Arjan Singh Biography 
Arjan Singh is the only officer of the Indian Air Force to be promoted to five-star rank, equal to a Field Marshal. The Marshal of the Indian Air Force was given to him in the year 2002. At present he is the only living Indian military officer with a five-star rank, the other military officer being Sam Manekshaw who died in 2008. Indian military officers of five-star rank hold their rank for life, and are considered to be serving officers until their deaths and hence he is regarded to be not retired from military service at the age of 94 (as on 2014 February).
Arjan Singh was born on 15 April 1919 in Lyallpur in the Punjab of British India (now in Pakistan). He studied at Montgomery, now in Pakistan. He entered the RAF College Cranwell in 1938 and was commissioned as a pilot officer in December 1939. He was a distinguished graduate of the RAF College. Singh led No. 1 Squadron, Indian Air Force into command during the Arakan Campaign in 1944. Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded to him in the year 1944 and commanded the Indian Air Force Exhibition Flight in 1945. Singh was on the verge of a court martial when he tried to raise the morale of an air force pilot by conducting a low level air pass over a house in Kerala. But he told that such tricks are also necessary for a fighter pilot.
He was Chief of the Air Staff during the period 1964 to 1969 and was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1965 for Military Service. Then he has held several senior positions throughout his military career. Lt. Governor of Delhi from Dec 1989 - Dec 1990 and Marshal of the Air Force in January, 2002 need special mention.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 17, 2014
