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{{Short description|Indian Air Force officer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox military person
| image =
| image_size =
| honorific_prefix = [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]]
| name = E W Pinto
| honorific_suffix = [[PVSM]]
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1921|06|29|df=yes}}
| almamater =
| Callsign =
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1963|11|22|1921|06|29}}
| death_place = [[Poonch district, India|Poonch]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]]
| allegiance = {{flag|United Kingdom}} (1940–1942) {{flag|British India}} (1942–1947) {{flag|India}} (from 1947)
| rank = [[File:Air_Vice_Marshal_of_IAF.png|20px]] [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]]
| branch = {{air force|United Kingdom}} {{air force|British India}} {{air force|India}}
| serviceyears = 1940–1963
| commands = [[Western Air Command]] [[Palam Air Force Station|Air Force Station Palam]] [[No. 4 Squadron IAF|No. 4 Squadron]]
| battles = [[World War II]] [[Annexation of Goa]]
| awards = [[File:Param_Vishisht_Seva_Medal_ribbon.svg|20px]] [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] [[Mentioned in dispatches]] (2)
| otherwork =
}}

[[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]] '''Erlic Wilmot Pinto''', [[PVSM]] (29 June 1921 – 22 November 1963) was an [[Air officer]] in the [[Indian Air Force]]. He was the [[Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] (AOC-in-C) [[Western Air Command]] when he was killed in the [[1963 Poonch Indian Air Force helicopter crash]]. He served in the IAF from 1940 until his death in 1963. He was the theatre air commander commanding the air operations during the [[Annexation of Goa]].

== Early life and education ==
Erlic Pinto was born on 29 June 1921 into the Pinto do Rosario family of [[Porvorim]], [[Goa]]. His brothers Fausto and Norman also served in the [[Indian Armed Forces]]. Fausto joined the [[Indian Navy]] and retired as a [[Rear Admiral]] while Norman joined the [[Indian Army]] and retired as a [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]].<ref name="Navhind">{{cite web |title=Grateful Tributes To ACM Arjan Singh |url=http://www.navhindtimes.in/grateful-tributes-to-acm-arjan-singh/ |website=The Navhind Times |date=17 September 2017}}</ref> He attended the [[St. Paul's School, Belgaum]] and the [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai]].<ref name="PIB 1950"/>

==Military career==
===World War II===
Pinto was commissioned in August 1940 as one of the first of [[24 Indian pilots (1940)|24 Indian pilots to be seconded to the UK]].<ref name=Chowdhry2018>{{cite book |last1=Chowdhry |first1=Mohindra S. |title=Defence of Europe by Sikh Soldiers in the World Wars |date=2018 |publisher=Troubador Publishing Ltd |location=Leicestershire |isbn=978-1788037-983 |pages=329-383 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=twFQDwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA329 |language=en |chapter=7. Sikhs in the Second World War}}</ref> He also received [[Param Vishist Seva Medal]] in 1969.<ref>http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/1598</ref> He served with the [[No. 12 Squadron RAF]] for about two years.<ref name="PIB Bio">{{cite web |title=AIR VICE-MARSHAL E.W. PINTO |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1963-OCT-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-/PDF/DEF-1963-11-22_150.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=22 November 1963}}</ref> He was among the 24 pilots who participated in the [[Battle of Britain]].{{sfn|Sapru|2014}} In 1942, he returned to India and joined the oldest squadron of the IAF, [[No. 1 Squadron IAF]], then commanded by Squadron Leader Henry Runganadhan. After a short stint, he was transferred to [[No. 7 Squadron IAF]]. In October 1943, he was promoted to the acting rank of [[Flight Lieutenant]] and took command of a [[Flight (military unit)|flight]].<ref name="BR service record">{{cite web |title=Service Record for Air Vice Marshal Erlic Wilmot Pinto 1593 GD(P) at Bharat Rakshak.com |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/1593 |website=Bharat Rakshak |language=en-gb}}</ref> The commander of the other flight in the squadron was Flt Lt [[Pratap Chandra Lal]]. The squadron was equipped with the [[Vultee A-31 Vengeance]] [[dive bomber]]s and supported the [[Chindits]]. The squadron also helped in relieving the [[Battle of Imphal|Siege of Imphal]].{{sfn|Lal|1986|p=30}}

