Lakshman Madhav Katre - Misplaced Pages

Indian aviator and air marshal

Air Chief Marshal Lakshman Madhav Katre PVSM, AVSM **

Born	10 March 1926 Gurdaspur district Punjab
Died	30 June 1985(1985-06-30) (aged 59) Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
Allegiance	British India (1946–1947) India (from 1947)
Service / branch	Royal Indian Air Force Indian Air Force
Years of service	1946–1985
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Awards	Param Vishist Seva Medal Ati Vishist Seva Medal

Air Chief Marshal Lakshman Madhav Katre, PVSM, AVSM and Bar (1926–1985) was the head of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from 1984 to 1985, as Chief of the Air Staff and the second IAF Chief of Staff to die in harness. He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Bar. He completed his schooling from The Doon School, Dehradun, India. In his career in the lAF, he commanded with distinction squadrons, stations and the Air Force Academy. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, he successfully conducted uninterrupted operations from one of the most forward airfields, which was regularly attacked by the Pakistan Air Force. This was due to his meticulous planning.

As the Commandant of the Air Force Academy at Dundigal, he expanded the facilities to cater for the training of ground duty officers. Flying activity at the base was successfully reoriented for advance training on jet aircraft and a safety record was achieved during his tenure. On completion of a Royal College of Defence Studies course in England in 1976, he was appointed Senior Air Staff officer of a major air command. Under his direction, the operational effectiveness of the forces in the command increased greatly. With his wide experience of fighter flying, he was able to conduct various air exercises which simulated realistic battle conditions.

He died suddenly while still serving, on 1 July 1985.

The Katre House in The Air Force School ( Subroto Park) was named after him.

Military honours and awards

Param Vishisht Seva Medal	Ati Vishisht Seva Medal		General Service Medal
Samar Seva Star	Paschimi Star	Raksha Medal	Sangram Medal
Sainya Seva Medal	Videsh Seva Medal	Indian Independence Medal	25th Anniversary of Independence Medal
30 Years Long Service Medal	20 Years Long Service Medal	9 Years Long Service Medal	War Medal 1939–1945

References

"Indian Air Force Gallantry & Service Awards Register [www.bharat-rakshak.com]". Bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
"Indian Air Force :: Lakshman Mohan Katre". Bharat-rakshak.com. Retrieved 26 March 2012.
Hindu, The (15 April 2011). "LM Katre Memorial Lecture". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 October 2012.

Military offices
Preceded byDilbagh Singh	Chief of the Air Staff (India) 1984–1985	Succeeded byDenis La Fontaine
Preceded byJ. D. Aquino	Commandant of the Air Force Academy 1972 - 1975	Succeeded byH. R. Chitnis]]

v t e Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force
Air Marshal Commanding, Royal Indian Air Force (1947–1948)	Sir Thomas Elmhirst**
Chief of the Air Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Royal Indian Air Force (1948–1950)	Sir Thomas Elmhirst**
Chief of the Air Staff and Commander-in-Chief, Indian Air Force (1950–1955)	Sir Thomas Elmhirst Sir Ronald Ivelaw-Chapman Gerald Gibbs** Subroto Mukerjee
Chief of the Air Staff (1955–present)	Subroto Mukerjee Aspy Engineer Arjan Singh Pratap Chandra Lal Om Prakash Mehra Hrushikesh Moolgavkar Idris Hasan Latif Dilbagh Singh Lakshman Madhav Katre Denis La Fontaine Surinder Mehra Nirmal Chandra Suri Swaroop Kaul Satish Kumar Sareen Anil Tipnis Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy Shashindra Pal Tyagi Fali Homi Major Pradeep Vasant Naik Norman Anil Kumar Browne Arup Raha Birender Singh Dhanoa Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria Vivek Ram Chaudhari (incumbent)
(**Seconded from the Royal Air Force)

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