Country mourns over death of IAF Marshal Arjan Singh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind expressed condolences over the death of Marshan Arjan Singh.

In his latest tweet, PM Modi said: "My thoughts are with his family & those mourning the demise of a distinguished air warrior & fine human, Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh. RIP."

Remembering the last time he met the Marshal, the Prime Minister said: "Sometime back I met him, who despite his ill health tried to get up to salute even though I said no. Such was his soldier discipline."

President Ram Nath Kovind took to Twitter to say: "Sad at demise of a great air warrior & Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh. Condolences to his family & IAF community."

Referring to the military leadership provided by the Marshal, the President said: "Marshal of the IAF Arjan Singh was a WW II hero & won our nation's gratitude for his military leadership in 1965 war."

Expressing condolences, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told media: "Conduct and exemplary nature in which he conducted himself will be remembered by generations."

"A big loss for the country and few people who are looking for icons," she added.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted to say: "Marshal of the IAF, Arjan Singh lived his life like a soldier. The tales of his courage will remain immortal. Deeply pained at his demise."

"My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members of Shri Arjan Singh. May God give them strength to bear this colossal loss" the Home Minister added.

Remembering the contributions of IAF Marshal Arjan Singh, former Indian President, Pranab Mukherjee, said: "As an outstanding soldier who led from the front, a diplomat and an administrator #ArjanSingh will forever be remembered."

"Saddened at the passing away of Marshal #ArjanSingh. I join the nation in mourning his loss. My deepest condolences to his family," the former President said in an early tweet.

Former Indian cricket team captain, Sachin Tendulkar, too expressed his condolences and bid farewell to the Marshal, saying: "Today, we bid a sad farewell to one of India's heroes, IAF Officer Marshal Arjan Singh. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family."

Marshal Arjan Singh died at an age of 98.

The Marshal was admitted to the hospital following a cardiac arrest, read a government statement.

He was being treated at the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Sciences Centre of the hospital.

Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, DFC was entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Indian Air Force when he was only 44 years old, a responsibility he carried with elan.

He was the Chief of IAF when it saw action in the year 1965.

Arjan Singh was born on Apr 15, 1919, in Lyalpur of undivided Punjab. He completed his education from Montgomery.

In 1938 when he got selected for the Empire Pilot training course at RAF Cranwell, he was still in college and was only 19 years old.

His first posting on being commissioned involved flying Westland Wapiti biplanes in the North Western Frontier Province as a member of the No.1 IAF Squadron. Arjan Singh flew against the tribal forces before he was transferred for a brief stint with the newly formed No.2 IAF Squadron. Later he moved back to No.1 Sqn as a Flying Officer, when the Squadron was re-equipped with the Hawker Hurricane.

Promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader in 1944, Arjan Singh  also flew Close Support missions during the crucial Imphal Campaign and later assisted the advance of the allied forces to Rangoon, Burma. For his role in successfully leading the squadron during combat, Arjan Singh received the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944.

He was given command of the IAF Display flight which flew Hawker Hurricanes after the war that toured India giving demonstrations. On 15 August 1947, he was given the unique honour of leading the fly-past of more than a hundred IAF aircraft over the Red Fort in Delhi.

Immediately after independence, he took over the command of Air Force Station, Ambala, in the rank of Group Captain. In 1949, after promotion to the rank of Air Commodore, Arjan Singh took over as the Air Officer Commanding of Operational Command, which later came to be known as the Western Air Command. Arjan Singh had the distinction of having the longest tenure as the AOC of Operational Command, from 1949-1952 and again from 1957-1961. Promoted to Air Vice Marshal, he was the AOC-in-C of Operational Command. Towards the end of the 1962 war, he was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Air Staff and became the Vice Chief of Air Staff by 1963.

On Aug 1, 1964, Arjan Singh took over as the Chief of Air Staff (CAS) in the rank of Air Marshal. Arjan Singh was the first Air Chief who kept his flying category till his CAS rank.

Having flown over 60 different types of aircraft from Pre-Second World War era biplanes to the more contemporary Gnats & Vampires, he had also flown in transports like the Super Constellation.

A testing time came in September 1965   when Pakistan launched Operation Grand Slam, in which an armoured thrust targeted the vital town of Akhnur, he was summoned into the Defence Minister's office with a request for air support.

When asked how quickly the IAF will be ready for operations,he replied with his characteristic nonchalance,"...in an hour". And true to his word, the Air Force struck the Pakistani offensive in an hour.

Arjan Singh was awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his leadership during the 1965 War and subsequently the rank of the CAS was upgraded to that of Air Chief Marshal. Arjan Singh became the first Air Chief Marshal of the Indian Air Force.

He retired in July 1969, thereupon accepting ambassadorship to Switzerland.