Tribute to Air Marshal PM Ramachandran
Air Marshal PM Ramachandran, former Vice Chief of the IAF and Commandant of ASTE, passed away on May 6, 2021. A tribute by Gp Capt Ajit Agtey VM (Retd).
Air Marshal Palamadai Muthuswamy Ramachandran (4973) F(P) PVSM AVSM SC VM passed away on May 6, 2021.
A distinguished officer of the IAF, his career included attendance at No 4 PAI Course (1959), Experimental TPS Farnborough (1962), 25 DSSC Staff College Wellington (1969), and 27 NDC (1987). He rose to become Vice Chief of the Indian Air Force.
Air Marshal Ramachandran was awarded the Shaurya Chakra and Vayu Sena Medal for bravery during the 1962 Goa operations, and subsequently received the Ati Vashist Seva Medal and Param Vashisht Seva Medal. He served as Commandant of ASTE from 1982.
He contributed significantly to Project DARIN for the Jaguar aircraft, and served as Range Safety Officer during bomb drop trials and drop tank jettison testing at Kolar airfield.
He is survived by his son Ganapathy. His wife Lakshmi passed away in July 2020.
Written by Group Captain Ajit Agtey VM (IAF, Retd)