C. D. Subbaiah: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}

{{Use Indian English|date=January 2022}}

Air Marshal Devaiah Subbaiah, PVSM, VrC, was born as Cheppudira Devaiah Subbaiah on 6 March 1924, and was also known as C D Subbaiah. He was commissioned in April 1942 at the age of 18 and his service number was 1866.<ref name = "Air Marshal Devaiah Subbaiah (Service Record No. 1866)">{{cite web|title=Air Marshal Devaiah Subbaiah (Service Record No. 1866)|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/1866|publisher=Bharat Rakshak (Indian Armed Forces)|accessdate=12 April 2022}}</ref>

He was one of the notable [[World War II]] [[Aircraft pilot|pilots]] from [[Presidencies and provinces of British India|British India]]. During the Second World War, he was a Flying Officer in the 8th Squadron of the IAF.<ref>{{cite web|title=Officers & Flight Crew List - 8 Squadron (1939-47)|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Units/WW2/8%20Squadron|publisher=Bharat Rakshak (Indian Armed Forces)|accessdate=12 April 2022}}</ref> During the [[Arakan Army|Arakan]] campaign in the same war, he was a Spitfire pilot.<ref>{{cite web|title=British Indian Empire notable pilots in WW2|url=http://jpgleize.perso.neuf.fr/aces/ww2ind.htm|publisher=GSoft (Aces)|accessdate=12 April 2022}}</ref> He was awarded the [[Vir Chakra]] and later on the [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal]]. He was also part of Squadron 4 that was involved in operations against [[Japan]].<ref>{{cite web|title=No.4 Squadron in Japan (1946-47) - The Personnel|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Galleries/History/WW2/Balan01/|publisher=Bharat Rakshak (Indian Armed Forces)|accessdate=12 April 2022}}</ref>

During the 1947-48 Kashmir Operations Flt. Lieutenant C D Subbaiah was distinguished for the operational missions flown during the war.<ref>{{cite web|title=No.10 Squadron|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Units/Squadrons/10-Squadron.html|publisher=Bharat Rakshak (Indian Armed Forces)|accessdate=12 April 2022}}</ref>  He was made Squadron Leader and was known to inspire his Squadron Pilots. He flew 70 sorties for a month and a half. The resistance of the enemy at Gurais broke down. This contributed to the successful capture of Gurais by the Indian Army. For this he was awarded the [[Vir Chakra]] later on 26 January 1950, the first Republic Day.<ref name = "Air Marshal Devaiah Subbaiah (Service Record No. 1866)"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Vir Chakra Awardee List for year 1950|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Awards/awards.php?qyear=1950&qaward=VrC|publisher=Bharat Rakshak (Indian Armed Forces)|accessdate=12 April 2022}}</ref>

In 1948, three Vampires arrived and were under a unit called the ATU which was under Sqn Ldr Subbaiah. In mid 1949, the ATU was merged with the 7 Squadron with Sqn Ldr Subbaiah taking command.<ref>{{cite web|title=No.7 Squadron|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Units/Squadrons/7-Squadron.html|publisher=Bharat Rakshak (Indian Armed Forces)|accessdate=12 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=List of Commanding Officers for 7 Squadron|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Units/list.php?qunit=7%20Squadron|publisher=Bharat Rakshak (Indian Armed Forces)|accessdate=12 April 2022}}</ref> As Group Captain, in 1962–1963, he was the Commanding officer for AFS Hyderabad and stationed at Begumpet.<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Commanding Officers for AFS Hyderabad|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Units/list.php?qunit=AFS%20Hyderabad|publisher=Bharat Rakshak (Indian Armed Forces)|accessdate=12 April 2022}}</ref> Later he was made Air Vice Marshal and took over command of the Western Air Command. He was involved in studying the air operations planning the missions in the Western Sector during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|Indo-Pakistan War of 1971]]. For this and for his distinguished career he was awarded a [[Param Vishist Seva Medal]] in 1972.<ref name = "Air Marshal Devaiah Subbaiah (Service Record No. 1866)"/> In 1977–1978, he was the commanding officer for MC and stationed at Nagpur as AOC-in-C.<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Commanding Officers for MC|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/Units/list.php?qunit=MC|publisher=Bharat Rakshak (Indian Armed Forces)|accessdate=12 April 2022}}</ref> In May 1978, as AOC-in-C, he instated the phoenix crest for the Base Repair Depot of the maintenance units.<ref>{{cite web|title=Maintenance Units|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Heraldry/Crests/355-Maintenance.html|publisher=Bharat Rakshak (Indian Armed Forces)|accessdate=12 April 2022}}</ref> He retired as [[Air marshal|Air Marshal]] in 1978 after serving a full tenure.<ref name = "Air Marshal Devaiah Subbaiah (Service Record No. 1866)"/>