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Some men are born to greatness. Others carve their part to it. Subroto First Chief of IAF
Mukerjee was one of the latter category who paved the way to his own tryst Humane Approach
with destiny and laid the foundations of India’s Air Force in the process. The
Family Background
story of his life is one of determination, dedication and total commitment to the
cause of the service that he guided from its inception till its transformation into Bio-data
the Air Arm of independent India. In the early 1930’s, when the British Early Education
government in India could no longer ignore the growing demands of the Indian Service Courses
people for greater representation in the higher ranks of the defence services, it Birth of an Air Force
grudgingly began the process of ‘Indianisation’ of the services. As a result, the
Medals and Decorati
Indian Air Force (IAF) came into being on 08 October 1932.
Letters to Mother
The Gazette of India
While the older services were marked for partial Indianisation, the IAF became
the first truly Indian service, as only Indians could be granted commission or Operations on the N
West Frontier
enrolled in it’s ranks. In those early days, a career in the Air Force was an
uncharted path for Indians, made all the more difficult by the prevailing Tributes
discriminatory and obstructive mindset of the majority of the British in India Genuine Conviction
who were extremely sceptical of the ability of the ‘natives’ to fly military The First Indian Air C
aeroplanes. Subroto was one of the six Indians selected for training as pilots at Bibliography
the RAF College, Cranwell. The date of commission of this small pioneering
The End of an Era
band coincided with the date of formation of the Indian Air Force. Over the
next twenty eight years, Subroto was to lead the fledgling service through it’s trials and tribulat
taking it from strength to strength, till it was ready to take it’s place amongst the leading Air Forces o
world.

Tragically, Subroto Mukerjee’s brilliant career was cut short in its prime in 1960. Yet, his legacy live
and forms the cornerstone of the hallowed traditions of the service whose very foundations he laid,
whose edifice he built in the early years of its history.

Family Background

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Subroto Mukerjee was the youngest child of a close-knit and well known Bengali family. He was bor
5th March 1911, at 7 Ballygunje Circular Road, Calcutta, in the home of his maternal grandparents
family background was exceptional.

The Family Tree

NC Mukerjee PK Roy
Dinatarini Sarola
|__________________________________________|
SC Mukerjee
Charulata
|__________________________________________|
Renuka Prosanto Nita Subroto
Sharda
Sanjeev

Subroto’s paternal grandfather, Nibaran Chandra Mukherjee, was a pioneer in social and educat
reforms in the country. He joined the Brahmo Samaj and was ostracised and left his ancestral hom
Hoogly to settle down at Bhagalpur. His wife, Dinatarini Mukherjee was a simple, unassuming person
known to the poor for her quiet charities.

His maternal grandfather, Dr. PK Roy of the Indian Education Service, was the first Indian Principal o
Presidency College, Calcutta. His maternal grandmother, Sarola Roy, was a great educationist and s
worker. She founded the Gokhale Memorial School. At a time when progressive ideas
cosmopolitanism were frowned upon, her home became the meeting place of eminent people from m
parts of the country and abroad. She believed in breaking the prevailing narrow social conventions,
was really delighted when Subroto became engaged to Sharda, a girl from the well known pandit fam
Bombay.

Subroto’s father, Shri SC Mukherjee had joined the Indian Civil Service in 1892.
His outspoken nature and independent ways had a profound influence on
Subroto. Subroto used to say that he was what he was, largely due to his
father. His mother, Shrimati Charulata Mukherjee was one of the first women
students of the Presidency College, Calcutta. An educationist and social worker,
she had been associated with the All-India Women’s Conference since its
inception.

Of the four siblings, two sisters and a brother, the eldest sister Renuka, became a well
parliamentarian. His elder brother Prosanto was a Chairman of the Railway Board. Nita Sen was
youngest sister and Subroto was deeply attached to her. “And as the youngest you know,
said,”he had to do all the odd jobs in the household. We never took him seriously and we never quit
used to his being the Air Marshal. To us he was always the youngest.”

However, the youngest also had his privileges of course. He had his own way of handling his mot
purse without her knowing anything about it. Somehow he could always manage a little compensatio
the cook who had been ticked off, for the servant who had been given the last chance. And every
loved him. He had the same concern for those he had not seen before. Many people used to come t
father for help and young Subroto saw to it that no servant turned them away. Often he would e
them himself.

Early Education
When Subroto was three months old his parents took him to England where they stayed for a
year and a half. Later, his early childhood days were mostly spent in Krishnanagar and Chinsura wher
father was posted on return from England. From his very early days Subroto had shown an aptitude
military career – a trait which owed much to the exploits of his uncle, Indra Lal Roy, who had joined

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Royal Flying Corps in the First World War. Roy was the first Indian to be awarded the Distinguished F
Cross, and was later killed in action when his plane was shot down during a dogfight over enemy lin
1918. In 1917 a tank came to Chinsura for publicity of the war effort and the six year old Sub
promptly turned up for his first “military” photograph.

