It is somewhat difficult emotionally to present a text for the given set of photographs mainly because for the person they are about, it represents his almost entire life. Of the sixty years that he lived, more than half were spent in the service of the IAF.
Wing Commander P. M. Ahuja passed away in 2004, barely a few years after he retired from the IAF after extended service. A Navigator by choice, he joined the IAF at a stage when it was in the middle of an expansion program like none other, and there was a need of Navigators in this expanding force. As I write this, I have yet to meet a man who willingly shifted from the Air branch during training to become a Navigator and contribute his services to his country.
As a Navigator, Wing Commander P. M. Ahuja had been with the IAF transport fleet through a lot of years. Within that time, he had flown aircrafts all the way from the beloved Dakota, the Packet, the HS-748, and finally the IL-76 before he finished his flying career and switched to ground duties in the later years prior to retirement. While flying IL-76s, he was the Nav-Leader of 44 Sqn at Agra and was involved in the planning as well as the operations that took place when the Indian armed forces overthrew the coup in Male and restored the law and order in that country. He also took part, like many other unsung heroes of the IAF transport fleet, in the supply missions to Leh and Thoise. He was also involved along with the rest of the officers and airmen of 44 Sqn during in maintaining the logistical route to the IPKF forces in Sri-Lanka during that conflict.
He was also a man who loved life as much as he loved flying. He had an interest in photography and it is these photographs that summarize him and his life more than words ever will. The order of the photographs below reflects the same.
The early days at the National Defence Academy A parade review being conducted. Cadet P. M. Ahuja is in the front row at the extreme right of this photograph.
An inspection during the training. P. M. Ahuja, seen in the flying overalls to the right, is seen answering some of the questions of the inspection team.
Date: 02/17/2008
Views: 1904
Pre-Solo
The first solo flight on board a Harvard Trainer. A last handshake with the instructor before the flight
Date: 02/17/2008
Views: 1960
Harvard Solo
The first flight. P. M. Ahuja in the cockpit of the Harvard , all set for his solo flight
Date: 02/17/2008
Views: 1885
Commissioning in the Navigation Stream
The Navigator graduation ceremony in process at Transport Training Wing, Yelahanka. A lineup of Dakotas of the TTW are seen in the background
Date: 02/17/2008
Views: 1842
Commissioning in the Navigation Stream
The Navigator graduation ceremony in process at Transport Training Wing, Yelahanka. Air Marshal R Rajaram was the graduation presiding officer.
Date: 02/17/2008
Views: 2007
As a Pilot Officer
P M Ahuja sporting his newly earned Navigator Wings
Date: 02/17/2008
Views: 1996
With the Air Chief and the PAF Air Attache
A rare color photograph from the late 60s, when Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh was still in service - showing Fg Offr P M Ahuja on the right. Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh is conversing with a Pakistani Air Force Group Captain who was then Air Attache in D
Date: 02/17/2008
Views: 2197
HQ Training Command Flight
PM Ahuja was posted to HQ Training Command Flight at Bangalore in the late 60s. He is seen seated third from the left in the photo. HQ TC Flight was under the command of Sqn Ldr J P Singh (Seated Center). The Flight operated a lone Dakota, Devon and [More
Date: 02/17/2008
Views: 1929
Squadron Posting
As a Flying Officer, on one of his earliest Squadron postings (Unidentified Unit)
Date: 02/17/2008
Views: 1961
With No.44 Squadron at Agra
Wg Cdr Ahuja (Standing at right) held the post of Navigation leader with No.44 Squadron at Agra flying the Illyushin 76. This photo was taken during a visit by the then air chief Polly Mehra.
Date: 02/17/2008
Views: 2068
Unidentified Squadron
Along with other senior officers after the squadron won an award. Squadron Leader P. M. Ahuja is the fourth from the left.
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