Late Air Vice Marshal Kanwar Jaswant Singh was commissioned in the Indian Army in 1937 and was seconded to the I.A.F. in 1940, where he served with distinction for over 22 years. He saw active service in the North Western Frontier Province and later led a squadron into operations in Burma during World War II.

After holding several senior command and staff appointments, he tool over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Air Command in March, 1962. With the limited resources available to him he re-organised the various units under his command to meet the heavy task of logistic air support required in the Assam and NEFA areas. With the recent Chinese aggression, the operational commitments in NEFA assumed vast proportions but there was no commensurate increase in the transport aircraft available to him. Air Vice Marshal Kanwar Jaswant Singh faced the situation with determination and further re-organised his command to undertake logistic support operations in the NEFA and Assam areas. He not only planned and directed the operations but proceeded to set an inspiring example by personally leading many difficult airlift missions. These operational missions were beyond the call of his normal duties but he carried them out to infuse confidence in his officers and men with complete disregard for his personal safety. All through the operations he was a familiar sight at the forward airfields in that region, planning, directing and supervising the air operations. The enthusiasm and determination with which the Air Force carried out the tasks allotted to them in Assam and NEFA were, to a large extent, due to the sustained work done by the officer.

By his exceptional leadership, organizing ability and devotion to duty, Air Vice Marshal Kanwar Jaswant Singh has rendered most distinguished service to the Indian Air Force.