Subroto had his early education at the Diocesan School and Loreto Convent
Calcutta. In 1921 he went to England again with his parents and joined a school
at Hampstead. After a year he came back to India as his father insisted that he
should learn about his country first.

Subroto then joined the Howrah Zila School and took his Matriculation
Examination in 1927. After a year at the Presidency College, he was sent to
England – the intention being a spell at Cambridge University as a prelude to a medical career.

Birth of an Air Force

It was at this time that the Government of India decided that a few Indians would be taken, for
the first time, into the Air Force, and Subroto’s father sent him a copy of the press notification. Sub
jumped at the idea but his mother was not quite happy about it. Subroto however, was elated and
very confident. He would never have an air crash, he assured her. Years later Subroto was involved
train accident and his worried mother received a telegram : “Who says flying is dangerous

In 1929 he wrote the London Matriculation and the Cranwell entr

examination almost simultaneously, and was ecstatic when he heard o
success in the Cranwell examination – a career he had been longing for. A
age of 18 he was one of the first six Indian boys selected to undergo two y
of flying training at the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell. Subroto Mukhe
HC Sirkar, AB Awan, Bhupendra Singh, Amarjeet Singh and JN Tandon wer
six young men who embarked for England from India in 1930.

Apart from Subroto and Aspy Engineer, who followed them a few months later, none of them had
been to England before, and the adventure before them was a hundred times more dramatic
momentous than the journey of any RAF cadet from his home in England to the Air Force at Cranwell.

These young men were embarking not only on a journey to a distant land, they were in fact laying
foundations of a new Air Force; which as yet existed on paper along, and which many believed w
never materialise into reality.

The six Indian cadets were among the pick of Indian sportsmen, and soon made a name for themselv
Cranwell. Sirkar captained the hockey team in which Awan, Amarjit Singh and Mukerjee also played
Amarjit Singh also captained the tennis team. Subroto had finally made his tryst with destiny. As a c
he told his mother ‘Thank God, I didn’t take up medicine.’ During his traning at Cranwell he often wro
her.

LETTERS TO MOTHER
My dearest Mother,

I wonder if I mentioned in my last letter that I started aerobatics about a fortnight ago. It is simply
fun to do loops and half-rolls in the air. Those are the two things I am practicing at present. I have
got to learn full rolls and inverted flying before I go on to service types of machines. I am getting on
well in my work. My exam comes off in the middle of next month and I have started revising for it.
hope I get through it.

Yours Affly

Subroto

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24 June 1931

My dearest Mother,

I had rather a peculiar experience last week. I was sent up for my height test on Tuesday. You are
up Solo and you have to get as high as you can. I managed to reach 17,200 ft. It was very very
there but honestly mother I have never seen such a beautiful scene before. With all the clouds beside
just like an ocean. You could see patches of grounds through thin clouds. I stayed there for 10 min
and then I came down. When I reached 2000 ft. I could not recognise anything and I was completely
Besides, this, my beastly watch had stopped and the petrol indicator was not working. So I was not
how much petrol I had left. I flew round the countryside a bit and after sometime I spotted an aerod
and I landed there. I rang up my Flight Commander and he came and fetched me back.

Yours Affly

Subroto
11th December, 1931

At Cranwell 1931 With his Mother

My dear Mother,

I wonder if you could send some of our old books over as we have decided to make a library fo
Indian Airmen, as they are not allowed to take books from the RAF Library.

Yours Affly

Subroto
5 July 1933

On 08 October 1932, the six young Indian cadets received their commissions. Subroto Mukerjee
Sirkar, AB Awan, Bhupendra Singh and Amerjeet Singh were commissioned as pilots, while the s
‘Tich’ Tandon, was commissioned into the Equipment Branch for no other fault but that his legs wer
short to reach the rudder pedals of the aircraft. On that very day, the Indian Air Force Act was passe
the Indian Legislative Assembly, and the Indian Air Force came into being.

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At the same time as the pilots were undergoing their training at Cranwell, twenty nine young men
recruited primarily from railway workshops in India and trained for a year as Apprentice Aircraft Ha
later called Hawai Sepoys, Twenty two of them qualified, and one amongst them who rose to be a le
in the IAF in his own right, was AVM Harjinder Singh, MBE. After completing their course of instructi
Cranwell, the Indian pilots passed through the Army Cooperation School at Old Sarum in Wiltshire.
then served a tenure with an RAF squadron before returning home to embark on the most momen
undertaking of their lives, the formation of the Indian Air Force.

Service conditions in the Air Force in the 1930’s for the Indian officers and men were quite hard.
freedom movement having gained considerable momentum, the young Indian officers and men, fired
the spirit of patriotism, looked forward to making the IAF an independent, efficient and a strong ser
But they had to struggle hard for fifteen long years (1932-1947) to achieve the laudable objective
had set before them.

