World War II, 1965 India-Pakistan War: A look at Arjan Singh’s distinguished career

The former IAF chief Arjan Singh had played a key role in India’s victory in the 1965 war against Pakistan.

Marshal of Indian Air Force Arjan Singh died on Saturday after he was admitted to Army Hospital in New Delhi following a heart attack.

Then president KR Narayanan, left, presents a baton to Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi, April 23, 2002. (HT File Photo)

Here is a timeline of his life:

April 15, 1919: Born in Lyallpur, present day Faislabad in Pakistan

1938: At 19 years was selected for a pilot training course at Royal Air Force College, Cranwell

1939: Training cut short by World War II. Joined Sqdn 1 in Ambala

1943: Became Commanding Officer Sqdn 1

1944: Led his squadron to Imphal against the Japanese during the Arakan Campaign.

1944: Received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for leading the squadron during Imphal Campaign by Lord Mountbatten

August 15, 1947: Led the fly-past of over a hundred IAF aircraft over the red fort.

August 1, 1964: Arjan Singh took over as the Chief of Air Staff in the rank of Air Marshal

1965 : Arjan Singh was awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his leadership of IAF during the ‘65 war with Pakistan

1971: Appointed India’s Ambassador to Switzerland.

1974: Appointed Indian High Commissioner to Kenya.

1980s: At the height of militancy in Punjab he was part of a 5-member committee that would go door to door in the state and try to bridge the differences between Hindus & Sikhs.

1989: Janata government appoints Arjan Singh as the L-G of Delhi as an attempt to apply balm to the wounds of the Sikh community

2002: Conferred with the rank of the Marshal of the Air Force making him the first and the only ‘Five Star’ rank officer with the Indian Air Force.

April, 2011: Wife Teji Singh passes away at the age of 80.