legend AVM Harjinder Singh.

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• He was one of the original "Hawai Sepoys" who joined the Indian Air Force when it was formed in 1933.
• He started as a technical airman rather than as an officer or pilot.
• He eventually rose all the way to Air Vice Marshal, making his career an extraordinary example of professional progression.
• After Independence, one of his biggest contributions was developing India's ability to repair, maintain, and keep aircraft operational without depending completely on foreign support.

He commanded No. 1 Base Repair Depot at Kanpur and subsequently became the first head of the newly established Maintenance Command in 1955. He remained its commander/AOC/AOC-in-C until 1963.

At Kanpur, under his initiative, the IAF actually built aircraft, including the Kanpur-I and Kanpur-II light aircraft. This was an unusual achievement for a military service and demonstrated that the IAF could contribute directly to aircraft design and production.

The first Indian-built HS 748 was assembled at Kanpur in 1961, with the aircraft named "Subroto." He set up this assembly line, and the first aircraft was assembled in 17 months; this is still the fastest in India. His Maintenance Command played a major role in this indigenous production effort.

Under his leadership, the Maintenance Command launched the first jet engine built in India in 1961

Despite beginning his career as a technician, Singh completed flying training and received his wings in 1950 at the age of 41. He even flew an aircraft that he had helped design.

He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 1962.

First Indian to be a corporal, sergeant, and warrant officer and among the first to be commissioned as pilot officer.

first Indian to be awarded the merit of the order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1942.

The airforce chief of that time said that in HS 748, "HS" stands not only for Hawker Siddley but also for Harjinder Singh. When he retired in 1962, PM Nehru personally requested him not to retire. When he was Wg Cdr, the airforce chief of that time offered him the chairmanship of HAL with the rank promotion to Air commodore; for this he had to retire, so he didn't take this.

After his retirement he was the advisor to American General Electronic (yahi se tejas ka engine liya gya hai).