Panagarh airbase is named after Arjan Singh

For the first time in its history, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Friday renamed its Panagarh airbase in Burdwan after its Marshal Arjan Singh, the first and also the only highest ranking living officer of the IAF till date, on his 97th birthday to honour his lifelong services.

Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Eastern Air Command) Air Marshal C. Hari Kumar unveiled the new name — Air Force Station Arjan Singh — at the entrance of the airbase, set to be the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft’s second hub after the Hindan airbase.

Air Marshal Kumar said, “It is a moment of enormous pride for us and also West Bengal. Marshal Arjan Singh is a revered icon and a role model. This is also the first time when a conscious decision was taken to rename an IAF airbase after an individual.”

Born on 15 April in 1919, Lyallpur, after the World War I, Marshal Arjan became the IAF Chief from August 1964-69. He was the first Indian Air Chief to be elevated to the Air Chief Marshal rank on 16 January in 1966 in recognition of the IAF’s vital contribution in the 1965 war under his leadership.

The Government of India conferred the rank of the Marshal of the IAF onto Arjan Singh on 28 January in 2002 making him the first and the only “Five Star” rank officer with the IAF. The Panagarh airbase was built in 1944 during the World War II, and the then Squadron Leader Singh was leading “Tiger” Squadron in saving Imphal valley from Japanese forces.