1.3 "On Wings of Courage" - a simple guide

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  1.3 "On Wings of Courage" 

- Air Force Marshal Arjan Singh,

an icon of India’s military history.

The lesson 1.3 "On Wings of Courage" is a biographical piece about Air Force Marshal Arjan Singh, an icon of India’s military history. The story of Marshal Arjan Singh follows the life of a legendary military icon who shaped the Indian Air Force (IAF). Here is the timeline of his life and career in a clear sequence. He was a man of exceptional bravery and the first and only five-star-ranked officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF).



1. Important Short Forms (Abbreviations)

Understanding these is crucial for the "Vocabulary" and "Language Study" sections of your exam.

  • IAF: Indian Air Force.
  • RIAF: Royal Indian Air Force (The name of the force before India became a Republic).
  • DFC: Distinguished Flying Cross (A high military decoration for bravery while flying).
  • RAF: Royal Air Force (The air force of the United Kingdom).
  • RAAF: Royal Australian Air Force.
  • AOC: Air Officer Commanding.
  • AOC-in-C: Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief.
  • CAS: Chief of the Air Staff.
  • NWFP: North-Western Frontier Province (The area where Singh had his first assignment).


2. Fact File of Air Force Marshal Arjan Singh


  • Full Name Arjan Singh
  • Date of Birth April 15, 1919
  • Place of Birth Lyallpur (now Faisalabad, Pakistan)
  • Education Montgomery (Pakistan) and RAF Cranwell (UK)
  • First Assignment Flying Westland Wapiti biplanes in the North-Western Frontier Province (NWFP).
  • Important Posts Held
    • (1) Chief of the Air Staff (CAS)
    • (2) Ambassador to Switzerland
    • (3) Lieutenant Governor of Delhi
  • Awards
    • (1) Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
    • (2) Padma Vibhushan
    • (3) Marshal of the Air Force (Five-Star Rank)
  • Most Outstanding Contribution Leading the IAF during the 1965 Indo-Pak War and transforming it into one of the most potent air forces in the world.
  • Retirement Date August 1969
  • Passed Away September 16, 2017


  • Early Life and Education
    • 15 April 1919: Born in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad, Pakistan) into a family with a strong military tradition.
    • Early Education: Completed his schooling at Montgomery (now Sahiwal, Pakistan) and later attended Government College, Lahore, where he was an exceptional swimmer.
    • 1938: At age 19, he was selected for the Empire Pilot Training Course at the Royal Air Force (RAF) College, Cranwell, in the UK.
  • World War II and Early Career
    • 1939: Commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF). His first assignment was flying Westland Wapiti biplanes in the North-Western Frontier Province.
    • 1943: Promoted to acting Squadron Leader and became the Commanding Officer of No. 1 Squadron.
    • 1944: Led his squadron during the Arakan Campaign and the crucial Imphal campaign against Japanese forces.
    • 1944: Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his bravery and leadership.

  • Post-Independence Leadership

    • 15 August 1947: Had the unique honour of leading the first fly-past of over 100 IAF aircraft over the Red Fort in Delhi.
    • 1949–1952 & 1957–1961: Served as the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of the Operational Command for a total of seven years, the longest tenure in that post.
    • 1 August 1964: Appointed as the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) at the age of 45.

  • The 1965 Indo-Pak War

    • 1965: Successfully led a young IAF during the war against Pakistan. When asked for air support by the defence minister, he famously replied "in an hour" and delivered.
    • 1965: Awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his astute leadership during the war.
    • 1966: Became the first officer to be promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal after the post of CAS was upgraded.

  • Retirement and Diplomatic Service

    • August 1969: Retired from the IAF after three decades of service.
    • 1971–1977: Served as India's ambassador to Switzerland and the Vatican, and later as high commissioner to Kenya.
    • 1989–1990: Appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.

  • The Five-Star Recognition

    • January 2002: Conferred with the rank of Marshal of the Air Force by the Government of India. He remains the first and only five-star rank officer in the history of the IAF.
    • 16 September 2017: Passed away at the age of 98 in New Delhi.


“His contribution to
the Indian Air Force is monumental to the least-

= means that Arjan Singh’s role in developing and leading the IAF was extraordinarily great and historic, and even calling it "monumental" is not enough to describe the full extent of his impact.



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