nextlast Get item URLs 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) Views: 189 Show URLs + Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the item: [TMB] Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the original: [TMB] Get item URLs Harvard Training Sitting in the Cockpit of Harvard II aircraft, during Advanced Flying Training at No 1 AFA Begumpet (9 Oct 1953) Views: 155 Show URLs + Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the item: [TMB] Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the original: [TMB] Get item URLs 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. Views: 176 Show URLs + Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the item: [TMB] Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the original: [TMB] Get item URLs 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 Views: 173 Show URLs + Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the item: [TMB] Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the original: [TMB] Get item URLs 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. Views: 137 Show URLs + Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the item: [TMB] Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the original: [TMB] Get item URLs 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 Views: 166 Show URLs + Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the item: [TMB] Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the original: [TMB] Get item URLs 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 Views: 209 Show URLs + Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the item: [TMB] Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the original: [TMB] Get item URLs 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. Views: 191 Show URLs + Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the item: [TMB] Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the original: [TMB] Get item URLs 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. Views: 205 Show URLs + Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the item: [TMB] Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the original: [TMB] Get item URLs 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. Views: 163 Show URLs + Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the item: [TMB] Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the original: [TMB] Get item URLs With his father A S Giri with his father - Major (Dr) Dhan Singh - IAMC Retired. Others unknown. Views: 186 Show URLs + Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the item: [TMB] Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the original: [TMB] Get item URLs Evening in the Mess. Another photograph from the same occasion featuring Giri and Uppal. Other Officers are unidentified. Views: 166 Show URLs + Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the item: [TMB] Link to the page of the item: [CLK] Show image directly: [IMG] Show a clickable thumbnail linking to the original: [TMB] nextlast Page: 1 2

Anand Singh Giri was a second generation services officer - He was born to Major Dhan Singh, a Doctor in the Indian Army Medical Corps and Mrs Dhan Kaur on 31st December 1930 in Bohar Village of Rohtak District in present day Haryana (then Punjab) . Anand did his primary education in his village and then did his graduation from Government College Rohtak in Haryana.

After Graduation he went to Calcutta, where his father was posted in Military Hospital as a specialist in Pathology. He joined Bengal Flying Club limited and did 14 hours 10 minutes flying before joining 62nd pilots course commencing from 1st September 1952 at No.1 Air Force Academy at Begumpet.

At Basic Stage he did his first flying experience on 26th November 1952 on Tiger Moth HU494 with Flt Lt Trehan. He flew his first Solo on 10 January 1953. Among the various instructors he flew with were Flt Lt Senapati, Flt Lt P M Wilson and Flt Lt Venner.

The 62nd Course's Advanced Flying happened at Ambala - Anand Giri went on to fly the Harvard. His first flight was with Flt Lt Pears on 9th June 1953 in Harvard HT825. Less than a month later he took Harvard HT347 on his solo.

On 16th January 1954, he was one of the 46 pilots out of the intial 72 who finished the course and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer (Service Number 4674). The 62nd Course however had a high rate of losses - four of the new officers would be out of service within an year, and over the years another eight officers lost their lives in flying.

Jet Training started soon after - the cadets were posted to the Conversion Training Unit at Hakimpet operating the De Havilland Vampire. He did his first flight in a Vampire T55 (IY325) with Flt Lt S Singh and his first solo in a single seater FB52 was done on 16th March 1954 (IB357). After completing the training at Hakimpet, he was posted to No.2 Squadron flying Vampire fighters, then under the command of Squadron Leader R M Engineer.

He had only 10 Months and 15 Days Commissioned service, when his life was cut short tragically on 2nd December 1954. On that day Giri took off at around 12.50 hrs on an authorized dive bombing practice flight at Kharindwa Ranges. His single Seater jet, Vampire FB-52 [IB429] did not pull up from a dive bombing run.

He was cremated with full Military Honour on 03 December 1954 at Military Cremation Grounds in Ambala, with his father accompanying the funeral in person. His cremated remains, along with personal belongings were taken back to his village and the ashes immersed in the river Ganges.

Anand Singh Giri was unmarried - and he left behind his photographs and Flying Logbook which today survives with his family.

Photos and Information Courtesy of Captain Virendra Giri