Pratap Chandra Lal

Who was Pratap Chandra Lal?

Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal was the Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. He served in the IAF from 1939 until his retirement in 1973. He served as CO of No. 7 Squadron, AOC-in-C of Western Air Command, VCAS and Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. He was the Air Chief Marshal at the time of Operation Chengiz Khan, also served as Chairman, Air India after retirement. During his service, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Padma Bhushan and finally the Padma Vibhushan.

He embarked on writing his memoirs My Years with the IAF, but died before completing them. His wife Mrs. Ela Lal finished the book and published it in 1983.