Former IAF Vice-Chief Air Marshal PK Barbora, Who Inducted The First Jaguar Squadron, Passes Away

Air Marshal Barbora, born on December 10, 1950 in Meghalaya’s Shillong, was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot on June 13, 1970.

Guwahati: Former Indian Air Force (IAF) Vice-Chief, Air Marshal Pranab Kumar Barbora (Retired), a qualified flying instructor and a fighter combat leader, and a member of the team that inducted the first ‘Jaguar Squadron’ into the IAF, passed away at the Army Research and Referral Hospital in New Delhi on Monday (October 30), following a brief illness.

Air Marshal Barbora, born on December 10, 1950 in Meghalaya’s Shillong, was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot on June 13, 1970. He was a graduate of the College of Combat, Mhow, where he completed his higher command course.

A highly experienced aviator with over 3,500 hours to his credit took part in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, also known as the third India-Pakistan War, the Indian Army said in a press release.

A qualified flying instructor and a fighter combat leader, Air Marshal Barbora was on the staff of the tactics and air combat development establishment, a premiere flying establishment of the IAF. He twice served in the Directorate of Air Staff Inspection (DASI) at the IAF headquarters, the release said.

He was also a member of the IAF team that inducted the first ‘Jaguar Squadron’ and also the IAF’s maiden air combat simulator, the first of its kind in Asia. Among his several operational assignments include Command of a MiG-21 squadron, Chief Operations Officer (COO) of a fighter airbase and Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of a premier fighter airbase under the Eastern Air Command (EAC), it said.

Air Marshal Barbora had been ‘Air Attaché’ at the Embassy of India, Moscow, and Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (Perspective Plans and Force Structure) in the IAF headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff, besides holding the appointment of Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Inspection) at air headquarters. He served a tenure as the Senior Air Staff Officer, EAC, before he took charge as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) for the first time. He subsequently became the AOC-in-C of the Western Air Command (WAC), it added.

Air Marshal Barbora was the first personality hailing from the entire northeast to reach such a coveted high post in the Armed Forces. He is a recipient of the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) and Vayu Sena Medal (VM), and also one of the Honorary Aides-de-Camp (ADC) to the President, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of India, the release further said.