For his service in [[Burma]], Pinto was [[mentioned in dispatches]] in December 1944.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 36866|page=104|supp=y|date=29 December 1944}}</ref> After a two-year stint in No. 7 Squadron, he served briefly with [[No. 9 Squadron IAF]]. He was promoted to the acting rank of [[Squadron Leader]] and took command of [[No. 4 Squadron IAF]] in August 1945. After the war, Pinto was absorbed into the permanent cadre of the IAF. In July 1946, he took charge of the Initial Training Wing (ITW) (later [[Air Force Administrative College]]) at [[Coimbatore]]. The ITW was based at [[Pune]] and Pinto served as the first commandant of the college in Coimbatore, where it has remained since.<ref name="AFAC">{{cite web |title=AF Administrative College {{!}} Indian Air Force {{!}} Government of India |url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/content/af-administrative-college |website=indianairforce.nic.in}}</ref>

===Post-Independence===
On 15 August 1947, with the [[partition of India]], a new Air Headquarters of the [[Dominion of India]] was formed.<ref name="RIAF Appointments 1947">{{cite web|title=RIAF Appointments|url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1947-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1947-08-14_355.pdf|website=Press Information Bureau of India – Archive|date=14 August 1947|access-date=26 January 2019}}</ref> Pinto was promoted to the acting rank of [[Wing Commander (rank)|Wing Commander]] and served in the Directorate of Organisation at Air HQ.<ref name="PIB 1950"/> In December, the RIAF took over [[Palam Air Force Station|Air Force Station Palam]] from the [[Royal Air Force]]. Pinto took over the airbase thus becoming the first RIAF officer to take command.<ref>{{cite web |title=RIAF TAKES OVER PALAM AIR STATION |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1947-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1947-12-15_441.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=15 December 1947}}</ref> The airbase was a part of the No. 1 Operational Group commanded by [[Air commodore (India)|Air Commodore]] [[Mehar Singh (pilot)|Mehar Singh]] and participated in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]]. For the command of the airbase during the war, Pinto was [[mentioned in dispatches]].<ref name="MID">{{cite web |title=PIB (Defence Wing) |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JAN-JUNE-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-06-09_275.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=9 June 1948}}</ref> He was promoted to substantive Wing Commander on 15 August 1948.<ref name="BR service record" />

In November 1948, Pinto was promoted to the acting rank of [[Group captain (India)|Group Captain]] and took command of the Advanced Training School (AFS) at [[Ambala]].<ref>{{cite web |title=RIAF POSTINGS |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1948-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1948-11-18_366.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=18 November 1948}}</ref> The AFS was rechristened No. 1 Air Force Academy in July 1949.<ref name="Training Command IAF">{{cite web |title=TRAINING COMMAND {{!}} Indian Air Force {{!}} Government of India |url=https://indianairforce.nic.in/content/training-command |website=indianairforce.nic.in}}</ref> In February 1950, Pinto was appointed the second [[Air attaché|Air advisor]] to the [[List of High Commissioners of India to the United Kingdom|High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom]] at [[India House, London]].<ref name="PIB 1950">{{cite web |title=PIB (Defence Wing) |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1950-JAN-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1950-02-25_097.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=25 February 1950}}</ref> The High Commissioner throughout his tenure was [[V. K. Krishna Menon]], who later became the [[Minister of Defence (India)|Minister of Defence]].<ref>{{cite web |title=High Commission of India, London, United Kingdom : Former High Commissioners of India to the United Kingdom |url=https://www.hcilondon.gov.in/page/former-high-commissioners-of-india-to-the-united-kingdom/ |website=www.hcilondon.gov.in}}</ref> Pinto was selected to attend the [[RAF Staff College, Andover]] in April 1952. After completing the year-long staff course, he was promoted to substantive Group Captain.<ref name="BR service record" />

