Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force

Childhood Friends

Anand Singh Giri sitting with his civilian friends date and place not known. the names of the friends are also not known.

At Age 12

Anand Singh Giri at the age of 12 standing on the extreme right.

Maj Dhan Singh on retirement

Major (Dr) Dhan Singh Giri IAMC Father of Plt Offr Anand Singh Giri on the occasion of farewell party on his retirement from Army at MH Calcutta in the year 1952.

SSB for the 62 Pilot's Course

Anand Singh Giri at AFSSB Dehradun in 1952.All the faces are unidentified except No 5 Mr DM Conquest and No 12 Anand Singh Giri. Apparently only two were selected for 62nd pilots course.

An evening at the CTU

A S Giri is seen standing in happy mood on the extreme right, dressed in shirt & tie possibly on the same evening as the previous photo.

Commissioning Ceremony

Air Chief Marshal G E Gibbs, then Chief of Air Staff , IAF shaking hands with AS Giri on the occasion of passing out on 16 Jan 1954 from No 1 AFA Begumpet , Hyderabad

Evening in the Mess.

Plt off Anand Singh Giri is seen with beer Jug in right hand standing on left hand side of a sikh offr and right hand side of the lady in the centre.

A S Giri and O P Gera

Standing adjacent to a Vampire FB-52 of No 2 Squadron . On left is Plt off A S Giri , on right is Plt Off OP Gera with one hand in pocket

Evening in the Mess.

Another photo with Uppal and Giri. The other officers are also most likely from 62 PC

With Wings

Newly commissioned Pilot Officer Anand Singh Giri in winter uniform. Most probably this photo was taken on 16 Jan 1954 just after passing out from No 1 AFA Begumpet before he reported to CTU Hakimpet.

With his father

A S Giri with his father - Major (Dr) Dhan Singh - IAMC Retired. Others unknown.

Harvard Training

Sitting in the Cockpit of Harvard II aircraft, during Advanced Flying Training at No 1 AFA Begumpet (9 Oct 1953)

Officers Mess Ceremonial Party

From left to right : Plt Off Anand Singh Giri , ??, Plt Off Pardhan, Plt Off Mehra, Plt Off OP Gera & Plt Offr R K Uppal. Uppal was lost during the 1965 India-Pakistan War Operations.

Evening in the Mess.

Another photograph from the same occasion featuring Giri and Uppal. Other Officers are unidentified.

Flight Cadet

Flight Cadet Anand Singh Giri on joining the IAF at Begum pet as part of the 62nd Pilots Course ( 01 Sept 1952 - 16 Jan 1954)

62 PC during Advance Flying Training

62 PC during Advance Flying Training

Harvard Instructor

Flight Cadets J C Patel, JF Josephs and A S Giri with their instructor Flight Lieutenant Ken Larkins in front of a T-6 Harvard at No.1 AFA , Begumpet just before commissioning.

Inspection by Gibbs

Ken Larkins is greeted by the C-in-C Air Marshal G E Gibbs. In the background is A S Giri

An evening at the CTU

One of the after hours parties - this photograph does not show Giri, but does show Flight Lieutenant Suhas Biswas, the first Indian Air Force Officer to ever earn an Ashoka Chakra - sitting in the center with a Cigarette and a Bow Tie. Biswas the Chief I

R K Uppal and A S Giri

Plt Off R K Uppal (4688 GD(P)) and Anand Singh Giri in mess uniform. Most likely a ceremonial dinner commemorating their passing out.

Vampire at Ambala

Plt Offr Anand Singh Giri sitting on the wing of Vampire aircraft of No 2 Sqn IAF(1954)

O P Gera

Plt Offr OP Gera 4652 GD(P) of 62nd Pilot's Course geting into the Cockpit of Vampire FB52 of No 2 Sqn IAF Ambala in the Year 1954. Gera later went on to fly Vampire Night fighters but sadly died in a crash at Safdarjung in the late 50s

With No.2 Squadron - Vampire "P"

Plt Offr Anand Singh Giri standing in flying suit near the wing of Vampire aircraft of No 2 Sqn IAF(1954)

Vampire FB52 "P" of No.2 Squadron

A S Giri in the Cockpit of Vampire F B 52 of No 2 Sqn IAF Ambala in the Year 1954.

Vampire-FrontView

Vampire FB52 IB437 "P"

Vampire FB52 IB437 "P"

The Last Journey

Giri's life was cut short cruelly during the dive bombing sortie 2nd December 1954 . The next day, he was laid to rest by cremation by his Squadron. Seen here is the casket being carried by fellow officers - Squadron Leader J F Josephs is seen in the fro

The Last Journey

Another view of the procession as Giri's casket is carried on the Jeep trailer for cremation

Final Journey

Family car parked in the porch of ancestral house at Village Bohar, Distt Rohtak ,now in Haryana State, which brought back home the personal belongings ( clothes etc) and the ashes of A S Giri for further immersion in the River Ganges.

The Funeral Pyre

Pyre of Plt Off Anand Singh Giri in final and last stage of being lit