An untimely cardiac arrest ended an up-and-coming career of a highly decorated IAF officer, aged only 44. This is the story of Group Captain Allan Albert Da Costa, MVC, VM. A veteran of the Hunter and Su-7 fleet, flg instructor, and Air Defence expert. (1/15)
Allan was born on 1 Feb 1933 in Mumbai to Albert Vivian D’Costa (who was in the Planning Commission & was awarded MBE for Services to the Indian Railway) as the oldest of six siblings. He studied at St. Stanislaus, Bandra, & completed his BA from St Xavier’s College Mumbai. 2/
Allan’s personality came through in his early years – he took part in the sports of the day, carrom and kite fights, excelling in both, till his parents figured out and put an end to it. As per the Goan Catholic tradition, the eldest son joined the priesthood in those days. 3/
His siblings recall when he made his first sartorial choice. Allan decided to have two shirts tailored: one in pink & another in blue. At a time when teenage males chose white shirts (other colors were perceived as non-masculine). His unorthodox humor lasted a lifetime.4/
Allan’s brave side showed up early. He bravely confronted a large reptile that had breached his home using fire. He burnt himself in the process. His family recalls him sitting on the kitchen steps in great pain but not a single whimper or tear. 5/
After graduation, he worked as an inspector at the Mumbai Suburban Electric Company. His job was to check electricity meters. During this job, he secretly applied to the Indian Air Force. Despite his parent’s objections, he joined IAF in 1952 with 61 Pilot Course. 6/
His first few years in the IAF were spent flying the Spitfires, first at the Conversion Trg Unit at Hakimpet and then with the 101 PR Sqn for nearly three years. With the spits at the end of life, he transferred to 17 Sqn, who had converted to the Hunters. 7/
After the 17 Sqn tenure, Allan would oddly not return to active fighter flying for ten years. About half the time was spent as a Flg instructor with AFFC and JTW and the rest as a pioneer of the Signal units (16 and 20 SU). His pupils remember him as a jovial & friendly. 8/
After attending the 22nd Staff Course at Wellington & a tenure at EAC, he returned to active fighter flg with 17 Sqn and 221 Sqn as Flt Cdrs. He was amongst the first lot to convert to the Su-7s and became the first CO of the newly raised 222 Sqn in mid-1969. 9/
Initially at Ambala, unit moved to Halwara in July 1971 & took part in the strikes against Risalwala and Chander Airfields. CAS was centered around Dra-Baba-Nanak, Husseinwala and Firozpur sectors. The Sqn was decorated with one MVC, three VrC, three VMs and two M-in-D. 10/
Allan was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra for leading from the front and personally conducting 15 missions during the 1971 war. His citation bears testimony to his daring and skill during the war. 11/
Allan was also awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for the way he set up and took to war, successfully a newly formed squadron on a new type of aircraft. He would remain CO for nearly four years, a rarity reflecting his role for the unit and fleet. 12/
Thereafter, Allan commanded the Aircraft accident investigation board & after that returned to AD role, commanding 230 SU and 33 SU. 33 SU was a critical new installation with the THD-1955 Radar for the Rajasthan & Allan’s experience was vastly valuable in this role. 13/
On 26 Oct 1977, Allan collapsed in a suspected cardiac arrest, leaving behind his wife Margaret and Allan Jr and a sad and shocked Air Force. Margaret would later re-marry one of the greats of IAF , Air Marshal Malcolm Shirley Dundas Wollen. She passed away recently. 14/
Allan is still remembered fondly by his contemporaries and juniors. His sense of humor was epic, a classic example is when a pupil had low pneumatic pressure during a sortie, Allan advised him to top it up with his bodily gasses. They don’t make them like him anymore! 15/15
Originally published on Twitter
Leave a Reply