Pratap Chandra Lal
| Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal DFC | |
|---|---|
| Born |
6 December 1916 Ludhiana Punjab, India |
| Died | August 1982 (aged 67) |
| Allegiance |
  |
| Service/ |
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| Years of service | 1939-1973 |
| Rank |
 |
| Commands held |
Chief of the Air Staff (1969–1973) Vice Chief of the Air Staff Western Air Command No. 7 Squadron |
| Battles/wars |
World War II Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 |
| Awards | |
Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal (6 December 1916 – August 1982) was the Chief of Air Staff (India) of the Indian Air Force during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. He served in the IAF from 1939 until his retirement in 1973. He was the CO of No. 7 Squadron, AOC-in-C of Western Command, Vice Chief of the Air Staff before going on to head the IAF. He was the Chief of Air Staff at the time of Operation Chengiz Khan, the preemptive 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.
Early life and education
Pratap Chandra Lal was born on 6 December 1916 in Ludhiana.Having qualified for a diploma in journalism at King's College, London in 1938, Lal expected to return to full-time study of law at the Inns of Court in the fall of 1939.[1]
References
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Arjan Singh |
Chief of the Air Staff (India) 1969–1973 |
Succeeded by Om Prakash Mehra |
| Commander, Indian Group (1919–1920) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Air Officer Commanding RAF, India (1920–1938) | ||
| Air Officer Commander-in-Chief, Air Forces in India (1938–1947) | ||
| Air Officer Commanding, Royal Indian Air Force (1947–1948) | ||
| Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Air Force (1948–1950) | ||
| Commander-in-Chief, Indian Air Force (1950–1955) | ||
| Chief of the Air Staff (1955–present) |
| |
(**Seconded from the Royal Air Force) | ||
Authority control  |
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