volunteer Reserve with WWII outbreak. 2/
1 & 2 PC had about 35 officers show up at Risalpur, the 1st IAF trg setup for pilots. But that was found inadequate, and a new school was setup at Walton, Lahore. It is here that 4 PC showed up, as the first course at the location 3/
4 PC was the largest intake IAF had pre-independence. 72 showed up & were made Acting Pilot officers. We only have 60 names – 51 as pilots & 9 as observers. This was an era when service numbers were not yet in vogue 4/
Within a month of joining Walton, 24 of the 72 officers were sent to UK for trg at the height of the Battle of Britain. The pictures from this visit would later be widely published 5/
Reaching UK on 8 Oct ‘40, they were given a welcome message by the Air Minister, Sir Archibald Sinclair. After completing basic /adv/ conversion trg , they spread out among the Sqns in Fighter, Coastal & bomber Command. Eight of them were killed in training and operations. 6/
The last of the 24 to pass away was MS Pujji, who died in 2010, having settled in the UK. He had received a DSO as Flt Cdr of 4 Sqn during Burma Ops in 1944. This video by @guardian has him narrating the tale 7/ theguardian.com/world/video/20…
His statue was put up in 2014 by the Gravesend community in kent and was intended to represent all the service personnel from across the world who have fought for Britain in conflicts since 1914. 8/
Shiv Dev Singh, one of the 24, participated in the Middle East ops & later in Burma with 6 Sqn. After an illustrious career, he retired as the Vice Chief in 1973 reaching the highest post by the 4th Pilot Course, at that time touted to be a top contender to be the Chief. 9/
Kali Prasad Chaudhary, Rustom Dastur, CP Khosla, Ali Raza Khan, manmohan Singh were amongst those who perished in action. In a sad twist, Anandaraj Samuel Gnanamuthu was killed with 32 Sqn, RAF & a couple of months later his brother from 5th PC was killed with 1 Sqn in NWFP. 10/
The 48 who were in India went through the first structured trg – Finishing up in Walton in Dec 40 & then to Ambala for Adv trg before hitting the sqns in May ‘41. Amongst the only surviving pilots is DS Majithia 11/
One of the brightest of the lot was Eric Wilmot Pinto. He was considered a born leader and loved by one and all. He commanded 4 Sqn, 3 Wing, AFA and was the AOC-in-C of the Western Air Command when he died in a tragic crash in 1963. Many believed he would have made chief. 12/
Ranjan Dutt had immense opl experience. After serving with 32 Sqn, RAF he became the first Indian to earn to join the Fighter Leader Course (Top Gun) in UK and returned to be Flt Cdr of 10,8 & 2 Sqns and commanded 1 Sqn. Later retiring as AOC-in-C Eastern Air Command. 13/
Air Mshl Hari Chand Dewan was an officer who did it all. Flew in Burma. Flt Cdr of 8, 7 & 12 Sqn. CO Comm Sqn, AFA & Poona AFS. He was AOC-in-C of Central, Eastern and Maintenance Command followed by Deputy and Vice chief posts before retiring in 76, the last from the course. 14/
Karori Lal Bhatia was destined for greatness but his life was cut short by illness at 34 as Gp Capt. He had commanded 12 sqn during the Kashmir War, earned a VrC. He had been given imp assignments as Stn Cdr 4 Wing, Director of Personnel and Org just before he passed away. 15/
Air Cmde Jagdev Chandra distinguished himself as an ace flying instructor, the first in the IAF, spending years in the flying training establishment and policy-making of the IAF 16/
Air Marshal Yeshwant Vinayak Malse and Air Marshal Hirendra Nath Chatterjee, both distinguished pilots, contributed immensely to the growth, development, and leadership of the IAF during the 1950s and 60s, including in building training and strategic thinking. 17/
The most decorated of the entire course was undoubtedly Air Marshal Minoo Engineer. Earning a DFC in WWII and MVC in Kashmir War 18/
In Aug 71, the Course celebrated its 31st Anniversary. Numerous other officers made it to the Air ranks. A full listing of the course and career records of each of its officers can be read here - bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/C…
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The only station named as a “Staging Post” in the @IAF_MCC was the No. 1 Aircraft Staging Post at Car Nicobar in 1956. This is the fascinating read of how Car Nicobar was the only RAF base in independent India & later became an accidental IAF “Staging Post” #IAFHistory (1/23)
