|
The Air Force Museum has an
annexe and a hanger. The annexe houses some magnificent portraits
of Wg Cdr (later Air Marshal) S Mukherjee, OBE, Sqn Ldr (later
Air Commodore) Mehar Singh, MVC, DSO, Wg Cdr (later Air Marshal)
AM Engineer, DFC and Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh, DFC. These
dedicated officers were pioneers of the IAF. The Air Force
Colour kept in the Museum was presented to IAF on 01 Apr 1954,
by Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
The annexe is divided in three
sections. The first section contains a photographic history
of the Air Force from the early days in Risalpur (now in Pakistan)
to the latest group photographs of the top echelons. Some
models of aircraft in use in the Indian Air Force and in other
countries are also on view. There are photographs of Lt (Hon
G/C) HS Malik, Lt SG Welingker and Lt IL Roy who proved their
mettle in the air encounters during Ist world war, when in
the Royal flying Corps. Lt Roy accounted for nine enemy aeroplanes
within eighteen days. He was the first Indian Officer to be
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross though posthumously.
The IInd Section, contains photographs
of decorated Indian Officers of the IInd World War. These
officers fearlessly shot enemy war machines and achieved their
flying mission. Some small arms, i.e. revolvers, pistols etc.
seized from Pakistan during operations in 1966 and 1971 and
ceremonial swords presented to former Chief of the Air Staff
are displayed. In the center, old uniforms of Hawai Sepoys
and Air Force Officers of 1930s are on display. On the right
wall among other photographs is a photograph of Wg Cdr KK
Majumdar, the only Indian officer who was awarded Distinguished
Flying Cross twice.
The last section contains information
on the important facets of modern aviation history. The photographs,
mementoes and models of the Indo-Soviet Joint Manned Spaceship-Siyuz
T-11 are on display. This spaceship manned by Sqn Ldr Rakesh
Sharma of the Indian Air Force, Yurie Malyshev and Gennadi
Strekalov, lifted off on 3rd April 1983 and returned to the
earth on 11th April 1983.
Contents of Showcase
| Show Case I |
Models of various AC namely
HAWKER HURRICANE, DHC-4, CARIBOU, AIRSPEED IXFORD, HS
AVRO-748, HAWKER AUDAX, DE HAVILL DEVON C-47 DAKOTA are
kept in this showcase. |
| |
|
| Show Case II |
Sword presented to Air Chief
Marshal SK Kaul, PVSM MVC ADC by the Commander, Royal
Air Force of Oman. |
| |
|
| Show Case III |
Shield presented to Air Chief Marshal OP Mehra, PVSM,
CAS of IAF by Commodore DE Goonasekara.
Shield presented to Air Chief Marshal NC Suri PVSM
AVSM VM ADC, CAS, IAF by Gp Capt Iqbal Haider, Air Attache,
Pakistan in Dec 1992.
|
| |
|
| Show Case IV |
Different models of AC and
Tanks which were presented to IAF by great personalities
are kept. |
| |
|
| Show Case V |
Houses the models of AC namely
IL-14, HS AVRO-748, MI-4 Helicopter, Egyptian Trainer,
Vickers Viscount. |
| |
|
| Show Case VI |
Model of Vijay Stambh of Chittor Garh - Presented to
Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma by the Chief Minister of Rajasthan
on 29 May 1984.
Model of Boat presented to Wg Cdr Ravish Malhotra by
Defence Meteorological Research Laboratory on 02 Jun
84.
Model of SOYUZ - Space Craft presented to the delegation
of Republic of India to commemorate the launching of
Indo-Soviet crew in Soyuz Space Craft on 03 Apr 84 from
Baikonour Cosmodrome.
|
| |
|
| Show Case VII |
Uniforms of the Air Force Officers and Airmen since
its inception (1932 onwards).
Weapon Show Case Sword presented by Bhutan Naresh to
Air Chief Marshal OP Mehra PVSM, Chief of the Air Staff.
Sword presented by Darbara Singh, Chief Minister of
Punjab to Air Chief Marshal OP Mehra.
Sword Stick presented to Air Chief Marshal OP Mehra
by the ruler of Sherohi in 1983.
Pathan Rifle, Japani Talwar, Sten Gun, Pistol, Revolver,
Dutch Sword, LMG and some more weapons which were ceased
during 1971 war from Pakistani Army.
|
|
Indian Air Force Museum Palam 