Decorated Air Marshal passes away at 97

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 19

Air Marshal Randhir Singh, one of the oldest surviving officers of the Indian Air Force who’s commissioning into the service dates back to the pre-Independence era, passed way yesterday. He was 97.

His mortal remains were consigned to the flames with military honours here today. He is survived by his son, Wing Commander Pradeep Singh, and a daughter. A large number of serving and retired officers, relatives and well-wishers attended his funeral.

Local Air Force Association members said he was active till the last day. He drove his car himself to see off his children who were flying to Australia from the local airport on Monday.

Wreaths were laid on his body on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff, Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of the Western, Training and Maintenance Commands, President of the Air Force Association, Canberra Association and the Association of War Veterans.

Air Vice Marshal SK Jha, Air Officer Commanding, Advance HQs Chandimandir and Air Commodore Sanjeeva Sinha paid floral tributes.

Commissioned into the erstwhile Royal Indian Air Force on December 21, 1942, as part of the15th Course, his initial deployment was in the North West Frontier Province, where then Flight Lieutenant (later Marshal of the Indian Air Force) Arjan Singh too was posted. Both of them later moved to Burma for operations against the Japanese during the Second World War.

On Independence, Air Marshal Randhir Singh was part of the first flypast over the Red Fort in Delhi, which was led by the Marshal. As a Flight Lieutenant in 1947, Randhir Singh flew 185 hours in close support of the Army troops during the J&K operations. He was decorated with the Vir Chakra for his leadership and courage in the face of enemy fire.

He flew numerous sorties during the Chinese aggression and in the 1965 India-Pak war successfully directed Air Defence operations in his area of responsibility. As an Air Commodore, he commanded the Adampur Airbase in 1971 overseeing defensive as well as offensive operations. For his services during the 1965 and 1971 wars, he was honoured with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Param Vishisht Seva Medal. He rose to the highest echelons of the service, going on to head the IAF’s South Western and Training Commands.

On retirement in April 1978, he settled down in Chandigarh. A soft-spoken, congenial and respected officer, he was highly active in the social circuit and also took active interest in veterans’ affairs.