Arjan Singh—the only officer of the Indian Air Force to be promoted to the five-star rank of Marshal of the Air Force—was born on April 15, 1919, in Lyallpur, Punjab, and passed away on September 16, 2017, in Delhi. Following his retirement from the Air Force, he also served the Government of India in various political, diplomatic, and advisory capacities. From 1989 to 1990, he held the position of Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, and in 2002, he was conferred with the rank of Marshal of the Indian Air Force. He was the first officer of the Indian Air Force to hold the rank of Air Chief Marshal.
Arjan received his early education in Montgomery, British India; he entered the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell, in 1938 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in 1939. In 1945, he commanded the Indian Air Force’s first demonstration flight. He once faced a court-martial for flying at an extremely low altitude over a populated area in Kerala. He retired from active service in 1969 at the age of 50. In 1971, he was appointed as India’s Ambassador to Switzerland. He displayed unparalleled valor and leadership during the Second World War and the Indo-Pak Wars. He played a pivotal role in establishing the Indian Air Force as a modern and formidable fighting force. After retirement, he rendered diplomatic services to the nation and continued to serve society as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. Additionally, he donated ₹2 crore from his personal assets to the Indian Air Force Veterans Fund.
Honors and Awards
- Marshal Arjan Singh served as the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) from August 1, 1964, to July 15, 1969.
- In 1965, he was honored with the Padma Bhushan. Subsequently, in recognition of his contributions to the Air Force during the 1965 War, he was promoted from the rank of Chief of the Air Staff to that of Air Chief Marshal.
- Marshal Arjan Singh was also awarded the distinguished Distinguished Flying Cross in 1944.
- For his distinguished services, he received numerous military decorations, prominent among which are the General Service Medal 1947, Summer Seva Star, Raksha Medal, Sainya Seva Medal, Indian Independence Medal, and the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross. Additionally, he was honored with the 1939–45 Star, Burma Star, War Medal 1939–45, and the India Service Medal.
- These honors clearly demonstrate that Arjan Singh dedicated every moment of his life to the service and security of the nation.