Arjan Singh: Marshal of the Indian Air Force
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