Man Mohan Singh | |
|---|---|
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| Nickname(s) | "Chacha Man Mohan Singh" |
| Born | 21 March 1906 Loralai District, British India |
| Died | 3 March 1942 Broome, Western Australia |
| Allegiance | British Indian Air Force |
| Unit | No. 205 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | |
| Memorials | Darwin Military Museum Memorial Wall Engravings in Singapore |
Man Mohan Singh (21 March 1906 – 3 March 1942), also spelled Manmohan Singh, was an early Indian aircraft pilot who, in 1930, was the first Indian to fly solo from Croydon Airport, England, to Karachi, India.
Singh was born in Loralai District (now in Pakistan). He later travelled to England and trained in civil engineering, aeronautical engineering and learnt to fly.
He was of one of the contestants who participated in a competition set by the Aga Khan in 1929, who offered a prize to the first Indian to fly the England-India journey (either way), solo and within a one-month time frame. In 1930, Singh was the first to complete the journey solo, in his aircraft which he named "Miss India". However, he missed the deadline by one day and the prize was awarded to pilot Aspy Engineer. Singh later also became the first Indian to fly solo to South Africa from England.
Singh joined the Indian Air Force Volunteer Reserve as a pilot officer at the onset of the Second World War, following which he joined the RAF Coastal Command and took command of a Sunderland flying boat during the Battle of the Atlantic. He later became a flying officer with the British Indian Air Force. In 1942, he was with the flying boats that arrived at Broome, Western Australia when a Japanese air attack destroyed them all. Singh survived the attack only to drown in the harbour.