Prithi Singh

Air Marshal

Prithi Singh

PVSM, AVSM, VM **, ADC
Air Marshal ; Prithi Singh; PVSM, AVSM, VM **, ADC
Born	9 April 1934; Bapora, Haryana, India
Died	16 October 2012 (aged 78)
Allegiance	India
Service/branch	Indian Air Force
Years of service	1 April 1953 - 30 April 1992
Rank	Air Marshal
Service number	4480
Unit	No. 101 Squadron IAF
Commands	No. 101 Squadron IAF ; Western Air Command ; Deputy Chief of Air Staff
Awards	Param Vishisht Seva Medal ; Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ; Vayu Sena Medal (Bar) ; Vayu Sena Medal
Alma mater	Mayo College ; National Defence College (India) ; Empire Test Pilots' School. UK; Flying Instructors School (India)
Children	Air Marshal Vikram Singh (son)
Relations	Air Marshal Sandeep Singh (son-in-law)

Last updated August 26, 2024

Air Marshal Prithi Singh PVSM, AVSM, VM & Bar, ADC was an officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as Air Officer Commanding in Chief (AOC-in-C), Western Air Command from 1 August 1988 to 30 April 1992.^[1]^[2] During his 40 years in the Indian Air Force, Singh flew about 102 different types of aircraft and their 120+ versions setting a record in IAF of flying most number of aircraft.^[3]

Early life

He was born into the Tanwar clan of Rajputs, with roots in the Bapora village in the Bhiwani district of Haryana.^[4] to Sakat Singh who was sarpanch of Bapora.

Career

Air Marshal Pirthi Singh was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1953. During his distinguished service of 39 years, he has held important command and staff appointments such as Command of the Aircraft and System Testing Establishment, Director Offensive Operations, Director Training, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations), Deputy Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command. He is a graduate of National Defence College.

In 1960 Prithi was categorized a Cat A1 instructor by Reggie Upot and was posted to 17 Sqn at Poona on Hunters under the CO ‘Johnny’ Bhasin and Flt Cdr ‘Johny’ Greene both to become towering professionals in the IAF.

As a test pilot he held the rare distinct having carried out evaluation trials of all combat aircraft presently held in the Air Force Inventory. In 1979, he was appointed Commandant Aircraft System and Testing Establishment where he organized and participated in the testing and development of new equipment. He carried out these tasks successfully and without incurring a single incident involving loss or damage to any aircraft or equipment under development. As Commandant, he had shown extreme devotion and made outstanding contributions to aeronautical development in the country. Due to his initiative, dedication, hard work and foresight, the Test Pilot School at ASTE was rated very high.

As Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Singh continued to display qualities if extreme dedication and professional excellence. His acumen for planning and dear perception of the long term operational requirements of the Air Force was a strong contributory factor to finalization of some long term plans

Perhaps no other test pilot evaluated as many aircraft types as Prithi Singh to be considered for service in IAF. These included the Sukhoi Su-7, 160 of which type saw IAF service and flew over 1600 sorties in the 1971 War. He evaluated all new combat aircraft offered to IAF, including those for meeting the Deep Penetration Strike Aircraft (DPSA) requirement such as the Anglo-French Jaguar, French Mirage F1, British Buccaneer and the Swedish Viggen.^[5] By the time Air Marshal Prithi Singh finished his flying career in IAF, he had piloted around 120 aircraft types and their various versions, perhaps an unmatched IAF record. For his many remarkable contributions to IAF, flying over 6300 hours without a single avoidable accident and setting a shining example to younger officers.^[5] Of this he had flown almost 5200 hrs on single engine aircraft. In fact in the last month of his service career he flew 26 sorties and 51:15 hrs.^[5]^[3]

The Final Innings

In Feb 2003 after exactly 50 years of military flying, Prithi flew the Czech, Aero Vodochody, Boeing L-159 at the Aero India 2003 air show at Yelahanka. It was a great opportunity for him to get back into the cockpit and joyously carry out aerobatics and spinning in an aircraft designed just for that. It was also a fitting celebration to mark his 50th anniversary of military flying. By this time he had piloted 105 types of aircraft.^[3]