A Staging Post is simply an airstrip where transport aircraft can land. It can be a tiny airstrip used for refueling/ navigation or a large transport base. During WWII the RAF Transport Command set up 100s of Staging posts across the world from the US to the Far East. 2/
Back to Andaman. In 1858, the British setup Andaman & later in 1869 Nicobar (Nancowry Island) as penal colonies. Nicobar was shut down in 1888, but Port Blair persisted with a small presence. It was not intended to be a Military Post prior to WWII. 3/
@IAF_MCC Srinagar base (1 Wing) has repeatedly witnessed aerial combat in its 54 years of hosting fighter aircraft. It turns a page when 51 sqn winds down after its 37-year vigil. This thread is a chronicle of Srinagar’s unique tryst with fighter aircraft. #IAFHistory (1/30)
In ‘47, Srinagar had a fair-weather Kutcha grass strip of 1,500 yds used for light ac of Raja Hari Singh. At partition, Kashmir’s geo-loc & ltd rail/road links isolated the valley, enhancing the importance of the airstrip- placing it at the hub of efforts to save Kashmir.2/
Whilst IAF ops had started in Oct 47, an IAF establishment was placed here in May ’48. Spitfires, Tempests & Harvards of 7,8,10 & 101 Sqn operated throughout the war, moving out when the UN imposed a Ceasefire in '49. The Dakota (12 Sqn) story is here -3/
In 1953 @IAF_MCC made its maiden flight over Mt. Everest in a WWII vintage Liberator C-87, secretly synced with Edmund Hilary’s epic summit of the peak. This is the tale of the second ever photoreconnaissance flight over Everest & its stunning pictures. #IAFHistory (1/25)
The idea was the brainchild of then Deputy chief (later chief) of the IAF, Aspy Engineer, with an intent to create global recognition for the IAF, conduct aerial photography of Everest never taken before, and fund-raise for a noble cause. But we must rewind a few years..2/
After ’47 Kashmir war, a need for Bomber aircraft was felt. Sabotaged B-24 Liberators left behind by RAF/USAAF were refurbished by IAF & HAL and put in service. 5 & 6 Sqn were equipped with 16 ac each by early 1951. But another jugaad was in the offing. 3/
Trivia: The two Chiefs who led the @IAF_MCC during the 1960s demitted the office of the Chief nearly 4 to 6 months prior to the official retirement date, proceeding on leave. This oddity was not repeated but remains a mystery. This thread is a brief exploration. #IAFHistory (1/6)
Aspy Engineer relinquished office 4 months prior to his retirement. Born on 15 Dec 1912, he had time till 30 Nov 1964 to serve till the age of 52 as was the prevalent policy for a Chief (in the rank of Air Marshal. Air Chief marshal rank was created later). 2/
Aspy continued to though hold the Honorary A.D.C (Air) to the President post all the way to his retirement date. Aspy had served as Chief for 3 yrs, 8 months and even the "Max of 4 years in an Air Rank" rule of that time was not the hurdle. Arjan Singh was just 47 and had time.3/
History of the 114 Helicopter Unit - the “Siachen Pioneers”, an @IAF_MCC unit that has been continuously in ops the longest amongst all services,regularly faced nature,enemy fire & lost its own during peace. It remains a unique unit in the world of aviation. #IAFHistory (1/34)
Approved as the 1st all Chetak unit on 18 Dec 62 with an estb of 8 heptrs, 114 HU was raised on 1 Apr 64 with two a/c & was based at Leh – replacing 107 HU’s Mi-4 dett stationed since the ‘62 war. 114 was the 1st permanent IAF unit at Leh where it continues to this day. 2/
Sqn Ldr Arvind Dalaya moved in to take command. Other than pilots converting from Mi-4s, the unit also had 5 pilots from 83 PC who had directly been commissioned in Heptrs after trg in France. The unit made Leh-Srinagar-Jammu as its permanent home for next two decades 3/
I am sure many of you may have seen this post since morning. It is extremely touching to see G/C Vadera ( Vady as is fondly called in the IAF) sit in the cockpit of E-1076. (1/4) facebook.com/12284430775848…
Vady uncle ( as I know him) and my father go back 50 years having served in Gnat squadrons together but more importantly been closest of friends ever since. So when I started my fledgling journey of enquiry into IAF history, he was my logical choice. 2/