Suhas Biswas
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, India's highest military award, in peacetime.[1][2][3]
Suhas Biswas | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 September 1924 Calcutta, British India |
| Died | 1 September 1957 (aged 32) Nilgiri mountains range |
| Allegiance |  British Raj India |
| Service/ | Royal Indian Air Force Indian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1944-1957 |
| Rank |  Flight Lieutenant |
| Awards |  Ashoka Chakra |
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 their aircraft. After it took off, suddenly a crew member observed an engine malfunction; subsequently a fire broke out. Biswas first tried to extinguish it, but it was difficult to control. He decided to attempt a forced landing, and made a belly landing at 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
- Rashmi Aggarwal (January 0101). "Ashoka Chakra Recipients". Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- "Ashoka Chakra". bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- "Medal Rack". 18 February 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- "FLT LT SUHAS BISWAS". Retrieved 1 November 2017.
- FLIGHT LT - SUHAS BISWAS. Aan. 2017. ISBN 9788192857053.