Sanjha Morcha

A leader who ruled skies and hearts

A leader who ruled skies and hearts
A file photo of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh. PTI

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 16

On August 15, 1947, the first flypast over the Red Fort in New Delhi that roared overhead in perfect formation and with perfect timing was led by Marshal of the Air Force, Arjan Singh. “In those days we had no radar or navigation aids and yet we flew in with pin point accuracy. Everything depended upon the formation leader’s judgement and he pulled off a perfect feat. This was the man,” recalled Air Marshal Randhir Singh (retd), a city resident who retired as Air Officer Commanding in Chief, South Western Air Command, and had flown as the Marshal’s wingman during the flypast.The IAF’s grand old man is no more, but he has left strong and cherished memories behind of life well lived. Many IAF officers who had served with him or under him reside in the city.Air Marshal Randhir Singh recalled that he had first met the Marshal at Kohat in the North West Frontier Province. The Marshal was then serving with No.1 Squadron while Randhir Singh joined No.3 Squadron.“We used to meet informally in the officers’ mess. He was helpful and a good human being,” Randhir Singh said. “He was an excellent swimmer and held the university colours in the sport. Every Sunday, officers would have a swimming competition, but he never used to participate because he knew that he could easily beat all of us,” he recalled.Officers recalled him as a great leader, both in the air as well as on the ground, who had a great understanding of varied operational and administrative aspects and was also quick to convert on different types of aircraft.“The Marshal was the type in whom others would have full faith,” recalled Air Marshal MM Singh, a former AOC-in-C, Western Air Command, who retired in 1988. “He was a perfect soldier who led from the front.” Air Marshal MM Singh commanded the same squadron, No.15 during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, the same outfit which the Marshal had commanded earlier. “Even after I retired we used to meet frequently as we were both members of the Dashmesh Academy Trust at Anandpur Sahib.” MM Singh said.Marshal Singh had attended two official IAF events in Chandigarh in recent years after he was elevated at Marshal of the Air Force. In 2007, he attended the President’s Fleet Review at the Chandigarh Air Force Station when AJP Abdul Kalam was the Supreme Commander. In 2013, he was by the then president, Pranab Mukherjee, presented Colours to No.3 Base Repair Depot. On both occasions, was seen dressed in immaculate ceremonials with a soldierly bearing keeping in step with the present generation of men in blue despite his age.

clip