Air Marshal Hari Chand Dewan, (20 September 1921 – 22 August 2017) was an

Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks third amongst the air forces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial w ...

officer. He was awarded the

Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...

in 1972 for his services at the head of the Eastern Air Command in the

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military confrontation between India and Pakistan that occurred during the Bangladesh Liberation War in East Pakistan from 3 December 1971 until the Pakistani capitulation in Dhaka on 16 Decem ...

Career

Hari Chand Dewan was born on 20 September 1921. In 1940 he was one of the 24 Indian pilots seconded to the UK. In 1969 he received

Param Vishist Seva Medal Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) ( IAST: ) is a military award of India. It was constituted in 1960 and since then it is awarded in recognition to peace-time service of the most exceptional order and may be awarded posthumously. All ranks of the ...

. He was head of the Eastern Air Command in the

Death

Dewan died in August 2017 at the age of 95.

References

1921 births 2017 deaths Place of birth missing Air marshals of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Indian Air Force air marshals Indian Air Force officers Indian military personnel of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Indian military personnel of World War II Non-British Royal Air Force personnel of World War II Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in civil service Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal Vice Chiefs of Air Staff (India) {{India-mil-bio-stub