Affectionately called as "Baba" Mehar Singh by his colleagues and admirers in the Indian Air Force, Air Commodore Mehar Singh MVC DSO was a celebrated pilot and a flying prodigy. His feats with the aircraft are well-known and widely praised. He was a natural-born team player who always took the initiative and led by example. Mehar Singh was incredibly successful at winning the respect of the troops under his command via his bravery, risk-taking deeds, and outstanding leadership. He served as an example for the IAF's upcoming pilots. The story of Baba Mehar Singh is full with wonderful illustrations of professionalism, dedication to duty, courage, and commitment—all qualities that make an ideal air warrior.
Commodore Mehar Singh was born on March 20, 1915. He received the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) and the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). In 1934, he enrolled in the Royal Air Force. In August 1936, Singh was commissioned as a pilot officer and was posted to the Royal Indian Air Force's No. 1 Squadron (RIAF). Six officers and nine technicians, or "Hawai Sepoys," made up the Indian contingent. Singh was one of the squadron's pioneering six officers. He flew up to 100 hours in a month during missions in the untamed and hilly North West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan); this pattern would continue for the rest of his career, which was filled with illustrious daring feats.
Mehar Singh soon caught the attention of his higher commanders as being "outstanding." Mehar Singh won the respect of both his commanding officers and fellow soldiers for the dangerous flying operations he conducted in the NorthWest Frontier of undivided India and later in 1942 during the evacuation of stranded women and children from Habbaniyah to Burma.
Mehar Singh was the only officer in the IAF to earn the DSO for his "fine leadership and high example" and for leading an IAF hurricane fighter-reconnaissance Squadron during many successful operational sorties in the Arakan.
Mehar Singh, a daredevil pilot, made history by pioneering flights into the Himalayas through untried "mountainous routes" during the pivotal early stages of the Jammu and Kashmir operations. Many may recall that he was the first to touch down at the hastily built airfield in the devastated town of Poonch and that he then started the drawn-out airlift operations, saving the town from enemy invasion and rescuing almost 30,000 civilians.
Mehar Singh and the group of pilots working under him flew day and night during the post-partition period to evacuate thousands of refugees from dangerous locations and drop supplies for others who couldn't be reached.
Mehar Singh's flight to Leh in Ladakh has secured its place in Indian Air Force legendary tales. When a Pakistani force advancing from Skardu via the Shyok Valley threatened to cut off and encircle the isolated Ladakh district, it was decided to move troops to Leh, which had an airfield at an elevation of 11,540 feet. Mehar Singh piloted the first Dakota to Leh and made the aircraft's maiden landing at the world's highest airstrip while flying an undiscovered path over hills and peaks that ranged in elevation from 15 000 to 24 000 feet. None other than Major General K.S. Thimmayya, DSO, commander of land forces in the Srinagar Valley area, restored faith in this man.
Air Commodore Mehar Singh was added to the list of retired officers in September 1948 at his own request. He continued working in the field of flight, nevertheless, which he cherished. Mehar Singh transitioned to commercial aviation. In 1950, when the gallantry awards were introduced, he briefly came back into the public eye when he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra (MVC) by a country in gratitude. “Throughout his tenure as over—all Commander of air operations in Jammu and Kashmir, Air Commodore Mehar Singh showed great devotion to duty at great personal risk and set an example to those serving under him”. reads the citation announcing the award of the Maha Vir Chakra to Mehar Singh.
On March 11, 1952, when Air Commodore (retd.) Mehar Singh, MVC, DSO, was killed in a passenger plane disaster, Indian Aviation experienced one of its most catastrophic losses.
Shaurya Diwas 2022, which is set to be marked on 27th October under Government of India's 75th Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav Campaign this year will honour Air Commodore Mehar Singh for his relentless bravery and never-dying contributions to India's Jammu and Kashmir battle tale.
