Number Name Branch Died in Service? Picture?


Wing Commander Joseph Thomas

Service No & Branch 6496 F(P) (Orig: GD(P))
Date of Birth: -- --- ---- Commissioned: 26 May 1962 Course: 81 Course
Service End: Retired on 31 Jul 1984 Nick Name :
Qualifications Held :
Remarks : 19Sqn 16Sqn(66) USA(71)
Promotions Gazetted
Fg Offr : 26 May 1963Flt Lt : 26 May 1967Wg Cdr : 01 May 1980
Training and Other Courses Attended
19 NDA (Cadet) - 01 Dec 196033 DSSC (Sqn Ldr) - 26 Nov 1977
Badges Qualified
 
Google the Bharat Rakshak Website for : "J Thomas"

Sqn Ldr
Notes:1)Branch is at retirement and may not match with branch at Commission 2)Notional seniority is reflected in dates of substantive rank.

Appointments, Postings & Other Service Particulars

DatesRankUnitLocationAppointmentPhoto
01 Jul 1973 - 01 May 1975Sqn LdrAir Force Test Pilots SchoolBangalore Officer Commanding
01 Jun 1975 - 28 Oct 1976Wg CdrFlight Test Squadron, ASTEBangalore Commanding Officer
01 Dec 1977 - 01 Mar 1978Wg Cdr32 WingJodhpur Chief Operations Officer
01 Mar 1978 - 01 Dec 1979Wg CdrCabinet SectDelhi SO (Air)
01 Jan 1980 - 01 Nov 1981Wg CdrNo.106 SquadronAgra Commanding Officer
01 Dec 1981 - 31 Jul 1984Wg CdrDefence Services Staff CollegeWellington Directing Staff
 
Incomplete Information? Additions? Corrections? Please download Template File and follow instructions.

Awards and Decorations


Number of Awards: 1
 
Vayu Sena Medal
Sqn LdrJoseph Thomas6496 F(P)Award Date Announced 26 Jan 1972
Details :

Squadron Leader Joseph Thomas has been a pilot in the Indian Air Force for ten years.

This officer served in a reconnaissance squadron for four years. In this time he flew 230 sorties of aerial survey, which required very accurate planning and execution. Flying over rugged, mountainous terrain using inaccurate maps he achieved results of a very high standard. On two occasions when his aircraft was crippled by mechanical failures he brought back the disabled aircraft safely to base.

For his professional acumen, presence of mind and unflinching devotion to duty, Squadron Leader Thomas is awarded the Vayu Sena Medal.

Unit : 106 Sqn
Reference : Gazette of India dated 12th May 1973 - No.28 - Pres/73 dated 26th January 1972

Accidents and Incidents: 1

DateAircraft TypeTail NoPilot/CrewUnitRemarks
10 Jun 1976Iskra TS-11W-1762Sqn Ldr Joseph Thomas
FTWflight test after FT

Additional Notes

Remarks: Blue Skies Podcast Note added: 2022-01-15
Blue Skies Podcast:S1Ep9: Joseph Thomas - Part 1 - Supporting the army and mapping the country
Remarks: Blue Skies Podcast Note added: 2022-01-15
Blue Skies Podcast:S1Ep10: Joseph Thomas - Part 2 - Test Flying

Articles from Main Site

Lifeline Through the Sky – Ladakh 1962 by Wg Cdr Joseph Thomas VM (Retd) -
Memories Of No.8 Squadron, IAF by Sqn Ldr T J Thomas -
Canberra : Early Development by Anandeep Pannu -

The data in the header section of this page comes from the Gazette of India - Click here to see the source
Note: All the data available here is publicly available in the Gazette of India, published by the Indian Government, or from public domain sources, press releases about Awards and Right-To-Information (RTI) Requests. Additionally data shared by veterans is added to the page with permission. No data with respect to serving officers below the rank of AVM is displayed. Information in Gazette of India and Award citations and photographs as released by the Indian Air Force are the only details displayed.