Pinto served as the Director of Policy and Plans at Air HQ from 1955 to 1958. In May 1958, he was promoted to the acting rank of [[Air commodore (India)|Air Commodore]] and took over as the Air Officer-in-charge Administration (AOA).<ref>{{cite web |title=AIR RANK FOR SIX GROUP CAPTAINS |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1959-JAN-DEC-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1958-05-25_332.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=25 May 1958}}</ref> As the AOA, he served as a Principal Staff Officer to the CAS [[Air Marshal (India)|Air Marshal]] [[Subroto Mukerjee]].<ref>{{cite web |title=SWEDISH AIR CHIEF MEETS DEPUTY DEFENCE MINISTER |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1958-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1958-11-12_181.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=12 November 1959}}</ref> In November 1959, Pinto was promoted to the acting rank of [[Air vice marshal (India)|Air Vice Marshal]] and appointed [[Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] (AOC-in-C) Operational Command. He took over the command from Air Vice Marshal [[Arjan Singh]]. In December 1960, he took the salute at the [[Passing out (military)|passing out parade]] at the [[Hakimpet Air Force Station|Air Force Station Hyderabad]].<ref>{{cite web |title=HYDERABAD PARADE |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1960-JULY-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1960-12-13_246.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=13 December 1960}}</ref>

===Annexation of Goa===
{{main|Annexation of Goa}}
In December 1961, the [[Indian Armed Forces]] launched Operation Vijay against [[Portuguese India]]. The overall commander of the operation was [[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri]], the [[General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] [[Southern Command (India)|Southern Command]].<ref name="Tribune 1999">{{cite web |title=The Tribune...Sunday Reading |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/1999/99feb21/sunday/head3.htm |website=www.tribuneindia.com}}</ref> Pinto, as the AOC-in-C Operational Command was the theatre air commander.<ref name="PIB Bio" /> He had forces in the airbases in [[Lohegaon Air Force Station|Pune]] and [[Belgaum Airport|Belgaum]] for the operation.{{sfn|Pandey|Singh|2017|p=30}} These consisted of a [[Section (military unit)|section]] of four [[Dassault Mystère]]s, a [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]] of [[Dassault Ouragan|Toofanis]] and a signal unit under him. This was the first real action seen by the Mysteres.<ref>{{cite web |title=Grateful Tributes To ACM Arjan Singh |url=http://www.navhindtimes.in/grateful-tributes-to-acm-arjan-singh/ |website=The Navhind Times |date=17 September 2017}}</ref>

The mandate handed to Pinto was listed out as follows:

* The destruction of Goa's lone airfield in Dabolim, without causing damage to the terminal building and other airport facilities.
* Destruction of the wireless station at Bambolim, Goa.
* Denial of airfields at Daman and Diu, which were, however, not to be attacked without prior permission.
* Support to advancing ground troops.

The air forces under Pinto bombed the [[Diu Island]]. The ammunition, petroleum dumps and water reservoirs were destroyed by the bombers. The Portuguese strong-points of Fort-De-Cova, Secho and Fort-De-Mar were heavily also damaged. <ref name="Tribune 1999" />

==Death and legacy==
{{main|1963 Poonch Indian Air Force helicopter crash}}
On 22 November 1963, Pinto was killed when his helicopter crashed en route to [[Poonch (town)|Poonch]]. In a great loss to the Indian Armed Forces, the crash claimed six distinguished officers.<ref name="NYT">{{cite web |last1=Times |first1=Thomas F. Brady Special To the New York |title=5 INDIAN GENERALS DIE IN AIR CRASH; Their Copter in Kashmir Is Said to Have Hit Wire |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/11/23/archives/5-indian-generals-die-in-air-crash-their-copter-in-kashmir-is-said.html |website=The New York Times |date=23 November 1963}}</ref> The officers who were on the helicopter apart from Pinto were:<ref name="Extraordinary Gazette"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Service |first1=Tribune News |title=General who called a spade a spade |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/himachaltribune/general-who-called-a-spade-a-spade-801496 |website=Tribuneindia News Service |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Daulet Singh]], [[General Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] [[Western Command (India)|Western Command]]
*[[Lieutenant General (India)|Lieutenant General]] [[Bikram Singh (lieutenant general)|Bikram Singh]], [[General Officer Commanding]] [[XV Corps (India)|XV Corps]]
*[[Major general (India)|Major General]] N K D Nanavati, General Officer Commanding 25 Infantry Division
*[[Brigadier (India)|Brigadier]] S R Oberoi, Commander 93 Infantry Brigade
*Flight Lieutenant S S Sodhi, Pilot

