A tough fighter till the very last

Air Mshl Sukhchain Singh (retd)

A contemporary of the late Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh, Air Marshal Randhir Singh, who died recently, hailed from Bhasaur in Sangrur district. All the present serving senior Air officers would have undergone training at the Air Force Academy under his command and hence the personal connect of the serving brass. Aged 97, he was the seniormost Air veteran in Chandigarh, and remained in command of his mental and physical faculties.

Awarded the Vir Chakra during the 1948 Kashmir operations, his citation reads that he engaged targets with vigour, in spite of his aircraft being hit on several occasions. His leadership and courage inspired other pilots of the squadron, and continued to be his hallmark all through his career.

As CO of 106 Squadron (1959-1962), equipped with the newly-inducted Canberras in the strategic reconnaissance role, he excelled in detecting Chinese troop movement in Tibet, leading to the 1962 war. One of his prized possessions was a panoramic view of the Himalayan range taken by him flying high over them. ‘He would often come back shaken from one of the missions over Tibet. He would not say anything, but I would know that he had taken some fire from the ground,’ his late wife once said. 

During the 1965 conflict with Pakistan, with complete disregard to personal comforts, he successfully directed air defence operations within his area of responsibility. During the Indo-Pak hostilities of 1971, as Air Commodore, he was in command of the forward base at Adampur and set a tough regime of training, focussing on the highest possible state of operational readiness. Dry runs of different missions were repeatedly flown and practiced. He organised the supporting services on the base so well that throughout the war resident squadrons could launch the desired number of close air support and offensive sorties with utmost effectiveness. 

A heightened security consciousness resulted in the nabbing of three Pakistani spies. A great sense of purpose motivated all officers, SNCOs, airmen and other personnel to work up to 16 hours daily. Air Chief Marshal PC Lal said one-third of all Western Air Command missions were flown by the Adampur station during the war. This is a tribute to the leadership and drive shown by its commander. 

On retirement, he settled down in Chandigarh. A soft-spoken, congenial and respected officer, he was active in the social circuit and took interest in veterans’ affairs. His stint as chairman of the Federation of Sector Welfare Associations of Chandigarh saw him lead several battles against the MC and the UT Administration. 

Just two days before his death, he was honoured by the Air Force Association (North Zone) as a nonagenarian. He stood erect as a glowing personality and addressed the Air rank veterans, 25 to 40 years younger to him, on the art of a long, fit and productive life. Well lived, Air Marshal Randhir Singh, Sir, you will continue to inspire.