Winners of the Sind District inter-unit

hockey, 1933
Subroto seated extreme left

The Indian pilots and technicians were often discriminated against by many of the Royal Air F
personnel under whose direct control they had to function. They soon realised that they had to be twi
good as the RAF pilots, in order to prove their worth, and to be accepted.

In fact, certain elements in the RAF had tried their best to throttle the IAF in its very infanc
insinuating that the Indians were incapable of managing affairs on their own. This not only infuriate
Indian personnel, it further steeled their determination and goaded them on to greater efforts
sustained hard work, not only to keep the Air Force going, but to prove that they were no less, ra
better than the British in every field. In the bargain they were often subjected to all kinds of humili
and hardships. At the same time, it is worth recording that there were many amongst the B
establishment who had the best interests of the fledgling IAF at heart. They laboured hard along wit
Indian personnel to ensure that the IAF established itself as an independent service as soon as possib

On 01 April 1933, ‘A’ Flight of the No 1 Squadron, Indian Air Force, was formed at Karachi. Subroto
among the five Indian pilots who made up the flight.

The flight was equipped with four Westland Wapiti biplanes, said to have been acquired by
Government at £10 each. The Commanding Officer of the flight was Flt Lt CA Bouchier, DFC, of the
(later Air Vice Marshal Sir Cecil Bouchier KCBE, CB, DFC).

A hard task master, he had an excellent rapport with

Indian pilots and airmen.

A word about the Westland Wapiti or ‘Wop’ as the aircraft

CO and all personnel of 1 Sqn-Drigh Road-1933
popularly known. The Wapiti was inducted in No. 1 Squa
IAF at Drigh Road, Karachi on 01 Apr 1933. It was the
first aircraft on which the pioneers were trained, and on w
the IAF was built. It was put to a variety of tasks by the
including escort of convoys, anti-submarine patrols, r
close air support, strafing and bombing

The Wapiti was a two-seat, multi-role biplane with a maximum

speed of 225 kmph and a combat range of 580 kms. It was an
antiquated aircraft at that time, and from its inception, our

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fliers had learnt to make up for the inadequacies by initiative,

innovation and excellence. These qualities have created a
tradition in the IAF and has paid handsome dividends
whenever we have been called upon to stretch the
performance graphs of men and machines.

Another interesting feature of the Wapitis was that the

Observer/Air Gunner in the rear seat had to be secured to the
floor of the aeroplane by a chain attached to the harness at the
bottom. Yet there was always a fear that he might fall out off Flt Lt Bouchier and Plt Offr Subroto Mukerjee Pr
the open cockpit. The relatives of the young Indian pilots must on a recce mission, Quetta 1934
have harboured some apprehensions about the airworthiness
of these machines, as is apparent from the following letter:

My dearest Mother,

Father asked in his letter whether our machines were old and the engines bad. Please tell him al
machines both in the RAF and IAF are always kept in tip-top condition and it is very rarely that you
of an engine failure.

Yours Affly

Subroto
21st September 1933

Over the next six years, a number of young Indian off

graduated from Cranwell and joined the select band of N
Squadron. They were Aspy Engineer, Karun Majumdar, H
Runganathan, Narendra, Prithipal Singh, Mehar Singh,
Singh, SN Goyal and Arjan Singh. Of these, Aspy Engineer
Arjan Singh later rose to be the Chief of the Air Staff.

On 01 April 1936, a second

Flight was formed and the
first Flight moved to
Setting off on an air patrol with Hawai Sepoy (later Wg Peshawar, where, being
Cdr) KS Taunque as Air Gunner
attached to 20 Squadron,
RAF, it gained experience of
Frontier warfare. During the Waziristan operations of 1937 it was
decided to send this Flight to Miranshah by way of an experiment.
Subroto was one of the four Indian pilots that took part in the first
ever-operational commitment of the IAF. The Flight did extremely well Sqn Ldr Hancock, CO with 1 Sqn off
and earned a high reputation for the Indian Air Force. It was 1938
congratulated by the Air Officer Commanding in India for carrying out
a record number of operational flying hours during September, October and November 1937.
superlative performance proved, not just the ability of the Indian pilots but also the competence o
ground crew, who kept the aircraft flying. This high standard of flying and maintenance has since bec
ingrained into the work ethos of the service.

Mukerjee and his able second, Aspy Engineer, both were men of vision
foresight. These two bold daring men, in 1936, ventured to introduce
Community Messes’ in the Air Force, where the Hawai Sepoys of all castes
creed sat and dined together – something unthinkable in those days. The
they got over the formidable caste barrier and infused the spirit of integr
into all ranks of the IAF. It was indeed a daring experiment as in case of fa

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besides other repercussions and consequences, it would have resulte

outright dismissal for both these officers, of which they had been warned by the RAF. But on the cont
the experiment proved to be a great success and these inter-communal messes became a living exa
of integration for all to follow.

Operations on the North West Frontier

In the autumn of 1936 a serious rebellion broke out in North Waziristan. The famous ‘Faqir of
Ipi’ raised the standard of revolt against the government, and the Pukhtoon tribes of the North
Frontier responded in time honoured fashion. This entailed large-scale operations by the Army and th
Force and at one time as many as 50,000 troops were engaged in this remote border uprising.

