Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal (December 1916 – August 1982) was
the Chief of Air Staff during
the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. He served in the IAF from 1939
until his retirement in 1973. He served as the CO of No. 7 Squadron, AOC-in-C of Western Air Command, Vice Chief of the Air Staff before going on to
serve as Chief of the Air Staff. He was the Chief of Air Staff at the time of the pre-emptive strikes that were
carried out by the Pakistan
Air Force (PAF) that
marked the formal initiation of hostilities of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. It was under his able leadership,
that the IAF won its most decisive victory in 1971. He was an instructor and a
manager, par excellence. His contribution to India's aviation industry as
Chairman of the Indian Airlines Corp. and MD of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, bear
testament to his professional abilities. He was just the sort of person who
could, and did, mould a large and rapidly expanding IAF into an efficient
fighting force.
During the Second
World War, Air Chief was awarded with Distinguished Flying Cross for the flying recce sorties over the
Irrawaddy plains in Burma. He was the recipient of the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan while
serving with HAL and Indian Airlines.
He embarked on
writing his memoirs My Years
with the IAF, but died before completing them. His wife Mrs. Ela Lal
finished the book that was published in 1983.
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AB/MKR