Arjan Singh Marshal of IAF has passed away at the age of 98 on Saturday due to Cardiac arrest. He was India’s oldest, five-star ranked officer.
He became the first Indian Pilot to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) by the supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia. He was even described as a “fearless and exceptional pilot”.
In his glorious career, he has awarded many awards. He was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1965 for his contributions in the 1965 Indo-Pak war, He served as IAF’s third Indian Chief of Air Staff at the age of 45.
He retired from IAF in 1970, at the age of 50, he became one of the longest serving chief of the Army services in India. After his retirement he was made India’s Ambassador to Switzerland, and then the Indian High Commissioner to Kenya in 1974. He also served as India’s Ambassador to the Vatican. Later he returned to India, and then served as Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
To honor his service for nation, Westbengal’s Air Force base at Panagarh was renamed as Air Force Station Arjan Singh last year. He was the only living officer to have base named after him.
In his Years of service, he flew over 60 different kinds of air crafts and his zest for flying didn’t end until the day he retired in 1969.
End of an Era- Last salute to the legend. Live coverage of Last Rites of the #Marshal of the Indian Air Force.https://t.co/8lsqwteARB pic.twitter.com/p1WGFF9LLQ
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) 18 September 2017
He was admitted in hospital on Saturday Morning. Earlier that day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defense minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the three Service chiefs - General Bipin Rawat, Admiral Sunil Lanba and Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa - visited Singh at the hospital.
He was cremated with full state honors on Monday. Military band Played farewell tune as the entire nation bids goodbye to the Air force Veteran. Sukhoi fighter jets fly past in the missing man formation in honor of the Indian Air Force’s Only Marshal Arjan Singh.
By A.s