The Frontier District is a wild and mountainous country. Inhabited by the fiery Pathan tribes whose na
have passed into history – the Wazirs, the Mahsuds and the Afridis – it covered the whole length o
Indo-Afghan frontier.

The tribesmen were a hardy lot, who unable to till the land in these arid mountains, subsiste
plundering and robbing the fertile valleys. To make things more difficult, they retired over the Fro
into Afghanistan after carrying out their raids in the valleys below. The task of maintaining law and o
in these remote mountain ranges involved a vast expenditure of military energy before the advent o
Power. By bombing the villages of hostile tribesmen, after a warning had been given, a step forward
taken in the pacification of this area. Now it was the turn of India’s own Air Force to shoulder
responsibility of policing this turbulent frontier and ensuring peace and prosperity for the peasants in
rich valleys. This was the first example of Air Power, being used for policing duties.

It was here that ‘A’ flight of the IAF gained its baptism by fire in the time honoured tradition of In
North West Frontier.

On 1st October 1937, it flew into Miranshah – a fort situated deep in the valley of the Tochi River in
interior of Waziristan. The fort was surrounded by the ranges and precipices of Wazirstan. A single
connected it with Bannu and convoys bringing supplies and mail moved up this road twice a week u
heavy escort.

It was unsafe to walk outside the walls in daytime for fear of sharp shooting Pathans, and even
aircraft were kept within the fort walls. When a flight took place, the doors of the fort were opened
the aircraft wheeled out on to the aerodrome. The aircraft took off, carried out their missions, landed
taxied into the protective walls of the outpost. Once again the aerodrome and the valley in which
were nestled were empty. At night it was not uncommon for bullets from Waziri snipers to ping ag
the roof of the barracks.

All flying crew were given protection certificates in Pushtu and Urdu informing captors that if the b
was brought back safely after a forced landing or a crash they would be suitably rewarded. F
conditions were difficult and landing and take off from aerodromes as high as 7000 feet was not ea
the rarified air.

At this time Flight Lieutenant Haynes, RAF, commanded the Flight and the four Indian Officers who
with him were Flying Officers Mukerjee, Awan, Engineer and Narendra.

`A’ Flight flew hard and dug their teeth into their first operational work. In a month it was common fo
four pilots to average 370 hours of flying, which in peacetime was then considered a good mo
average for a whole squadron. Led by Subroto, the senior-most Indian pilot, these four young men m
an indelible mark on the collective mindset of the British military establishment, and forever silenced
critics and sceptics in the British ranks.

After that, the IAF grew at a slow but steady pace. By July 1938, No. 1
Squadron consisted of three Flights. The Flight Commanders were Flying
Officers Mukerjee, Engineer and Majumdar. The outbreak of the second world
war saw the formation of the Coastal Defence Flights (CDFs) of the Indian Air

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Force Volunteer Reserve. While the CDFs took on the task of patrolling the Sea-
Lanes and thousands of miles of India’s coastline, the responsibility of policing the North West Fro
increasingly passed to the regular Squadron of the Indian Air Force. In 1939, Subroto Mukerjee
promoted to Squadron Leader and took over command of No 1 Squadron, IAF.

In the course of the development of the IAF, Subroto was a man with innumerable ‘Firsts’
became the first Indian to command a Flight, a Squadron, a Station (Kohat), and finally, the Service i

On another occasion, he also had the unique distinction of being the first IAF pilot to carry out an air
over a beleaguered army picket. In the spring of 1941 the Faqir of Ipi again became active and the
renewed their acquaintance with this wild man of the mountains. Operations started quietly toward
end of 1940 when Subroto was in command of Miranshah. Except for a minor battle in the Tappi hill
the big stuff was reserved for the coming spring.

On 7th August 1940, ‘B’ Flight of No 1 Squadron of IAF, based at Mirans

was operating in the Daur valley in support of the land forces and in the fa
intense and hostile ground fire. While on a sortie with Hawai Sepoy (later
Commander) Kartar Singh Taunque as his Air Gunner, Squadron Le
Subroto Mukerjee observed one of the army picquets being overwhelme
hostiles. The besieged troops indicated that their ammunition was n
exhausted. As he flew over the post, he realised their desperate plight. At
he instructed his air gunner to remove the spare ammunition from
magazine of the rear cockpit mounted Lewis machine gun. Then putting
ammunition in their stockings, they successfully dropped it to the troops
low pass while the hostiles concentrated their fire on the aircraft.

The ammunition helped the troops to hold out till another aircraft came and dropped 800 more roun
ammunition and saved the situation. This was Air Maintenance in its incipient form. More than that,
indicative of the spirited response of our intrepid fliers to the kind of situations which had no copy
solutions. Over 26 years later, the first Squadron Commander of No 1 Squadron of the Indian Air F
Air Vice Marshal (then Flight Lieutenant) Sir Cecil Bouchier KCBE, CB, DFC, RAF, was to reca
September 1959 when he met the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee.

