Minoo Merwan Engineer
M M Engineer | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Minoo Merwan Engineer |
| Born | 1 December 1921 |
| Died | 31 December 1997 |
| Allegiance |  British India(1940–1947) India(1947–1973) |
| Service/ |  Royal Indian Air Force Indian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1940–1973 |
| Rank |  Air Marshal |
| Service number | 1614 F(P) |
| Commands held | Western Air Command Eastern Air Command Air Force Station Lohegaon Air Force Station Srinagar No.4 Squadron No. 8 Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Burma Campaign Arakan Campaign 1942–43 Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan Param Vishisht Seva Medal Maha Vir Chakra Distinguished Flying Cross |
| Relations | Aspy Engineer(brother) |
Air MarshalMinoo Merwan Engineer,PVSM,MVC,DFC(1 December 1921 – 31 December 1997) was a formerAir Officerin theIndian Air Force.He is one of the most decorated officers in the Indian Air Force, with the third-highest civil decoration - thePadma Bhushan,two gallantry awards - theMaha Vir Chakraand theDistinguished Flying Cross,and the highest peace-time distinguished service award - theParam Vishisht Seva Medal.
His elder brother,Air MarshalAspy Engineerserved as the 4thChief of the Air Staff.
Early life
[edit]Engineer was born Aspy Merwan Irani on 1 December 1921 inLahore,Punjab Province,British India[1]to Meherwan Irani and Maneckbai. Meherwan was a Divisional Engineer for theNorth Western Railway,.[2]His interest in mechanics led his friends to rename him Engineer.[1][3][4][5]He was the sixth amongst eight siblings - two girls and six boys. His brothers,Aspy,Jungoo andRonnie,also joined the Indian Air Force, while another brother, Homi, joined the Indian Army. Aspy, Minoo and Ronnie were recipients of the DFC, a unique feat where three brothers were decorated with gallantry awards.[4][2]
Military career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Engineer joined theIndian Air Forcein 1940, being commissioned on 1 August. He was the third Engineer brother to join the Air Force, after his elder brothersAspyand Jehangir (Jangoo). DuringWorld War II,he served inBurmaas a part ofNo. 3 Squadron IAF.He was awarded theDFCfor his part in theArakanoperations.[6]On 30 November 1945, Engineer was promoted to the acting rank ofSquadron Leaderand appointedcommanding officerofNo. 8 Squadron IAF.[7]
After the war, on 1 November 1946, he was appointed commanding officer ofNo. 4 Squadron IAF.The squadron relocated to Miko, Japan as part of the occupation forces. Engineer led the squadron in the relocation and operations in Japan.[8]
Post-Independence
[edit]In March 1948, Engineer took command ofAir Force Station Srinagar.As Station Commander at Srinagar, he was responsible for all air force operations in Jammu and Kashmir. For this operation, he was awarded theMaha Vir Chakra,the second-highest war-time gallantry award.[8]
The citation for theMaha Vir Chakrareads as follows:[9]
Gazette Notification: 2Pres/50, 26-1-50
Operation: 1948 Effective Date of Award: 06 November 1948
CITATION
WING COMMANDER MINOO MERWAN ENGINEER, DFC
(1614) GD(P)
Wing Commander Engineer was in charge of the Kashmir operations for nearly a year. Under his able guidance and leadership the enemy has been hit hard and effectively on a number occasions. e.g. KISHEN GANGA BRIDGE, SKARDU AND GILGIT besides the normal close support sorties. The most effective support by the IAF to our land forces in the capture of GURAIS was largely attributable to the planning and drive shown by this officer in personally directing the air operations. Throughout he has set a fine example of leadership.
After the war, in 1949, he was selected to attend theRAF Staff College, Andover.After completing the staff course, he returned to India and was appointed Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of theTraining Commandin Bangalore. On 1 Oct 1954, he was appointed Station Commander ofLohegaon Air Force Stationin Pune.[8]He then commanded the newly formed 2 Tactical Air Support Group and 2 Tactical Air Centre at Mumbai and Pune. On 15 April 1959, he was appointed SASO of theEastern Air Command.[7]
During theSino-Indian Warin 1962, he was appointedAir Officer Commanding(AOC) of the No. 1 Operational Group based atTezpur.For his services in the Eastern sector, he was awarded theParam Vishisht Seva Medal.[10]
On 5 August 1963, Engineer was promoted to the rank ofAir Vice Marshaland appointedAir Officer Commanding-in-ChiefEastern Air Command.After a little over an year, he moved to Air HQ in October 1964 asDeputy Chief of the Air Staff(DCAS).[8]On 1 March 1968, the appointment of DCAS was upgraded to the rank ofAir Marshaland Engineer was promoted to the rank.[11]
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
[edit]At the time ofIndo-Pakistani War of 1971,he wasAir Officer Commanding-in-ChiefofWestern Air Command.For his part in the war, Engineer was awarded thePadma Bhushanfor his leadership and services.[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ab"Aspy Engineer (1912 - 2002) - SP's Aviation".sps-aviation.Retrieved16 February2019.
- ^abSingh, Farida."Brothers-in-Arms: The Flying Engineer Brothers".bharat-rakshak.Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2019.Retrieved19 February2019.
- ^Pillaristetti, Jagan (6 February 2007)."Air Marshal Aspy Merwan Engineer DFC [Air Chiefs Since 1947]".Archived fromthe originalon 6 February 2007.Retrieved16 February2019.
- ^abSorabji, Rusi (2012)."The First historical landmark in the annals of Aviation, both Civil or Military in the Sub-Continent, the Aga Khan Race 1930"(PDF).Hamazor(2): 47–53.
- ^Sapru, S. (2014).Combat lore: Indian Air Force 1930-1945.KW Publishers.ISBN978-9383649259.
- ^"No. 37291".The London Gazette(Supplement). 28 September 1945. p. 4859.
- ^ab"Service Record for Air Marshal Minoo Merwan Engineer 1614 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak".Bharat Rakshak.
- ^abcd"BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES"(PDF).archive.pib.gov.in.1 March 1968.
- ^"WG CDR MINOO MERWAN ENGINEER | Gallantry Awards".gallantryawards.gov.in.Retrieved18 February2019.
- ^"FORTY ONE AWARDS FOR AIR FORCE PERSONNEL"(PDF).pibarchive.nic.in.24 January 1964.
- ^"UPGRADATIONS IN DEFENCE SERVICES APPOINTMENTS"(PDF).archive.pib.gov.in.1 March 1968.
- ^News Article in DepthArchived23 May 2012 at theWayback Machine
- Indian Air Force air marshals
- Parsi people
- Recipients of the Maha Vir Chakra
- 1921 births
- Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in civil service
- 1997 deaths
- Recipients of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal
- Indian military personnel of World War II
- Indian recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
- Deputy Chiefs of Air Staff (India)
- People from Punjab Province (British India)