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{{Short description|Indian military officer (1925–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]]
| name = Chandan Singh Champawat
| birth_name =
| honorific_suffix = [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]], [[AVSM]], [[Vir Chakra|VrC]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1925|08|18}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2020|03|29|1925|08|18}}
| birth_place = Bagawas, district pali
[[Jodhpur State]]
| death_place = [[Jodhpur]], [[Rajasthan]]
| burial_place =
| image =
| caption =
| nickname =
| allegiance = {{flag|Jodhpur State}} (1941–1947) {{flag|India}} (1947–1980)
| branch = [[Jodhpur Lancers]] (1941–1947) {{air force|India}} (1947–1980)
| service_years =
| rank = [[File:India-AirForce-OF-7-collected.svg|30px]] [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]]
| commands = [[Jorhat Air Force Station]]
| battles = [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]] [[Sino-Indian War]]
| awards = [[File:Maha_Vir_Chakra_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Maha Vir Chakra]] [[File:Ati_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] [[File:Vir_Chakra_ribbon_bar.svg|20px]] [[Vir Chakra]]
| relations =
| spouse = Junu Kumari (m.1963)
| other_work =
| religion =
}}

[[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]] '''Chandan Singh Rathore''', [[Maha Vir Chakra|MVC]], [[AVSM]], [[Vir Chakra|VrC]] (18 August 1925 – 29 March 2020) was an [[Air Officer]] in the [[Indian Air Force]]. A highly decorated officer, Singh was awarded the [[Vir Chakra]] during the [[Sino-Indian War]] and the [[Maha Vir Chakra]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]].

==Early life==
Singh was born in [[Jodhpur State]], [[Pali district]] in a [[Rathore (Rajput clan)|Rathore]] [[Rajput]] family<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/pm-pays-tribute-to-iafs-chandan-singh-remembering-the-legacy-of-the-gallant-maha-vir-chakra-holder/571288|title = PM pays tribute to IAF's Chandan Singh – Remembering the legacy of the gallant Maha vir Chakra holder}}</ref><ref>https://m.tribuneindia.com/news/features/brilliant-unconventional-fearless-group-captain-chandan-singh-seniormost-iaf-officer-to-be-awarded-mvc-250238 {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref> to [[Colonel]] Bahadur Singh, [[Order of British India|OBI]], who commanded the famous [[Jodhpur Lancers]].<ref>{{cite web |title=PM pays tribute to IAF's Chandan Singh – Remembering the legacy of the gallant Maha Vir Chakra holder |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/pm-pays-tribute-to-iafs-chandan-singh-remembering-the-legacy-of-the-gallant-maha-vir-chakra-holder/571288 |website=www.timesnownews.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Military career==
===Early career===
Singh joined the [[Jodhpur Lancers]] in 1941, following in his father's footsteps, as a [[Second Lieutenant]]. After the [[Independence of India]], the Jodhpur Lancers was amalgamated into the [[President's Bodyguard]] and the [[61st Cavalry (India)|61st Cavalry]]. Singh, then a [[Captain]], joined the [[Indian Air Force]].<ref>{{cite web |title=PM pays tribute to IAF's Chandan Singh – Remembering the legacy of the gallant Maha Vir Chakra holder |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/pm-pays-tribute-to-iafs-chandan-singh-remembering-the-legacy-of-the-gallant-maha-vir-chakra-holder/571288 |website=www.timesnownews.com |language=en}}</ref>

Singh was serving in the [[No. 43 Squadron IAF]], when in 1961, he was awarded the [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]] (then called Vishisht Seva Medal Class II). He was awarded the AVSM for "devising new procedures for training and selecting new safe routes."<ref>{{cite web |title=Service Record for Air Vice Marshal Chandan Singh 3460 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/3460 |website=Bharat Rakshak |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=REPUBLIC DAY AWARDS |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1961-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1961-01-25_048.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=25 January 1961}}</ref>

===Vir Chakra===
At the outbreak of the [[Sino-Indian War]], Singh was a pilot in the [[No. 44 Squadron IAF]]. He saw action in the Chip Chap area in [[Ladakh]], where he was awarded the third-highest war-time gallantry award, the [[Vir Chakra]].

The citation for the [[Vir Chakra]] reads as follows:<ref>{{cite web |title=SQUADRON LEADER CHANDAN SINGH {{!}} Gallantry Awards |url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/squadron-leader-chandan-singh |website=gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Vir Chakra (VrC), Awardee: AVM Chandan Singh, MVC, AVSM, VrC (retd) @ TWDI |url=http://twdi.in/node/3647 |website=twdi.in}}</ref>
{{Quotation|Gazette Notification: 18 Pres/63, 26-1-63
Operation: 1962 Leg Horn
Date of Award: 20 Oct 1962

{{center|'''CITATION''' '''SQUADRON LEADER CHANDAN SINGH''' '''(3460) GD(P)'''}}

On 20th October 1962, Squadron Leader Chandan Singh was detailed to carry out supply dropping in the Chipchap area in Ladakh. On reaching the dropping zone, he noticed that the outposts were under heavy fire from the Chinese forces. He successfully dropped vital supplies to our garrison, although his aircraft was hit 19 times by enemy ground fire. Squadron Leader Chandan Singh displayed courage and devotion to duty in carrying out the task in complete disregard of his personal safety.|sign=|source=}}

===Maha Vir Chakra===
Singh was promoted to the rank of [[Group Captain]] in late 1969 and took over command of the [[Jorhat Air Force Station]] in early 1970. He commanded the Air Force base through the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. Singh planned and executed the [[Battle of Sylhet|Sylhet air-lift]], when two [[Company (military unit)|companies]] of troops of the [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]] were air-lifted.<ref>{{cite web |title=Defenceindia : Special Feature : Battle of Sylhet |url=http://www.defenceindia.com/defenceind/battle_sylhet.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810211600/http://www.defenceindia.com/defenceind/battle_sylhet.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 August 2007 |date=10 August 2007}}</ref> For this operation, Singh was awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]], the second-highest war-time gallantry award.

