Man Mohan Sinha
Air Marshal Man Mohan Sinha, PVSM, AVSM, VM, (8 January 1933 – 31 August 2018) was an Indian Air Force officer and a veteran of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.[2] He was honoured with a number of medals including the Param Vishist Seva Medal, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and the Vayusena Medal.
Air Marshal Man Mohan Sinha | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Rusty[1] |
Born | Bhubaneswar, Bihar and Orissa Province, British India | 8 January 1933
Died | 31 August 2018 85) New Delhi | (aged
Allegiance | India |
Service/ | Indian Air Force |
Years of service | 1953–1991 |
Rank | Air Marshal |
Service number | 4408 |
Unit | 3 Squadron |
Commands held | Eastern Air Command 37 Squadron |
Battles/wars | Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani war of 1971 |
Awards | Mentioned in Despatches, Param Vishist Seva Medal, Ati Vishist Seva Medal, Vayusena Medal |
Early life and education
Man Mohan Sinha was born on 8 January 1933 at Bhubaneswar, Bihar and Orissa Province, British India. He was educated at St. Xavier's High School, Patna.
Military career
He joined the National defense academy (Indian military academy) in the then Inter services wing in 1948. He was then commissioned to the Indian Air Force as a pilot officer on 17 January 1953, serving in 3rd squadron (1953-1961). Subsequently, he became the Air Force ADC to Dr. Rajender Prasad (1961-1962) and Dr. Radhakrishnan (1962-1964), after which he transferred to 7th squadron (1964-1967), taking part in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war.
1965 Indo-Pakistan War achievements
Sinha was a part of No. 7 Squadron IAF as a squadron leader during the 1965 war against Pakistan.[3] Squadron Leaders MM Sinha, SS Malik, AS Lamba, Dice Dhiman etc. making their mark in various missions during 1965 war.[4][5][6][7] SS Malik, AS Lamba, PS Pingle, AR Gandhi received the Vir Chakra, along with Man Mohan Sinha, DK Dhiman, CG Pander, P Kondaiah who earned a Mention-in-Despatches for combat operations.[8]
Command of No. 37 Squadron IAF
No. 37 Squadron IAF (Black Panthers) moved to Tezpur from Chabua at the end of March 1966, where command of the squadron passed to Wing Commander Man Mohan Sinha on 25 August 1967.[9]
After the war he sat for the staff college exam; standing first amongst all three services in the staff college exam, he was thus sent to the Joint Service Defence College in England. Graduating in 1970, he flew in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971; after which he first served as an instructor at the College of Air Warfare (then known as the Joint Air Warfare School) and then the Defence Services Staff College. Then joining the Indian Ministry of Defence Mod in 1975.
AOC-in-C of Eastern Command IAF
He was a Commanding Officer for Eastern Air Command at Shillong from 8 February 1988 – 31 January 1991 at the post of Air Marshal.[10][11]
Promotions
He was promoted to air vice marshal on 26 January 1984 and air marshal on 1 August 1986, before retiring on 31 January 1991.[12]
Post-retirement
Man Mohan Sinha has served as chairman of Velocity Apparelz Company in Ismailia, Egypt since 2001, while his son Siddharth Sinha is the CEO of parent company Vogue International Agencies FZE.[13]
Awards and decorations
- Param Vishisht Seva Medal
References
- "How I Too Nearly Missed The War!*". Bharat-Rakshak.com. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
- "Service Record for Air Marshal Man Mohan Sinha 4408 F(P) [www.bharat-rakshak.com]". Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- "The 1965 India Pakistan Air War". Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- "Indian Air Force :: No.7 Squadron". Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- "Air Attack – Outbreak of the War (Sept 1st – 6th)". BHARAT RAKSHAK. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- My Years with the IAF – By Air Chief Marshal PC Lal. Lancer Publishers LLC. ISBN 1935501755.
- "No 7 Squadron(Battle- Axes)". The Official Home Page of Indian Air Force. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- "No 7 Squadron(Battle- Axes)". The Official Home Page of Indian Air Force. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
- "No 37 Squadron(Black Panthers)". The Official Home Page of Indian Air Force. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
- "List of Commanding Officers for EAC". Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- "Uday Sondhi's journey back to the cockpit". Rediff. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- "Air Marshal Man Mohan Sinha". bharat-rakshak.com.
- "Volume of Business Between Middle East & India Grows". Retrieved 16 March 2014.