| Service No | 1567 | Branch | F(P) |  |
| Date of Birth: | 06 Dec 1916 | | |
| Date Commissioned | 14 Nov 1939 | Course | 1 Course |
| Service End | Retired on 15 Jan 1973 / Died on 13 Aug 1982 |
| Remarks : | |
| Promotions Gazetted | | Fg Offr : 14 May 1941 | Acting Sqn Ldr : 01 Oct 1944 | Wg Cdr : 15 Aug 1948 | Gp Capt : 15 Sep 1952 | | Acting Air Cmde : 28 Jan 1953 | Air Cmde : 01 Oct 1958 | Acting AVM : 14 Nov 1959 | AVM : 01 Oct 1961 | | Acting Air Marshal : 15 Jan 1966 | Air Marshal : 15 Jan 1966 | C-in-C : 24 Nov 1963 | Air Chief Marshal : 16 Jul 1969 | |
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| Google the Bharat Rakshak Website for : "P C Lal" |
Notes: 1) Ranks shown are substantive ranks at retirement. 2)Branch is at retirement and may not match with branch at Commission 3)Notional seniority is reflected in dates of substantive rank.
| Dates | Rank | Unit | Location | Appointment | Photo |
|---|
| 14 Nov 1939 - 08 Jul 1940 | Plt Offr | 1 FTS | Risalpur | Trainee Observer | |
| 08 Jul 1940 - 27 Aug 1941 | Plt Offr | No.5 Flight (Coastal Defence) | Delhi | Observer | |
| 28 May 1941 - 26 Dec 1942 | Plt Offr | 1 SFTS | Ambala | Instructor | |
| 27 Dec 1942 - 04 Oct 1943 | Fg Offr | 152 OUT | Peshawar | Instructor / Conversion | |
| 01 Jun 1942 - 08 Oct 1943 | Flt Lt | No.152 Operational Training Unit | Peshawar | To 7IAF | |
| 04 Oct 1943 - 15 Sep 1945 | Flt Lt | No.7 Squadron | Various | Flt Cdr and CO | |
| 08 Oct 1943 - 18 Sep 1945 | Flt Lt | No.7 Squadron, RIAF | Campbellpore | Flt Cdr, CO Fm 152OTU to AirHQ | |
| 21 Jul 1944 - 18 Sep 1945 | Sqn Ldr | No.7 Squadron | Peshawar/ Imphal | Commanding Officer | |
| 15 Sep 1945 - 04 Sep 1946 | Sqn Ldr | Air HQ India | Delhi | | |
| 05 Sep 1946 - 21 Oct 1946 | Sqn Ldr | HQ Calcutta Recruiting Ar | | | |
| 15 May 1947 - 15 May 1947 | Sqn Ldr | No.12 Squadron, RIAF | Bhopal | | |
| 15 Oct 1946 - 01 Jul 1947 | Wg Cdr | No.12 Squadron | Chaklala | Dak Conversion | |
| - | Gp Capt | Operational Command (WAC) | Delhi | Senior Air Staff Officer | |
| 15 Aug 1947 - | Gp Capt | Air Head Quarters | Delhi | Director (Trg & Plans) | |
| 01 May 1949 - | Gp Capt | RAF Staff College | Andover | Staff Course | |
| 01 Oct 1954 - | Air Cmde | Cabinet | Delhi | Deputy Secretary (Militar | |
| 09 Jan 1956 - 26 May 1958 | Air Cmde | Training Command | Bangalore | Air Officer Commanding | |
| 01 Nov 1957 - 01 Nov 1962 | Air Cmde | Indian Airlines | | General Manager | |
| 01 Jan 1963 - 23 Nov 1963 | AVM | Air Head Quarters | Delhi | Air Officer-in-Charge Maintenance | |
| 24 Nov 1963 - 30 Sep 1964 | AVM | Western Air Command | Delhi | Air Officer Commanding in Chief | |
| 01 Oct 1964 - 14 Jan 1966 | AVM | Air Head Quarters | Delhi | Vice Chief of Air Staff | |
| 15 Jan 1966 - 01 Sep 1966 | Air Mshl | Air Head Quarters | Delhi | Vice Chief of Air Staff | |
| 01 Sep 1966 - 15 Jul 1969 | Air Mshl | HAL | Bangalore | MD | |
| 16 Jul 1969 - 15 Jan 1973 | Air Chf Mshl | Air Head Quarters | Delhi | Chief of Air Staff | |
| |
| Incomplete Information? Additions? Corrections? Please download Template File and follow instructions. |
| Distinguished Flying Cross |
|---|
| Sqn Ldr | Pratap Chandra Lal | 1567 GD(P) | Award Date | Announced 19 Oct 1945 |
| Details : |  Squadron Leader Pratap Chandra Lal has completed a considerable number of operational sorties. He is a commanding officer of a squadron which has been employed on photographic reconnaissance work in support of the Fourteenth Army in the Irrawady Valley. He has shown exceptional qualities and keenness and has completed many hazardous sorties in the wake of strong enemy opposition. He has frequently penetrated deep into enemy territory in search of important information. By his coolness and determination, Squadron Leader Lal has set a fine example to all his pilots. |
| Unit : 7 Squadron |
| Reference : London Gazette 37313 dated 19 Oct 45, Page 5123 |
| Padma Bhushan |
|---|
| AVM | Pratap Chandra Lal | 1567 GD(P) | Award Date 30 Oct 1965 | Announced 30 Oct 1965 |
| Details : | VCAS |
| Unit : Air HQ |
| Reference : |
| Padma Vibhushan |
|---|
| Air Chief Marsh | Pratap Chandra Lal | 1567 F(P) | Award Date 26 Jan 1972 | Announced 26 Jan 1972 |
| Details : | CAS |
| Unit : Air HQ |
| Reference : |
| Date | Aircraft Type | Tail No | Pilot/Crew | Unit | Remarks |
| 18 Dec 1941 | DH86A | | Sqn Ldr Bishop RAF
Plt Offr Pratap Chandra Lal | | Co-Pilot Plt Offr PC Lal - ac swung on TO |