Personal life

He was married to Shiv Kanwar, daughter of Lt. Colonel Rai Bahadur Thakur Devi Singhji, last jagirdar of thikana Chittora of erstwhile Jaipur State.^[6] His son Air Marshal Vikram Singh is also a Test Pilot who had worked extensively on the Light Combat Aircraft.^[7] Prithi’s daughter is married to Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, Vice Chief of the Air Staff.^[7] Prithi Singh was a tea-totaller and non-smoker. He kept himself very fit and was hardly ever beaten at squash by youngsters even as the AOC-in-C Western Air Command ^[7]

Honors and decorations

During his career, Prithi Singh has been awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vayu Sena Medal (BAR) for his service^[1]

Param Vishisht Seva Medal	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal	Vayu Sena Medal

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Idris Hasan Latif</span> Air Chief Marshal IAF (1923–2018)

Idris Hasan Latif, PVSM was a former air officer in the Indian Air Force. He served as the 10th Chief of Air Staff (CAS) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from 1978 to 1981. After retiring from the air force, he served as 11th Governor of Maharashtra from 1982 to 1985.

Air Marshal Sadasivan Radhakrishnan PVSM, AVSM, is a retired officer in the Indian Air Force. He served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Southern Air Command. Previously he served as Commander-in-Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command and also served as a Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of the Indian Air Force’s Bangalore based Training Command. An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, he was commissioned into the IAF in June 1970 in the fighter stream. He has the experience of over 4000 hours of flying on a variety of combat and trainer aircraft. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor and a fighter Combat Leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy</span> Former chief of the Indian Air Force

Air Chief Marshal Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy PVSM, AVSM, VM & Bar, ADC is a former Air Officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF). He served as the 19th Chief of the Air Staff from 2001 to 2004. He raised the first electronic warfare squadron in the Indian Air Force. He has the rare distinction of having commanded three operational commands of the IAF - the Western, South-Western and Central Air Commands.

Air Chief Marshal Satish Kumar Sareen, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC was the Chief of Air Staff of Indian Air Force from 31 December 1995 till 31 December 1998.

Air Marshal Balakrishnan Suresh PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Western Air Command from 1 November 2019 following superannuation of Air Marshal Raghunath Nambiar, till the day of his retirement on 31 July 2020.

Air Marshal Rajiv Dayal Mathur, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC is a former officer in the Indian Air Force. He was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Training Command. He assumed the office on 1 October 2020 succeeding Air Marshal Arvindra Singh Butola. He served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Eastern Air Command from 1 March 2019 to 30 September 2020. He superannuated on 31 July 2021.

Air Marshal Arvindra Singh Butola, PVSM, VM, VSM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He was the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Training Command, and assumed office on 14 October 2019 succeeding Air Marshal Surendra Kumar Ghotia. Air Marshal AS Butola superannuated on 30 September 2020.

Air Marshal Amit Tiwari, PVSM, AVSM, VM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Central Air Command. He assumed the office on 1 February 2021 succeeding Air Marshal Rajesh Kumar and served till 31 May 2021. He is succeeded by Air Marshal Richard John Duckworth. Previously, he served as AOC-in-C of Southern Air Command.

Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, is an air officer of the Indian Air Force. He currently serves as the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS). He took over as the 24th CAS succeeding Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria on 30 September 2021. He earlier served as the 45th Vice Chief of the Air Staff and as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Air Command.

Air Marshal Amit Dev, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Western Air Command. He superannuated on 28 February 2022.

Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VM, is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force currently serving as the Military Advisor in the National Security Council Secretariat. He served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, succeeding Vivek Ram Chaudhari. Previously, he served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), South Western Air Command.