“…with my hand on my heart, I can say I do not think I ever put so much heart
into, or tried so hard to make a success of anything throughout my whole
service life as I strove to make a success of the Indian Air Force at its birth. Few
people except perhaps Air Marshal Mukerjee, know of the battles I fought, and
the midnight oil I burnt. However, the Indian Air Force is what it is today
because of one thing only – the imagination, the courage, and the great loyalty
of the first little pioneer band of Indian officers and men, for they were the salt
of the earth; they have built up a great fighting Service, and I am proud to have been associated in
wonderful achievement, if only for a little while …”

By the time World War II started in 1939, Mukerjee was the senior-most officer in the IAF and as suc
responsibility weighed heavily on him. He was known to be a good, sound and a steady pilot and
known not to take unnecessary risks in flying. He met with no accidents except for a forced landing w
caught up in a fierce storm of long duration. For his participation in the North West Frontier operatio
1942, he was Mentioned-in-Despatches. He became the first Indian to take over an RAF Station, whe
commanded RAF Station Kohat from August 1943 till December 1944. In June 1945 he was awarded
Order of the British Empire (Military Division).

Subroto’s even natured temperament helped defuse tensions and avoid unnecessary confrontation. A
senior-most officer, he was ideally suited to act as a buffer between the Royal Air Force from w
control the IAF was trying to extricate itself, and the young Indian officers and men who often chaf
the manner in which some members of the RAF treated IAF personnel. He would mollify such situa
and further strengthen their resolve to work for higher aims and greater achievements. He defused
volatile situations and infused the spirit of integration among all the ranks of the IAF.
risking our neck and self respect for the pay we get – or the airmen sweating it out for the petty pay
45 per month (that was the pay of Hawai Sepoys in 1930s)? We must work for a cause, otherwise
will never be an Indian Air Force.”

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His touching and inspiring talks always had the desired effect, goading officers and men to work
devotion. This role paid rich dividends in the long run.

Gen Sir C Auchinleck, C-in-C India entertained by offrs of the IAF at K

mess. Left to Right : Sqn Ldr Mehar Singh, Gen Sir C Auchinleck, Wg
Mukerjee, AVM Thomas, & Sqn Ldr Prithipal Singh, Dec 1944

Seated left to right-Wives : Mrs Mukerjee, Mrs Malse,

Mrs Jaswant Singh, Mrs Mehta, Standing left to
right : Lt Bose, Flty Lt A Hughes (RAF), Sqn Ldr KJ
Singh, Wg Cdr Mukerjee, Flt Lt Malse and a Sikh
Officer, Kohat 1944

Genuine Conviction
After long years of struggle, Indian Independence became a reality
on the 15th of August 1947. However, freedom came at a cost and the partition of India into
dominions of India and Pakistan was part of the price that the people of the long-suffering sub
had to pay. Along with the Army and the Navy, the assets of the Indian Air Force were also div
between the two new countries.

A heavy burden of responsibility descended upon the shoulders of young officers like Subroto Muke
who suddenly were faced with the enormous task of reconstruction in the face of the sudden vac
created by the departure of the British.

However, to Subroto’s great credit, in all the decisions to be made, the interests of the country and
service were ever uppermost with him. When the Governor General, Lord Louis Mountbatten a
Mukerjee, the senior-most officer in the IAF, as to how long British officers should remain with the
Mukerjee replied, “For five to seven years”. Though this was a decision which delayed his own prom
by a good seven years – it showed how genuine in conviction and action were the thoughts and dee
the man.

The first three Air Chiefs of independent India, Air Marshals Sir Thomas
Elmhirst KBE, CB, AFC, Sir Ronald Ivelaw Chapman, KBE, CBE, DFC, AFC, and
Sir Gerald Ernest Gibbs, KBE, CIE, MC, were from the RAF. The IAF was lucky
to have as Chiefs of Air Staff, men of such calibre, integrity and experience. Sir
Thomas Elmhirst guided the IAF through the stormy days of independence,
partition and reconstruction. He made it abundantly clear at the very
beginning, that as the Air Force of an independent country, the Indian Air Force
was to be an independent service and not merely an adjunct of the Indian
Army, as it had been during the days of the Raj. It fell to his lot to organise the
truncated IAF into a viable fighting force. In this task he was ably assisted by
Subroto who tried to utilise these years by gaining worthwhile experience in the
appointment of Deputy Chief. He held this appointment under the two
subsequent British Air Chiefs as well. In December 1952 he proceeded to
England to undergo a course at the Imperial Defence College, London to further
equip him to take over the top appointment.

On his return to India in 1954, Subroto took over as the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Air Forc
01 April 1954, in the rank of Air Marshal, with the passing of the Change in Designation Act, 1955
title of “Commander-in-Chief” was dropped, and from 01 April 1955, it came to be known as the
the Air Staff”.

