Flt Lt Karan Sher Singh Kalsia KC

Flt Lt Karan Sher Singh Kalsia was born on 02 November 1932 and belonged to Royal family of Kalsia. The Kalsia family hailed from the village of the same name in the Majha region of Punjab. The state founded by a military commander Sardar Gurbaksh Singh in 1760, centered around the town of Chhachhrauli (in Yamunanagar district) with two outlying enclaves at Dera Basssi (now in Mohali district) and Charik (Moga district). Raja Ravi Sher Singh, the father of Flt Lt Karan Sher Singh Kalsia, reigned from 1908 to 1947 and was an early aviator, learning flying and owning planes. Flt Lt Karan too followed in the footsteps of his father and became an aviator in the IAF.

Educated at Doon School, Flt Lt Karan Sher Singh embarked upon a military career after merging his state with the Indian Union. It became part of the Patiala and East Punjab States Union in 1948, joined Punjab in 1956 and is now a part of Haryana. He joined the 2nd Course of the Joint Services Wing (precursor of the National Defence Academy) at Clement Town, Dehra Dun, in June 1949. He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force as a Pilot Officer with the 60th Pilots Course on 1st April 1953. He excelled during his training and went on to win the 'Sword of Honour' at the Air Force Academy as well as the President’s Prize in 1954 for standing first not just in his course but among all the four courses commissioned from various training institutions that year. 

He got trained as a fighter pilot and went on to serve with 1, 3 and 7 Squadrons of the IAF operating from various air bases. A little over a year later he faced his first test when his de Havilland Vampire FB52 fighter-bomber aircraft experienced engine failure. Displaying his superior flying skills, he made a successful ejection landing near village Ghasiwala in Sunam Tehsil of Sangrur district. Undeterred by the mishap, he developed into an ace pilot and gained expertise in various air operations. During his elementary flying training he had flown Tiger Moth, Harvard and Spitfire Mark XVIII piston-engine aircraft. Transiting to the jet age, he served with units operating Vampire, Toofani (Ouragan), Mystere and Hunter fighters. He went to France for six months in 1957 for conversion training on the Dassault Mystere fighter-bomber, IAF’s first supersonic aircraft. 

Hunter Aircraft Crash: 19 Jan 1961

In 1961 Flt Lt Karan Sher Singh was serving with No. 7 Squadron, flying Hawker Siddeley Hunter fighter-bombers. The squadron known as "Battle-axes" was one of the oldest and most distinguished units of the IAF. The squadron had a long operational history stretching back to the Burma Campaign of World War II. In early 1961, 7 Squadron equipped with Hunters was based at Palam airbase in New Delhi. In Jan 1961, Flt Lt Karan Sher Singh along with the squadron moved to Jamnagar for gunnery training at the firing ranges around that airbase. This involved firing of cannons and rockets and the dropping of bombs. 

On the morning of 19th January 1961, Flt Lt Karan took off in his Hunter for a routine gunnery training exercise. Just after take-off, on reaching a height of some 200 feet, Flt Lt  Karan messaged his formation leader over the radio-telephone that his engine had flamed out i.e. had lost power through the extinction of the flame in the jet’s combustion chamber. There was sufficient height for him at this stage to make a successful ejection and land safely on the ground. But at this time the aircraft was heading straight in the direction of the heavily populated area of Jamnagar city. If he had ejected and abandoned the aircraft, it would certainly have crashed into the city and caused vast damage to life and property. 

Flt Lt Karan, chose to reject the easy way out and stayed at the controls of his plane. His last transmission to his leader was to the effect that he was trying to steer the stricken aircraft away from the populated area. Banking sharply left he deliberately turned his aircraft towards an open piece of ground. However while doing so, he lost the valuable advantage of height which would’ve enabled him to eject safely. He then made a forced landing in a field, but unfortunately, he lost his life owing to subsequent explosion of the fuel tanks. It was indeed an act of the greatest sacrifice and heroism. Flt Lt Karan Sher Singh was a valiant soldier and committed air warrior, who laid down his life in the line of his duty, following the traditions of the Indian Air Force. 

Flt Lt Karan Sher Singh Kalsia was given the nation's 2nd highest peace time gallantry award, "Kirti Chakra" on 26^th Jan 1962 for his extraordinary courage, devotion to duty and supreme sacrifice. 

The Citation for the Kirti Chakra awarded to him reads:-

On 19^th January 1961, Flight Lieutenant Kalsia was on a training flight in a Hunter aircraft. Just after getting airborne, at a height of approximately 200 ft., he called up his leader and informed him that his engine had flamed out. At this time his aircraft was heading towards the populated area of Jamnagar city and had he ejected and abandoned the aircraft, without any doubt it would have crashed into Jamnagar city, thus causing extensive damage to life and property. Realizing this Flight Lieutenant Kalsia deliberately turned his aircraft away from the populated area and in doing so he lost the valuable height at which he could have ejected safely. He then attempted a forced landing during which he was killed instantaneously. Flight Lieutenant Kalsia warded off what might have been a catastrophe and in doing so sacrificed his own life.

By his gallant act and supreme sacrifice, Flight Lieutenant Kalsia created a noble tradition for the Indian Air Force to emulate.