The news of the air crash came as a shock to the nation. Multiple distinguished visitors paid their respects including [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] and the [[Chief of the Air Staff (India)|Chief of the Air Staff]] [[Aspy Engineer]].<ref>{{cite web |title=PIB |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1963-OCT-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-/PDF/DEF-1963-11-23_161.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=23 November 1963}}</ref> A black-bordered extraordinary [[Gazette of India]] was issued on 23 November.<ref name="Extraordinary Gazette">{{cite web |title=Extraordinary |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1963-OCT-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-/PDF/DEF-1963-11-28_183.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=23 November 1963}}</ref> Pinto was laid to rest with full military honours. The funeral procession started at the Pinto residence on [[Akbar Road]]. The coffin was placed on a [[gun carriage]] and moved on to the cemetery on [[Prithviraj Road]]. The [[Pallbearer]]s were 10 officers of the rank of Air Vice Marshal, including future Chiefs [[Arjan Singh]], [[Pratap Chandra Lal]], [[Om Prakash Mehra]].<ref>{{cite web |title=AVM PINTO LAID TO REST |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1963-OCT-DEC-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-/PDF/DEF-1963-11-23_155.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=23 November 1963}}</ref> He was awarded the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]] posthumously on 26 January 1964.<ref>{{cite web |title=FORTY ONE AWARDS FOR AIR FORCE PERSONNEL |url=http://pibarchive.nic.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1964-JAN-JUNE-MIN-OF-DEFENCE/PDF/DEF-1964-01-24_064.pdf |website=pibarchive.nic.in |date=24 January 1964}}</ref>

A memorial has been built at the site of the air crash, commemorating the names of the victims.{{sfn|Vaz|1997}} The Indian Army organises an annual event to pay homage to them. An 'Akhand Path' is also organised by the people of Poonch and surrounding villages, as a mark of their love and affection towards the departed souls, every year to commemorate the tragic accident.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian army remembers 1963 Poonch crash victims |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/indian-army-remembers-1963-poonch-crash-victims-113112201006_1.html |website=Business Standard India |date=22 November 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{citation|first1=P.C.|last1=Lal|title=My years with the IAF|year=1986|isbn=8170620082|publisher=Lancer Publishers}}
*{{citation|first1=Somnath|last1=Sapru|title=Combat Lore: Indian Air Force 1930-1945|year=2014|isbn=978-9383649259|publisher=K W Publishers Pvt Ltd}}
*{{citation|first1=Hemant Kumar|last1=Pandey|first2=Manish Raj|last2=Singh|title=India's Major Military & Rescue Operations|year=2017|isbn=978-9386369390|publisher=Horizon Books}}
*{{citation|first1=J Clement|last1=Vaz|title=Profiles of Eminent Goans: Past and Present|year=1997|isbn=978-8170226192|publisher=Concept Publishing Co}}
{{refend}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-new|reason=Office re-designated}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] [[Western Air Command]]|years=1963–1963}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Pratap Chandra Lal]]}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Arjan Singh]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief]] [[Western Air Command|Operational Command]]|years=1959–1963}}
{{s-non|reason=Office re-designated}}
{{s-new|reason=New office}}
{{s-ttl|title=Station Commander [[Palam Air Force Station|Air Force Station Palam]]|years=1947–1948}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Maurice Barker]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jagdev Chandra]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Commanding Officer]] [[No. 7 Squadron IAF]]|years=1944–1945}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jagdev Chandra]]}}
{{end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pinto, Erlic Wilmot}}
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:1963 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force air marshals]]
[[Category:Indian aviators]]
[[Category:Indian Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in India]]

Erlic Pinto - Revision history

Bot at 20:18, 22 November 2022