Suhas Biswas
| Suhas Biswas | |
|---|---|
| Born |
9 September 1924 Calcutta, British India |
| Died |
1 September 1957 (aged 32) Nilgiri mountains range |
| Allegiance |
  |
| Service/ |
Royal Indian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1944-1957 |
| Rank | Flight Lieutenant |
| Awards | Ashoka Chakra |
Suhas Biswas AC, (9 September 1924 - 1 September 1957) was a flight lieutenant in the Indian Air Force who was the first Air Force Officer to be awarded the Ashoka Chakra (military decoration), India's highest military award, in peacetime.[1][2][3]
Early life
Suhas Biswas was born in a Bengali Christian family in Kolkata, West Bengal, the son of Samuel Biswas and Diana Biswas. After completing his education Biswas joined the Indian Air Force as a pilot in 1944 and became a commissioned officer.[4][5]
Credits
In 1952 Biswas was working in a Communication Flight unit in Lucknow. On 3 February 1952 some senior army officials were returning to New Delhi after an official visit. Biswas took charge of the their aircraft. After it took off, suddenly a crew member observed an engine malfunction; subsequently a fire broke out. Biswas first tried extinguish it, but it was difficult to control. He decided to attempt a forced landing, and made a belly landing Sandila village in Uttar Pradesh and successfully saved the lives of all the passengers. Biswas was awarded the Ashoka Chakra for his extraordinary example of bravery, intelligence and rationality.[1]
Death
Biswas died in a crash on 1 September 1957 while he was flying a Dakota aircraft towards Mangalore on an operational mission. The aircraft crashed in Nilgiri mountains range.[2]
References
- 1 2 Rashmi Aggarwal. "Ashoka Chakra Recipients". Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- 1 2 "Ashoka Chakra". bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ↑ "Medal Rack". February 18, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- ↑ "FLT LT SUHAS BISWAS". Retrieved November 1, 2017.
- ↑ FLIGHT LT - SUHAS BISWAS. Aan. 2017. ISBN 9788192857053.