The First Indian Air Chief

April 1st 1954 was a red-letter day in the history of Indian Air Force.
On this day, the only surviving officer of the first batch of six Indian
cadets trained at Royal Air Force Flying College, Cranwell, London,

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commissioned in 1932, Subroto Mukerjee took over the reins of

Indian Air Force. It was also on this day that, with the departure of the third British Air Chief, Air Ma
Sir Gerald Gibbs, the last links of the IAF with the British Raj came to an end.

On this memorable day, while getting into the car to take the salute at Air Force Day, which also coin
with his taking over as Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Air Force, Subroto told his wife,
Sharda, I don’t deserve all this at forty three, it is all God’s grace". It was the finest prayer anyone c
offer his Deity.

This unassuming, humble man took over as Commander-in-Chief of the IAF at a turning point i
history. On assumption of this high office Air Marshal Mukerjee brought with him the inti
understanding of the problems of the Air Force, with the full import of responsibility, having been w
since its inception in 1932. Having held all types of appointments from Pilot Officer to Air Marshal, he
fully equipped with abundant maturity and an incisive insight, of which he made full use in the six y
that he was the Air Chief. Years later, Air Chief Marshal PC Lal, DFC, wrote of him in his memoirs.

“Imagination, improvisation, quick reaction were characteristic of

Remarkably even tempered, he showed hardly any signs of stress
under the most trying circumstances, such as the partition riots in D
the Kashmir fighting of 1947-48, the Hyderabad operations or wo
with a strong personality like Mr Krishna Menon as Defence Min
Perhaps the only sign of stress was his incessant smoking
out the cigarettes after a few puffs. He smiled often and spontaneous

Subroto laid great stress on the welfare of the men and their families
Presentation of the President's Colour to
genuine understanding of human nature, his love for his men an
IAF, Palam, 1st April 1954
humane approach to their problems endeared him to one and
whereby he came to be known as the ‘Father Figure’ in the Air Force. His deep concern for the officers
men could not have been portrayed better than in the words of Sharda Mukerjee, which she says
time one of his men was killed in a crash, Subroto felt that he lost a part of himself."

Subroto Mukerjee had an able partner and the epitome of a perfect helpmate in his wife, Mrs Sh
Mukerjee nee Pandit. Mrs Mukerjee took a keen interest in welfare activities, and did her best fo
families of men and officers. Air Chief Marshal Lal elaborated upon her role and contribution in
following words:

“Life in the Defence Services, and I speak specially of life in the Air Force, with which I am familiar, i
quite like civilian life. It is much more of a community life and the principle of synergetics works here.
plus two is not just four but plus. A sense of belonging to a service, to a community contrib
considerably to that intangible but important ‘something’ called morale and espirit de corps.

Every effort has to be made, and is made, at

station for adequate housing. Education has t
provided to children at any cost. Medical ca
most essential. Even entertainment has to
organised. And where there is sorrow, one ha
stand beside the stricken, not merely for
moment, but for the future as well. Much of t
done officially.But a substantial contribution co
from the personality, the drive, the sensit
compassion and emotional involvement of th
Air Marshal and Mrs S Mukerjee
and his wife in making a station or comman
with the Prime minister Jawaharlal Subroto, Sanjeev and Sharda
Nehru cohesive unit, an extended family. The men
have to take risks when called upon to do s
part of their duty, can be expected to contribute more of themselves, be more purposeful, if they
confident that their families will be looked after. Mrs Sharda Mukerjee, petite, trim, pleasant, intell
with a deep sense of self-discipline without being pompous about it, made a distinct contributio
service life. She set an example to follow, a tradition to live up to. And many an anonymous Air Force
has done it.

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Legends of IAF Page 11 of 15

Humane Approach
In keeping with his humane approach to every problem, he was averse to finding fault just for the sa
it. He did not believe much in overly formal inspections. He preferred to conduct those in an info
manner, with a view to helping the unit, rather than to find faults in the functioning.

In Bombay, once in the absence of the Station Commander, while inspecting a unit, Mukerjee sat in
Adjutant’s chair and went through the day’s mail. On finding a number of reports and returns being a
for by Air Headquarters, he enquired of the Adjutant if all those were relevant. On being told other
he dictated a letter from there itself, asking his Staff at Air Headquarters to review the relevance of
returns and reports. He did not order these to be discontinued unilaterally; he was much too consid
in his dealings with his subordinates. His positive approach helped create an atmosphere of pleasant
relaxed efficiency.

The End of an Era

However, this idyllic phase in IAF history was too good to last long. Air India inaugurated its
service to Tokyo by a proving flight in the first week of November 1960. Air Marshal Mukerjee an
Commodore (later Air Chief Marshal) PC Lal went on this flight while on an official visit to Japan. It w
happy and comfortable journey. On reaching Tokyo on 08 November 1960, Air Marshal Mukerjee stay
the city, while Air Commodore Lal went on a sightseeing trip to Mt. Fujiyama and Lake Hakone. Lat
night, he received a message that struck him like a bolt from the blue “Air Marshal Mukerjee has pa
away.” While having a meal with a friend of his, a senior officer in the Indian Navy, in a restaura
Tokyo, a morsel stuck in the windpipe choking him to death. Before a doctor could be summoned, it
all over.

