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PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (DEFENCE WING) GOVER1'MEMP OF DJDIA

SENIOR AIR PROMOTIONS IN THE IAF

Two Air Commodores Become Air Vice-Marshals

New Delhi, Jyaistha2, 1880 May 239 1958 Promotion of two Air Commodores in. the Indian Air Force to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal has been announced, here today. Air Commodore D.A.R. Nand.a, Air Officer on Special Duty, has 'been appoint Deputy Chief of the Air Staff at Air HQ, in the rank of Air Vice-Marshala He succeeds Air Vice-Marshal A.M. Engineer, who will be taking over as General Manager of the Hindustan Aircraft (Private), Limited. Air Commodore Arjan Singh has been promoted to the rank of Aii Vice- Marshal .in his p'esent appointment as head of the Operational Command, This appointment has, however, been up-graded and reê.esignated as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Operational Command.

Air Vice-Marshal D.A.R. Nand.a - Air Vice-Marshal Diwan Atma P.m Nanda has been Air Officer on Special Duty at Air HQ since compting a course at the Imperial Defence College in the United Kingdom, last year. He was first commissioned in the Indian Army in 1935 and posted to the 1st Punjab Regiment, In September 1938, he was seconded to the IAF and served, with the No. 1 IAF Squadron. Later, as Flight Commander, he formed the No. 3 Squadron and subsequently became its Commanding Officer. Under his command, the Squadron saw active service on the North West Frontier and successfully carried out operations in Sind against the Huis, who constitutes a menace to that province. In this work he ws highly commended by the then C-in-C, Field Marshal Lord Wavell. Air Vice-Marshal Nancla had his Staff College training at Quetta, and., soon after Partition, was given command of the IAF Base Repair DDot at Kanpur, which is the laiest maintenance unit in India. Later, he was appointed Director of Orgaiiisaticn and Establishment at Air E1. In November 1948 7 he was promoted to the rank of Air Commodore and appointed one of the three Principal Staff Officers at the re-organised Air EQ as head of the Personnel and Organisation Branch, In October 1952, he was appointed Air Officer Ccmmanding, Operational Command, controlling all front- line units in the lAP, In 1956, he was selected to attend a cour3e at the Imperial Defence College.

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Air Vice_Marshal Arjafl Singh

in Air Vice4ar5hal Arjafl Singh was commissioned in the IkF his service He saw actioI on the North West Frontie where he began 1939. and and led the same career with the No, 1 IAF SQuadron. Later, he comm Burma operations. For being 'a fearless and. sQuadrOn in the Ar:an and wth a profound kowledg0 of his speoialii3 branch of exceptional pIlot be was nspiring sQuadron oommand6r" tectical reconnaiSSan and as an i awarded the Distinguished Flyifl Cross. War II, Air Vice_Marshai ArjaXl Singh led. At the en3. of World India. Later, he was given command. ed the IAF display flight which tour of the Air Force StationS at Kohat and RisalPUr. After Partition, he became the first IAF cfficer to comnai1d the Advanced Flying ShOl at , For-ca 3d.51flZf' mba.ia, later shifted to Begupet as a f U_flOd.d. Air In 19489 he became Director of Tainiflg at Air HQ and a year he was seleced to attend a course at the Joint SeT iCeS Staff later timOre, Jngland. Soon after his return from the College at La he was promoted to the rank of Air CommOdOre and appointed Air Officer math±ng, Operational C0mmand9 the senior command appointment which Qom he was to hold for the second time four years Later, In between he was icers at Air HQ as Air Officer-.' one of the Principal Staff Off Personnel & OrganSation. Command, he led a squr0fl In 1956 while A.O.C.,Orati agoodwill miSSi0fl of, Toofani jet fhterS to Bma on

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