Surinder Mehra

Air Chief Marshal Surinder Kumar Mehra (15 November 1932 – 8 December 2003), PVSM, AVSM, VM, was the Chief of Air Staff of Indian Air Force from 1 August 1988 until 31 July 1991.^[1] He was born in Delhi.^[2]

Air Chief Marshal Surendra Kumar Mehra PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
14th Chief of Air Staff
In office 1 August 1988 – 31 July 1991
President	Ramaswamy Venkataraman
Prime Minister	Rajiv Gandhi
Preceded by	Denis La Fontaine
Succeeded by	Nirmal Chandra Suri
Personal details
Born	(1932-11-15)15 November 1932 Delhi, India
Died	8 December 2003(2003-12-08) (aged 74) Gurgaon, India
Alma mater	Modern School Delhi University
Awards	Ati Vishist Seva Medal (AVSM) Param Vishist Seva Medal (PVSM) Vayu Sena Medal (VM)
Nickname	Polly
Military service
Allegiance	India
Branch/service	Indian Air Force
Years of service	1951–1991
Rank	Air Chief Marshal Service Number (4197)
Commands	Chief of the Air Staff (India) (1988–1991) South Western Air Command No.28 Squadron No.106 Squadron
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Operation Brasstacks

Early life

He was born in Delhi on 15 November 1932, educated at the Modern School in New Delhi, and thereafter at the Delhi University.

Career

He was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in December 1951 as a fighter pilot.^[3]

From 1973 to 1976 he went on to command the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment division, followed by posting as Air Attaché in the Indian Ambassador's Office in Russia. He was awarded AVSM in 1976. After being promoted to the rank of Air Commodore, he assumed command of Adampur and later Jamnagar Air Force stations.^[4]

In 1987, he was appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Air Command with the responsibility of all air operations in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. In 1988, he took over as the Chief of Air Staff. He retired in 1991. Air Chief Marshal Polly Mehra died on 8 December 2003.