Anchit Gupta Profile picture
Dec 20 16 tweets 7 min read
The story of how the first chief of the @IAF_MCC came about to be decided on. A period of 30 days in June/July 1947, hectic negotiations and parleys, and a surprise twist by later to be @IAF_MCC's first Indian Chief Subroto Mukerjee. #IAFHistory (1/16)
Three questions needed answering - Will there be a chief for each service or one commander-in-chief? What rank will the officer tenant? Who will be the officer?

All of these were being deliberated in parallel and Air Mshl Hugh Walmsley, AOC-in-C India set the ball rolling 2/
On 1 July 47, he sent his recommendations to Loud Louis Mountbatten, though the ultimate decision rested with Nehru and Jinnah respectively. Also, a key influencer in the process was Claude Auchinleck, then Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. 3/
The name of Air Mshl Sir Thomas Elmhirst to be the Chief of @DGPR_PAF , seems to have been at the insistence of General Auchinleck who wrote the attached letter directly to Mountbatten on the recommendation. 4/
Lord Mountbatten quickly moved the ball forward but made it clear that if Elhmirst is to be considered, he should be considered for India too. This would turn out to have a major impact eventually. 5/
Air Mshl Walmsley would lead the deliberations. On 10 July 47, Mountbatten informed him that both India and Pakistan had agreed to have an Air Officer Commanding from the RAF, of the rank of Air Vice Marshal. This surprised Walmsley, as Mukerjee would be knocked out. 6/
Not only did Walmsley find this shocking, he thought Mukerjee would be shocked too. This implies that the brass felt that Mukerjee had positioned himself as the defacto choice for the Indian Air Force's top job. 7/
All factors put together, including the fact that not too many RAF officers were keen to volunteer for the job, Walmsley did find the most suitable officer for India (given his boundary conditions) - AVM Perry-Keene. 8/
AVM Perry-Keene was a fine choice because he had spent considerable time in India across roles from 1935 and was reasonably well known amongst officers in India 9/
At Walmsley's insistence on 18 July 47, Mountbatten met with Mukerjee and was surprised at his views - Mukerjee put the needs of the service above his & was supportive of a senior RAF officer. He was concerned about parity with Army and hoped to be Chief in 2-3 years. 10/
Mukerjee was aligned with Mountbatten, Walmsley, and Perry-Keen and it seemed on 22nd July 47, Perry- Keen would make the Chief of the IAF, but a twist was in the offing. 11/
On 21st July, Nehru wrote to Mountbatten encouraging him to consider Air Mshl Elhmirst for IAF. Apart from him and his Defence minister's opinion, it seems Auchinleck would have weighed in as well, being close to Nehru and held in high esteem by him. 12/
On 23 July 47, Mountabetten had arranged for a meeting between Nehru and Elhmirst, so that the latter could be convinced for the job. This though meant that the rank of the chief would no longer be AVM, but Air Marshal, atleast for IAF. 13/
Nehru was able to convince Elhmirst on the 26th of July, and it was decided for him to become chief. While Mukerjee had his wish of having an Air Mshl, at par with the Army, come true, unknown to him then, he would have to wait 7 years to become Chief himself as Air Mshl. 14/
In parallel, Mountbatten aligned Jinnah to have a very capable and willing AVM Perry-Keen be the Chief of PAF. 15/
On 27 July 1947, the announcement was made. IAF was to have Air Marshal Elhmirst as its first Chief and Air Vice Marshal Perry-Keen as the first chief of PAF. 16/16

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More from @AnchitGupta9

Dec 3
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/
Read 19 tweets
Sep 22
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/
Read 24 tweets
Sep 6
@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/
Read 30 tweets
Aug 27
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/
Read 25 tweets
Aug 17
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/
Read 6 tweets
Aug 14
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) Image
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/ Image
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/ Image
Read 34 tweets

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