Squadron Leader Dalip Singh Majithia, The oldest living pilot of the Indian Air Force passed away at the age of 103. Majithia’s life was a testament to a lifetime of service, adventure and a deep love of aviation.
Early life and joining the Indian Air Force
Born on 27 July 1920 In Shimla, Majithia followed the footsteps of his uncle Surjit Singh Majithia and joined the Indian Air Force (IAF) volunteer reserve. 1940 during World War II. His family had a rich history, his father, Kripal Singh Majithia, was a prominent figure in Punjab during British rule, and his grandfather, Sunder Singh Majithia, was associated with the Chief Khalsa Diwan and one of the founders of Khalsa College Amritsar. . ,
a pilot’s journey
Majithia’s journey as a pilot began at the Karachi Flying Club, where he learned the basics of flying Gypsy Moth Aircraft. He then joined the Fourth Pilot Course at the Initial Training School (ITA) at Walton, Lahore in August 1940. Three months later, he was awarded the Best Pilot Trophy and was posted to No. 1 Flying Training School at Ambala to continue his studies. Their advanced flight training.
Wartime Experience and Appreciation
In March 1943, Majithia joined No. 6 Squadron in the rank of Flying Officer under the command of Mahan ‘Baba’ Mehar Singh. In January 1944, he was posted as flight commander of No. 3 Squadron flying Hurricanes. During this time, he flew extensively in Kohat, where he had the opportunity to serve with Air Marshal Asghar Khan, the future Chief of the Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, and Air Marshal Randhir Singh, who later received the Vir Chakra in 1948.
Posting in Burma and meeting my wife
In his next posting, Majithia was posted to Burma as the flight commander of No. 4 Squadron. After suffering a prolonged illness that kept him away from active flying, he served as the Indian Air Force Liaison Officer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Australia at Air Headquarters and later in Melbourne, Australia. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Joan Sanders Majithia, who was a code breaker in the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service during World War II.
Retirement and continued passion for aviation
Majithia retired from the Indian Air Force on March 18, 1947 and lived in his family’s estate at Sardarnagar near Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. However, his love for aviation did not diminish. In 1949, he made history by making the first landing of an aircraft on unprepared land in Kathmandu, Nepal, which is now the country’s international airport.
