Arjan Singh (1919-2017) Biography, Age, Family, Career

Quick Info

Profession	Marshal of Indian Air Force
Nationality	Indian
Date of Birth	15/04/1919
Age	98 years (died on 16, Sep, 2017)
Birthplace	Lyallpur, Punjab, British India (now Faisalabad, Pakistan)
Date of Death	16/09/2017

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Bio/Wiki

Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, DFC was a senior air officer who served as the 3rd Chief of the Air Staff from 1964 to 1969. He was the first and only officer of the Indian Air Force to be promoted to the five-star rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force, equivalent to Field Marshal in the army. Singh led the IAF through the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 with strategic brilliance, outmaneuvering the Pakistani Air Force despite India's older aircraft. He was commissioned into the Royal Indian Air Force in December 1939 at age 19 and served for 30 years until his retirement in July 1969.

Physical Stats & More

Height	170 cm
Weight	70 kg
Eye Color	Black
Hair Color	White

Educational Qualification(s)

College/university	Royal Air Force College Cranwell, Lincolnshire; Government College, Lahore
Education	Trained Pilot

Personal Life

Singh led the first fly-past of independent India over the Red Fort on 15 August 1947, commanding more than a hundred IAF aircraft.
As a five-star rank officer, Singh held his rank ceremonially for life and never formally retired, holding his baton until his death at age 98.

Relationships & More

Marital Status	Widower when died
Wife/Spouse	Late Teji Arjan Singh
Children	Arvind Singh (Professor in the United States) Asha Singh (Lives in Europe)

Family

Father	Kishan Singh (Lance Daffadar in Hodson's Horse, retired as Risaldar of the Cavalry)
Mother	Name
Religion	Sikhism

Career

Important Positions	Indian Ambassador to Switzerland High Commissioner to Kenya Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Air Officer Commanding of Operational Command Deputy Chief of Air Staff Vice Chief of Air Staff Chief of Air Staff Pilot Officer, No. 1 Squadron RIAF (1939-1944) Squadron Leader, No. 1 Squadron (1944, Burma Campaign) Wing Commander Group Captain, Ambala Air Force Station (1947) Air Commodore and Air Officer Commanding, Operational Command (1949-1952) Air Vice Marshal, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Operational Command (1958-1959) Marshal of the Indian Air Force (1966-2017)
Awards	Padma Vibhushan Marshal of the Indian Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) Padma Vibhushan - 1965, for distinguished service during Indo-Pakistani War Air Chief Marshal - 1966, first IAF officer to achieve this rank
Military Service	Indian Air Force (Royal Indian Air Force until 1950)
Years of Service	1939-1969 (active); 1969-2017 (ceremonial as Marshal)
Notable Achievements	Longest serving head of the Operational Command with six years of service across two tenures (1950-1952, 1955-1959) Second-longest term as Chief of Air Staff in IAF history, serving almost five years Led IAF to air superiority during 1965 Indo-Pak War despite inferior aircraft compared to Pakistan's US-supplied jets Piloted over 60 different types of aircraft throughout his career Youngest aviator to become Chief of Air Staff at age 45; oldest to hold active rank in the force until age 98

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Arjan Singh held the unique distinction of being the sole Indian Air Force officer to attain a five-star rank.
2. Throughout his career, he piloted over 60 diverse types of aircraft.
3. He was commissioned into the Royal Air Force as a Pilot Officer in December 1939.
4. He led the fly-past of more than a hundred IAF aircraft over the Red Fort in Delhi on 15 August 1947.
5. He was the Chief of IAF during the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
6. He was entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Indian Air Force when he was only 44 years old.
7. He was commissioned into the Royal Indian Air Force as a Pilot Officer in December 1939 at age 19.
8. He was the first Indian pilot to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on the spot by the Supreme Allied Commander during World War II.
9. His batchmate from RAF Cranwell, Air Marshal Asghar Khan, led the Pakistan Air Force during the 1965 war.
10. As a five-star rank officer, Singh never saluted but raised his baton instead, a privilege of five-star officers.
11. He was the last Indian Air Force officer trained at RAF Cranwell.

Arjan Singh Marshal of Indian Air Force Indian Lyallpur, Punjab, British India (now Faisalabad, Pakistan)