2019-09-16 Mon

Known for his distinguished service, strategic vision and leadership skills, Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh DFC was a force to reckon with. His military career started when he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in December 1939 in the Royal Indian Air Force. In 1943, he was promoted to acting Squadron Leader and became the Commander of No. 1 Squadron.

His successful role in the crucial Arakan Campaign in 1944 earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). On 15 August 1947, he had the honour of leading the fly-past of over a hundred IAF aircraft over Delhi, over the Red Fort.

A man of many accolades, he got his next ‘feather in the cap’ when his outstanding leadership of commanding the IAF during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, was acknowledged by being awarded the Padma Vibhushan! Later in 1966, he went on to become the first IAF Officer to be promoted to Air Chief Marshal.

After retiring from the IAF, he went on to serve as a diplomat, politician and advisor to the Indian Government. He was Lieutenant Governor of Delhi from 1989 to 1990. In 2002, he became the first and only officer of the Indian Air Force to be promoted to five-star rank as Marshal of the Indian Air Force, equal to the army rank of Field Marshal.

Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh passed away on 16 Sep 2017. In honour of a man who was an inspiration and truly an icon of the Indian Air Force, Department of Post is said to issue stamp. The proposed stamp date is set to 8th of October 2019. The stamp design and other details are yet to be out.

Aren’t you excited to see this special stamp of a very special person?

Information & Image Courtesy: http://indianairforce.nic.in/