Thus ended a life full of hope and promise and a twenty eight year long career of dedication, devotion
loyalty to the service and to the country. With his death, the Indian Air Force lost one of its
illustrious officers. His untimely demise was something that the country or the service could ill
body was flown to Palam Airport on 09 November 1960 and on 10 November 1960 he was cremated
full military honours. His only son, Sanjeev, lit the pyre. A grateful service paid its tribute in the form
fly-past of forty nine aircraft, one for each of his forty nine years. As each aircraft dipped its wings
last salute to the ‘Father Figure' of the Air Force there were many moist eyes among the gath
congregation. The honours and mourning were not merely a matter of protocol and form, they
conducted amidst genuine tears and sorrow. Subroto Mukerjee was the foremost pioneer of mi
aviation in India and because of his friendly, kindly disposition, he was loved and admired by many.

The second British Air Chief, Sir Ivelaw Chapman held Subroto Mukerjee in high esteem and pai
tribute on his death in the following words – “Subroto was not only my Deputy Chief of Air Staff, bu
the whole time that I was in India, he was also my friend, adviser and confidante. Never cou
Commander wish to be served more loyally or with greater efficiency by his second-in-command.

A thick pall of gloom descended on the Air Force by his sudden demis
was truly as if, along with him, an era had passed into history. His
the graceful Mrs Sharda Mukerjee bore this grievous loss with
characteristic dignity, grace and fortitude. Since then, Mrs Muk
entered politics and became a Member of Parliament and a distingu
Parliamentarian in her own right. Therefore, she held the offic
Governor of different states both during the Congress and Janata rule

The mentor of the Indian Air Force, Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee
passed into history, but he left behind the indelible imprint in the an
of the service, of a man to be emulated and remembered with res
The Funeral - 10 November 1960 and reverence.

Aspy Engineer, a close associate and a comrade-in-arms of Subroto, on assumption of command o

IAF as Air Marshal on 01 Dec 1960, issued a Special Order of the Day, paying a glowing tribute to
man of destiny.

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Legends of IAF Page 12 of 15

Air Headquarters
New Delhi

01 Dec 1960

Special Order of the day

From Air Marshal AM Engineer to all ranks and civilian personnel of the Indian Air Force.

It is under very tragic circumstances that I am called upon to take over the duties of Chief of the Air S
As you know, our late Chief, Air Marshal Mukerjee, joined the service when it was formed and as such
associated with the growth of the IAF from its birth. With his unflinching devotion to the Indian Air F
and his hard work and able guidance, he ensured its emergence as the powerful force that it is to
Therefore, let us for all time remember him as the Father of the Indian Air Force and cherish his mem
as such.

The task of building up of the IAF to its full stature is yet to be completed and the period of consolid
lies ahead of us and take this opportunity to call upon all ranks to carry out with the same zeal
devotion to duty. As a united force, we must march ahead without ever faltering and with the fu
confidence in our history I know I can rely upon each and everyone to do this.

Sd/-
Air Marshal

BIO-DATA
AIR MARSHAL SUBROTO MUKERJEE (1551) GD/P, OBE

Date of birth: 5th March 1911

Qualifications: Graduate RAF College, Cranwell; Staff College,Quetta; Imperial Defence Coll
UK

Married/Single: Married

Appointments Held

Unit Appointments Duration

Nos. 1, 5, (AC) and 31 (AC) Flying 30-6-33 to 17
No. 1 Squadron Adjutant and CO 18-10-38 to 27
Air HQ (I) Whilst on course at Quetta 28-6-41 to 06
No. 1 (I) Group Air Staff duties 07-12-41 to 16
No. 1 Squadron CO 17-4-42 to 3-
No. 225 Group Air Staff duties 04-9-42 to 31
Air HQ (I) Wg Cdr Operations 01-11-42 to 03
RAF Station Kohat CO 04-8-43 to 14
Air HQ (I) Wg Cdr Manning 15-12-44 to 25

Wg Cdr Training 26-11-45 to 05

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Legends of IAF Page 13 of 15

Gp Capt Training 06-3-46 to 14

Air Cmde Dy AOA 15-5-47 to 14

Air Cmde SASO 15-8-47 to 26

Granted the rank of acting Air Vice

Marshal AOA (Addl. Title of Dy Air 15-11-47
Commander retained) 27-9-48 to 14

Dy CAS in the Rank of Air Marshal

01-2-49 to 16
IAF Station, New Delhi For Imperial Defence 06-1-53 to 11
(PHS) College Course in the U.K.