The citation for the [[Maha Vir Chakra]] reads as follows:<ref>{{cite web |title=GROUP CAPTAIN CHANDAN SINGH {{!}} Gallantry Awards |url=https://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/group-captain-chandan-singh |website=gallantryawards.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Vir Chakra (VrC), Awardee: AVM Chandan Singh, MVC, AVSM, VrC (retd) @ TWDI |url=http://twdi.in/node/3647 |website=twdi.in}}</ref>
{{Quotation|Gazette Notification: 20 Pres/72,12-2-72
Operation: 1971 Cactus Lily
Date of Award: 07 Dec 1971

{{center|'''CITATION''' '''GROUP CAPTAIN CHANDAN SINGH, AVSM, VrC''' ''' (3460) F(P)'''}}

Group Captain Chandan Singh is the Officer Commanding of an Air Force Station in Assam. During the recent conflict with Pakistan, he was at the forefront of the air operations conducted for the liberation of Bangla Desh. He was responsible for the planning and execution of the special helicopter operations to airlift two companies of troops to the Sylhet area. When it became necessary to overcome the obstacles in the advance of the Army towards Dacca, he planned and executed the move of nearly 3000 troops and 40 tons of equipment and heavy guns with the extremely limited helicopter force at his disposal. This operation entailed landing the troops and equipment very near heavily defended areas by night. Prior to each mission, he personally carried out reconnaissance in the face of heavy enemy fire. On the night of 7th/8th December, he flew eight missions, deep into enemy territory, to supervise the progress of the helicopter airlift and to guide and inspire his pilots who were facing heavy opposition from ground fire. Later he undertook a further 18 missions in the same operation, always leading the landings at new places. On many occasions, his helicopter was hit by ground fire, but this did not deter him from further missions. The success of this major airborne operation contributed significantly to the fall of Dacca and the capitulation of the Pakistan armed forces in Bangla Desh.

Throughout, Group Captain Chandan Singh displayed conspicuous gallantry, organising ability, determination and professional skill.|sign=|source=}}

===Post-war career===
After the war, Singh attended the [[Royal College of Defence Studies]] in the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite web |title=AVM Chandan Singh, MVC, AVSM, VrC (retd) @ TWDI |url=http://twdi.in/node/1114 |website=twdi.in}}</ref> Singh was promoted to [[Air commodore (India)|Air Commodore]] in 1973 and to the rank of [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]] in 1977. He then took over as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of the [[Central Air Command (India)|Central Air Command]] in [[Allahabad]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Service Record for Air Vice Marshal Chandan Singh 3460 F(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/3460 |website=Bharat Rakshak |language=en-gb}}</ref>

After a three-year stint as SASO, Singh retired in 1980.

==Awards and decorations==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Maha_Vir_Chakra_ribbon.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ati_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|-
|colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Vir_Chakra_ribbon_bar.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Wound_Medal-India.svg|width=106}} {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=India_General_Service_Medal_1947.svg|width=106}} [[File:IND_Samar_Seva_Star_Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=IND_Poorvi_Star_Ribbon.svg|width=106}}
|[[File:IND Raksha Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Sangram Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND Sainya Seva Medal Ribbon.svg|105px]]
|-
|[[File:Indian Independence medal 1947.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND 25th Anniversary Independence medal.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND 20YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]]
|[[File:IND 9YearsServiceMedalRibbon.svg|105px]]
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_1939-45_Star.png|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_Burma_Star.png|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Defence Medal BAR.svg|width=106}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon_-_War_Medal.png|width=106}}
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
|
| colspan="1"| [[Maha Vir Chakra]]
| colspan= "1"| [[Ati Vishisht Seva Medal]]
|
|-
| colspan="1"| [[Vir Chakra]]
| colspan="1"| [[Wound Medal (India)|Wound Medal]]
| colspan="1"| [[General Service Medal 1947|General Service Medal (Naga Hills)]]
|[[Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces|Samar Seva Star]]
|-
|[[Poorvi Star]]
|[[Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces|Raksha Medal]]
|[[Sangram Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|Sainya Seva Medal]]
|-
|[[Indian Independence Medal]]
|[[Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces|25th Independence Anniversary Medal]]
|[[Awards and decorations of the Indian Armed Forces|20 Years Long Service Medal]]
|[[Indian military decorations#Service and campaign medals|9 Years Long Service Medal]]
|-
|[[1939–45 Star]]
|[[Burma Star]]
|[[Defence Medal (United Kingdom)|Defence Medal]]
|[[War Medal 1939–1945]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Singh, Chandan}}
[[Category:Indian Air Force air marshals]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Maha Vir Chakra]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Vir Chakra]]
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian State Forces officers]]

Chandan Singh air vice marshal-272487 - Revision history

Portileostah at 04:29, 29 April 2026