Service No & Branch | 2084 BALL | ||||||||
Date of Birth: 22 Dec 1919 | Commissioned: 21 Oct 1942 | Course: | |||||||
Service End: | Died in Service 23 May 1944 (25 Years age) Ground Accident | Nick Name : | |||||||
Qualifications Held : | |||||||||
Remarks : | Seniority from 2-5-42 ex 17Dogra | ||||||||
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Google the Bharat Rakshak Website for : "B Nath" |
Dates | Rank | Unit | Location | Appointment | Photo |
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09 Nov 1942 - 10 Nov 1942 | Plt Offr | 978 Balloon Squadron RAF | Calcutta | Perm Attch to IAF from IA . GHQ Ltr dt 8.10.42 W5137. To 979 | |
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Remarks: Tribune India Note added: 2019-06-01 |
Posted at: Jun 1, 2019, 9:09 AM; last updated: Jun 1, 2019, 9:09 AM (IST) Bhupender Nath — Chamba’s first Royal IAF Flying Officer Flying Officer Bhupender Nath. Balkrishan Prashar The legacy of the first Chambyal Royal Indian Air Force Flying Officer Bhupender Nath has been short-lived, yet remains impressionable. Born on December 21, 1919, in the erstwhile princely state of Chamba (HP), Bhupender Nath was fourth of the nine children born to Dewan Bahadur Madho Ram and Basanti Devi. Bhupender Nath was born under inauspicious stars. So, on the family priest’s advice, he was brought up by a farmer’s family in Dula. He spent most of his childhood in the village. He studied under a tutor. He returned home and completed his schooling at the State School, Chamba. He went on to do Bachelors in Commerce from Government Commerce College, Lahore. Then, he got commissioned into the Indian Army as a second lieutenant. He was transferred to 978 Balloon Squadron of Royal Air Force on October 21, 1942. He became the Officer Commanding of their ‘B’ Flight and was deployed in the Chittagong area during the Second World War. "Bhupender Nath was not only the first Chambyal to be commissioned into the Royal Air Force, but also the first from the erstwhile princely states of northern India," says his youngest brother Rajinder Kumar Mahajan, while honouring Nath’s 75th death anniversary. "Little is known about my brother’s experiences during the war, as he never came back home to share his tales of bravery with his siblings. On May 23, 1944, a shooting incident took place, in which he was killed. The funeral took place the same evening," recollects Rajinder, adding: "A pall of gloom descended over Diwan house, when the sad news reached Chamba. His personal belongings and ashes were delivered personally to our grieving parents by Subroto Mukherjee, who later became the Chief of Air staff of the Indian Air Force. King George also sent his condolence on the behalf of the Queen and himself." "Our family is grateful to the efforts of Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). My brother Bhupender Nath’s name is commemorated on the CWGC’s Imphal Cremation Memorial on column 43," the proud brother said. "I was just 10-years old, when the news of my brother’s death reached Chamba. I have told whatever little I could remember from those days. I would like to thank Steve Rogers for the Imphal Memorial pictures and Jagan Pillarisetti for providing the details about my brother’s professional life," Rajinder said. |