Farewell to the Air Force

In accordance with traditional military custom Air Marshal Adi Rustomji Ghandhi was ‘pulled ashore’ by senior officers of the South Western Air Command — reportedly the largest and most active air command of the Indian Air Force (IAF) — on his last day of service on June 30, 2004. Sixty-year-old Ghandhi had worked for the IAF for 42 years during which time he had flown a variety of fighter aircraft including the Vampire, Hunter, Gnat, Mig 21, Mig 29, Mirage 2000 and SU 30, notes a write-up forwarded by Rashid Medora of Ahmedabad.

Ghandhi (left) being ‘pulled ashore’ on his retirement

Within two years of being commissioned in the IAF as a fighter pilot he participated in the Indo-Pak War in 1965. For having valiantly shot down a Pakistan plane he was the youngest pilot to be awarded the Vir Chakra, mentions the write-up. He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 1994 and last year was presented the Param Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished service of the most exceptional order as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Western Air Command. Being a master green pilot he was the highest professional grading and command examiner of long standing.

Over the years Ghandhi had served tenures at the Tactics and Combat Development Establishment, at the Army College of Combat, Mhow, and at the College of Air Warfare at Secunderabad, the premier think tank of the Air Force.