In sad news coming in this morning, the first Commanding Officer of 114 HU, Air Vice Marshal Arvind Dalaya AVSM, VM (4025) passed away this morning at Base Hospital, Delhi. He was 91 years old and had an astonishing career replete with many firsts for the IAF. (1/11)
Born in 1931 at Murree, now in Pakistan. His father Rev. Alexander Manmohan Dalaya, MBE was the Principal of Edwards College in Peshawar. He realized that flying was the only career he wanted after watching the RAF Spitfires returning from their sorties over the Khyber Pass. 2/
After Partition, they initially stayed in Pakistan but decided to move to Bombay soon. Rev. Dalaya became Principal of Madhav College (Ujjain) & Christian College (Indore). AVM Dalaya joined the IAF as a cadet in 1949 with 54 PC & was commissioned as a fighter pilot in Jan ‘51.3/
His first posting was with No. 3 Squadron, then flying Hawker Tempests. In 1953, barely two years into his career, he completed his QFI (Flying Instructor) course at the FIS in Ambala & this was followed by various stints as an Instructor. 4/
In the late 50s, well-rated Flying Instructors were being converted to become the pioneering crop of Helicopter Pilots in IAF. Arvind Dalaya was one of them. He converted to the Mi-4 and became the 2nd CO of 109 HU. The unit had shown amazing feats in the 62 war in Ladakh.5/
Not surprisingly, when 114 HU was set up in 1964 as the first unit to be permanently based in Leh (even before Leh was a station), he was chosen as the CO and converted to the Chetak. In this tenure, he led the unit during ’65 war and was awarded Vayu Sena Medal. 6/
Next 10 years, he dedicated himself to Air Defence and organization building. He was the first CO of 251 SU, an ADDC on the P-30 Radar at Agra followed by command of the 507 SU (Star Sapphire) at Singhari post-1971 war. Subsequently, he commanded 1 AFSB at Dehradoon & AFRO. 7/
In btwn, he commanded Aircraft Erection Unit in ’71 & was commended by the CAS. Thereafter, he was asked to carry out trial landings on water in a Chetak. He completed the trials & trained all the pilots of the new Heptr unit (121 HF) for them to operate at Bombay High. 8/
In 1977 he was given command of AFS New Delhi and then moved to a staff posting at AirHQ as Director, Personnel Services, receiving an AVSM during the tenure. He was rewarded in 1983 with command of AFS Palam, the premier station in the IAF catering to VIP movement. 9/
Coming a full circle, in 1984, he found himself as AOC, J&K just as the Siachen crisis unfolded and Op Meghdoot was launched. He saw 114 HU, whom he was the first CO of, earn laurels and be the first responders at Siachen. 10/
He retired in 1987 having commanded 3 Heptr units, 2 Signal units, 2 stations, 1 mini command & 3 other IAF establishments. Some record to beat!
Seen below, is one of his last pictures, in front of a Sikorsky H19 at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in 2006. 11/11
Originally published on Twitter
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