IAF Marshal Arjan Singh birth centenary: Air warrior who led fly-past over Red Fort on August 15, 1947

IAF Marshal Arjan Singh

India on Monday marked the birth centenary of Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh. He served as the Chief of the Indian Air Staff from 1964 to 1969. Born on April 15, 1919 in Faisalabad now part of Pakistan Arjan Singh was 19 years old when he was selected for training at Royal Air Force (RAF) Cranwell in 1938. On Sunday, IAF organised a half marathon to commemorate his accomplishments. Air Commodore Satish Menon, the college commandant, read out the message given by Chief of the Air Staff to the runners, air warriors and families and flagged off the marathon.

IAF Marshal Arjan Singh

On 15 August 1947, MIAF Arjan Singh had the unique honour of leading the fly-past of over hundred IAF aircraft over the Red Fort and on the same day, assumed the command of Air Force Station, Ambala in the rank of Group Captain. (Courtesy: Twitter@IAF_MCC)

IAF Marshal Arjan Singh

Arjan Singh was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1944, for displaying outstanding leadership, great skill and courage in the Burma Campaign during World War II. (Courtesy: Twitter@IAF_MCC)

IAF Marshal Arjan Singh

In November 1965, Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh became the first Air-Warrior of IAF to be awarded the Padma Vibhushan. He received the award from the then President of India Shri Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. (Courtesy: Twitter@IAF_MCC)

IAF Marshal Arjan Singh

In 1939, the No. 01 Squadron, IAF was deployed at Miranshah in the North-West Frontier Province in the counter-insurgency campaign. Flying in this region was fraught with danger. (Courtesy: Twitter@IAF_MCC)

IAF Marshal Arjan Singh

Arjan Singh has been a sports achiever. As an ace swimmer, he held an all-India record in freestyle swimming in one mile and half mile events. He was the vice-captain of swimming, athletics and hockey teams during his training at RAF College Cranwell. (Courtesy: Twitter@IAF_MCC)