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Air Commodore Solomon Purushottam

Service No & Branch 1928 F(P) (Orig: GD(P))
Date of Birth: 16 Dec 1921 Commissioned: 29 Jun 1942 Course: 13 Course
Service End: Retired on 15 Dec 1973 Nick Name :
Qualifications Held :
Remarks : DoE to be verified
Promotions Gazetted
Plt Offr : 29 Dec 1942Fg Offr : 29 Jun 1943Flt Lt : 15 Aug 1948Sqn Ldr : 01 Aug 1950
Wg Cdr : 01 Oct 1959Acting Gp Capt : 14 Aug 1962Gp Capt : 01 Oct 1964Acting Air Cmde : 06 Nov 1966
Air Cmde : 01 Apr 1968
Training and Other Courses Attended
11 DSSC (Wg Cdr) - 23 Aug 19588 NDC (Air Cmde) - 01 Dec 1968
Badges Qualified
   
Google the Bharat Rakshak Website for : "S Purushottam"
Notes:1)Branch is at retirement and may not match with branch at Commission 2)Notional seniority is reflected in dates of substantive rank.

Appointments, Postings & Other Service Particulars

DatesRankUnitLocationAppointmentPhoto
17 Mar 1943 - Plt OffrNo.1 Elementary Flying Training SchoolBegumpet 
06 May 1944 - 12 Oct 1945Fg OffrNo.7 Squadron Squadron Pilot
01 Oct 1945 - 06 May 1946Fg OffrNo.9 Squadron Squadron Pilot
07 May 1946 - Fg OffrIATC 
15 Oct 1947 - Flt LtAir Head QuartersDelhi Flt Lt (Flying Training)
16 Jun 1951 - 01 Sep 1952Sqn LdrAirHQ Communications SquadronPalam Flight Commander B (Devon) Flt
19 Mar 1954 - 03 Nov 1957Wg CdrNo.11 SquadronBarrackpore Commanding Officer
14 Aug 1962 - 14 Jan 1964Gp Capt1 Tactical Air CenterJallandhar Commanding Officer
07 Nov 1962 - 13 Aug 1964Gp Capt18 WingPathankot Station Commander
06 Jan 1966 - 03 Jan 1968Air CmdeAir Head QuartersDelhi Director Training
07 Jul 1971 - 14 Dec 1973Air CmdeAdvance HQ, Eastern Air CommandCalcutta Air Officer Commanding
 
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Awards and Decorations


Number of Awards: 1
 
Ati Vishist Seva Medal
Air CmdeSolomon Purushottam1928 F(P)Award Date 26 Jan 1972Announced 26 Jan 1972
Details :

Air Commodore Solomon Purshotham was commissioned in the Flying (Pilot) of the Indian Air Force in June, 1942. During his long service, he has held a variety of important flying and staff appointments.

Air Commodore Purshotham was responzsible for the peace time training of forces under his command. In December, 1971, at the time of Indo-Pakistan conflict, he was the Air Officer Commanding Eastern Air Command Advanced Headquarters, which operates alongside the Headquarters Eastern Army Command. He was this responsible for joint planning and execution of ArmyAir operations in the Eastern Sector. Under his leadership, good rapport was established between the Army and the Air Force. The support provided by the Air Force effectively disrupted the enemy's lines of communications, isolating his forward troops. Enemy ammunition and fuel dumps were also blown up and many of his Headquarters locations were destroyed.

Air Commodore Solomon Purshotham made a significant contribution toward the final victory of our forces in Bangla Desh.

Unit :
Reference : GoI19720126

Accidents and Incidents: 2

DateAircraft TypeTail NoPilot/CrewUnitRemarks
17 Mar 1943Tigermoth DH82VT-AGRPlt Offr Purushottam
1EFTSWhile flying low at
12 Jun 1944Harvard IIBFS690Fg Offr S Purushottam
7 SqnCrL out of fuel 2350
The data in the header section of this page comes from the Gazette of India - Click here to see the source
The URL for this page is http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/1928
Note: All the data available here is publicly available in the Gazette of India, published by the Indian Government, or from public domain sources, press releases about Awards and Right-To-Information (RTI) Requests. Additionally data shared by veterans is added to the page with permission. No data with respect to serving officers below the rank of AVM is displayed. Information in Gazette of India and Award citations and photographs as released by the Indian Air Force are the only details displayed.