Air Chief Marshal IH Latif is now passed away : World War II veteran took Air Force to greater heights

SIR,

YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN 1980 FOR CLEARING EN-MASSE PROMOTIONS FOR ALL THOSE AIRMEN WHO HAD NO HOPE OF PROMOTIONS THOUGH OVERDUE. IT WAS TAGGED AS LATIF PROMOTIONS / JANATHA PROMOTIONS.

THIS SHOWS YOUR CONCERN FOR WELFARE OF THE MEN YOU COMMANDED.

RIP SIR.

SGT GV NARAYANA AIR VETERAN 

BLOGGER

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Hyderabad: Air Chief Marshal Idris Hasan Latif, PVSM, who passed away on Monday, was perhaps the only Air Force Officer associated with three different air forces and participated in several battles, including World War II. He was associated with the Royal Indian Air Force, Royal Air Force and Indian Air Force. He also trained pilots of the Indonesian Air Force. Latif is the only Muslim to have served as the head of any of the three wings of the Indian armed forces.

After retiring from IAF, Latif was appointed as governor of Maharashtra. He also served as Indian ambassador to France. Latif (94) was associated with a number of philanthropic activities. He had been ailing for some time.

P Anuradha Reddy, city historian and an authority on Indian aviation, described Latif as a great human being. “He was a patriot to the core. He had rare qualities. Latif preferred to stay with the Indian Air Force during partition,” she said. He was instrumental in modernising the Indian Air Force.

Latif was born on June 9, 1923, in Hyderabad. He was commissioned into air force on January 26, 1942, and retired from service as the chief of air staff on August 31, 1981. 

He became a Flight Lieutenant on August 15, 1948, and a Squadron Leader on August 15, 1949. He was promoted to Wg Cdr on 01 Oct 54, Acting Gp Capt on 10 Jun 59, Group Captain on 01 Oct 62, Acting Air Commodore on 15 Jan 64, Air Commodore on 01 Apr 67, Air Mshl and Commander-In-Chief on 27 Jun 74, and Air Chief Marshal on 01 Sep 78.

A product of Nizam’s College, Latif succeeded to the top post in the Indian Air Force on the retirement of Air Chief Marshal H Moolgavkar. Latif ’s father Hasan was the chief engineer in the Nizam’s Hyderabad state.

He had the honour of serving both the Royal Indian Air Force prior to Independence and the Indian Air Force after India became free. RAF is incidentally celebrating its 100th year of formation. He participated in World War II, Indo-Pak and Indo-China wars. He flew in India’s first Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 1950. 

In 1971, Latif received Param Vishist Seva Medal. 

He was instrumental in the procurement of Jaguar strike aircraft, MiG-23 and MiG-25 aircraft.

(Source : TOI)