Arjan Singh

Singh in 2015

Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, DFC (15 April 1919 – 16 September 2017) was an Indian Air Force Officer. He served as Chief of the Air Staff from 1964 to 1969. He was born in Lyallpur, Punjab, British India (now Faisalabad, Pakistan).

After retiring from the IAF, he served as a diplomat, politician and advisor to the Indian government. In 2002, he became the first and only officer of the Indian Air Force to be promoted to five-star rank as Marshal of the Indian Air Force, equal to the army rank of Field Marshal.^[1]

In 1971 (after his retirement) Singh was appointed as the Indian Ambassador to Switzerland. He concurrently served as the Ambassador to the Vatican. He was also appointed as the High Commissioner to Kenya in 1974.

Singh died of a heart attack on 16 September 2017 in New Delhi, India at the age of 98.^[2]

Arjan Singh Media

Arjan Singh as a Flight Lieutenant with a group Indian pilots from No.1 Squadron standing by a Hawker Hurricane IIc. L to R : Ibrahim, Homi Ratnagar, Arjan Singh, Henry and Murcot. World War II.
Officers of No. 1 Squadron IAF sit down to tiffin in their mess at Imphal Main, India. At lower right sits the CO Sqn Ldr Arjan Singh. Next to him is Flt Lt R Rajaram.
CO No.1 Sqn Ldr Arjan Singh, DFC being presented with a Japanese Sword by GOC 20 Div Maj Gen D D Gracey, OBE
MIAF Arjan Singh carrying the Marshal's baton with the President of India, K. R. Narayanan and Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee after being promoted to Five Star rank in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Singh on a 2019 stamp of India
Uniform of Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh at Air Force Museum in Delhi
U.S. President Barack Obama greets Singh in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan during India's republic day parade, 2015.
Flag of the Marshal of Indian Air Force
Rank Insignia of a Group Captain of the Indian Air Force.
Rank Insignia of an Air Commodore of the Indian Air Force.