Air Marshal Manavendra Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VrC, VSM, ADC is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Training Command. He assumed the office on 25 September 2021 succeeding Air Marshal Rajiv Dayal Mathur. Previously, he served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Air Command.

Air Marshal Richard John Duckworth, AVSM, VSM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Central Air Command. He assumed the office on 1 July 2021 succeeding Air Marshal Amit Tiwari. Previously he served as Air Officer in charge Personnel at Air Headquarters Vayu Bhawan in New Delhi and Senior Air Staff Officer for the Western Air Command and Central Air Command.

Air Marshal Balabhadra Radha Krishna, is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff from 30 September 2021 till 31 March 2023. He is former Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Western Air Command. He took over the office on 1 July 2021, following the elevation of Air Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari. Previously, he served as the Director General Air (Operations) and prior to that he served as Senior Air Staff Officer of South Western Air Command.

Vikram Singh, AVSM, VSM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), South Western Air Command. He took over the office on 1 October 2021, following the appointment of Air Marshal Sandeep Singh as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff.

Air Marshal Jonnalagedda Chalapati, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Southern Air Command. He assumed the office on October 3, 2021, succeeding Air Marshal Manavendra Singh.

Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, PVSM, AVSM is an officer of the Indian Air Force. He is serving as the 47th Vice Chief of the Air Staff. He assumed the office on February 1, 2023 succeeding Air Marshal Sandeep Singh.

Air Marshal P. K. DesaiPVSM AVSM VSM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force (IAF). He served in the IAF from 1966 to 2004. Desai was Air Officer Commanding of Air Force Station Chakeri in Kanpur, and additionally served as Senior Maintenance Staff Officer of Maintenance Command in Nagpur and as Assistant Chief of Air Staff Engineering at Air Headquarters in New Delhi.

Air Marshal Radhakrishnan Radhish, PVSM, AVSM, VM is a retired officer of the Indian Air Force. He served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C), Training Command. He assumed the office on 1 January 2023 succeeding Air Marshal Manavendra Singh.

Air Marshal Jeetendra Mishra, AVSM VSM is an air officer of the Indian Air Force. He currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Ops) at HQ Integrated Defence Staff. He assumed the office on 1 December 2023. He earlier served as the Deputy Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (DOT) at Integrated Defence Staff and the 29th Commandant of the Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment which also houses the Indian Air Force Test Pilot School.

References

1 2 "Service Record for Air Marshal Prithi Singh 4480 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
↑ "Western Air Command, Indian Air Force - Database". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
1 2 3 Singh, Polly. "The Man Who Flew Too Much - II". www.bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
↑ Raote, Rrishi (2012-05-05). "The General's village". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
1 2 3 Singh, Polly. "The man who flew too much -1". www.bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
↑ "Air Marshal Prithi Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VM Bar, ADC". Rajput Community Forum. 2020-01-25. Retrieved 2021-10-09.^{[ self-published source? ]}
1 2 3 Bhargava (Retd), Gp Capt Kapil. "Air Marshal Prithi Singh (April 8, 1934-October 16, 2012)". www.bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 2021-10-09.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[bharat-rakshak.com-1] 1 2 "Service Record for Air Marshal Prithi Singh 4480 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2021-10-09.

[2] "Western Air Command, Indian Air Force - Database". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 2021-10-09.

[:3-3] 1 2 3 Singh, Polly. "The Man Who Flew Too Much - II". www.bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 2021-10-09.

[4] Raote, Rrishi (2012-05-05). "The General's village". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2021-10-09.

[:4-5] 1 2 3 Singh, Polly. "The man who flew too much -1". www.bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 2021-10-09.

[:0-6] "Air Marshal Prithi Singh, PVSM, AVSM, VM Bar, ADC". Rajput Community Forum. 2020-01-25. Retrieved 2021-10-09.^{[ self-published source? ]}

[:1-7] 1 2 3 Bhargava (Retd), Gp Capt Kapil. "Air Marshal Prithi Singh (April 8, 1934-October 16, 2012)". www.bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 2021-10-09.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]