Air Headquarters. CAS & C-in-C IAF in the Rank of 01-04-54 to 30

Actg Air Marshal

CAS & C-in-C (now Chief of the Air 01-10-54 to 08

Staff) in the substantive rank of
Air Marshal

SERVICE COURSES
Army Co-op Course at Old
Sep 32 to Nov 32
Sarum, UK
4th War Course at Staff
College, Quetta, awarded 21-7-41 to 04-12-41
Symbol p.s.c.
GD Officers Radio
07-11-46 to 04-12-46
Familiarisation Course
Imperial Defence College,
06-1-53 to 11-12-53
U.K, Awarded symbol i.d.c.

MEDALS AND DECORATIONS

OBE (Military), India General Service Medal with clasps ‘North West Frontier 1936-37
‘North West Frontier 1937-39’; 1939-1945 star; War Medal 1939-1945; India Service Medal;
Independence Medal; King George VI’s Coronation Medal; Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation Medal; Prese
“Peoples Army 1st class”, and decorated on behalf of the President of Yugoslavia on the occasion o
visit to India in December 1954.

Awarded ‘Mentioned-in-Despatches’ in 1942 for service during the operations in Waziristan, NWFP.

Awarded an OBE in June 1945. Appointed Honorary ADC on the personal staff of H.E. the Gov
General on 15-8-47 and then again from 21-6-48 to 21-1-50.

THE GAZETTE OF INDIA

EXTRAORDINARY

PART - I SECTION 4

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Legends of IAF Page 14 of 15

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY

No. 5 New Delhi, Wednesday, November 9, 1960/ Kartika 18, 1882

Ministry of Defence

Notification

New Delhi, the 9th November, 1060

No E. 11 – The President has heard with the deepest regret of the sudden demise of Air Marshal Sub
Mukerjee, Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force at Tokyo on the evening of Tuesday, the 8
1960. By this untimely death, India has lost a most distinguished airman who devoted his whole life t
service of the country.

Air Marshal Mukerjee was born in Calcutta on March 5, 1911. After his early education in India, he we
the United Kingdom in 1929 for higher studies. Shortly after his arrival in the United Kingdom
announcement was made that for the first time Indians would be admitted into the Air Force. He sa
the competitive examination and was selected. He was one of the first Indians to be trained at the R
Air Force College, Cranwell. In 1932 he was awarded his wings as a Pilot.

For about a year he served with an RAF Squadron in England. His association with the IAF began wit
constitution of the first IAF Squadron on April 1, 1933, he became the first Indian Officer to comma
Squadron. As Squadron Commander, Air Marshal Mukerjee took part in the Miranshah operation
which he was Mentioned-in-Despatches.

After graduating from the Staff College, Quetta, he held various Staff and Command appointments
he came to the Air Headquarters in 1944. In November 1947, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Air S
and was the first Indian to hold this post. Seven years later he assumed the high office of the Chief o
Staff, and again was the first Indian to do so. In 1955 in addition he became Chairman, Chiefs of
Committee which position he held until the day of his death.

Air Marshal Mukerjee played a very import part in the building of the Indian Air Force from the
beginning. His deep knowledge and experience of operational and administrative matters were invalu
to the Defence Forces and the Indian Air Force in particular. Because of his understanding and hu
approach to problems he was greatly loved and respected by all who came in contact with him.

The Government of India mourns the loss of a very distinguished and conscientious officer and wis
place on record their appreciation of his exemplary devotion to duty. But his untimely death, the Ser
and the country have suffered a grievous loss.

To the bereaved family, Government offer their sincerest sympathy.

O. PULLA REDDI
Secretary

TRIBUTES
“…the late Air Marshal had distinguished himself as Chief of the Indian Air Force, for the
progress that this young Service has made in recent years, much credit will be given to him an
inspiring leadership. His sad demise at this juncture has come to us all as a blow.”

DR. RAJENDRA PRASAD

PRESIDENT

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Legends of IAF Page 15 of 15

“It is really a tragedy. It is exceedingly sad. We have been deeply shocked…He was a young man
years of career before him. We expected long years of good service from him.”

JAWAHARLAL NEHRU
PRIME MINISTER

“… the Air Force has lost an experienced and courageous officer and leader; the country, a patriotic
devoted servant and citizen; and his colleagues, a loyal comrade and an understanding leader. Air Ma
Mukerjee has left his mark on his Service, which is a greater tribute than I or anyone can pay in word

V.K. KRISHNA MENON

DEFENCE MINISTER

BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Air Headquarters ‘In Memoriam’ Issue of the IAF Quarterly – Ist April 1961.

 Air Chief Marshal PC Lal ‘My years with the IAF’ – Lancer International, Delhi . 1986.

 Singh, Ranbir ‘In the footsteps of our legends’ – Book Mates Publishers, Noida. 1998.

 Air Commodore AL Saigal ‘Birth of an Air Force’ – Palit & Palit Publishers, Delhi. 1977.

COLOUR PORTRAIT
Simon Elvis. Courtesy: Ministry of Defence and IAF Museum.
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