Anil Yashwant Tipnis Explained

Honorific Prefix:Air Chief Marshal
A Y Tipnis
Honorific Suffix:PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC
Birth Date:15 September 1940
Alma Mater:National Defence Academy, Pune
Office:18th Chief of Air Staff
Term:31 December 1998 - 31 December 2001
President:K. R. Narayanan
Primeminister:Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Predecessor:Satish Sareen
Successor:Srinivasapuram Krishnaswamy
Office1:24th Vice Chief of the Air Staff
Term1:1 April 1997 - 31 December 1998
President1:Shankar Dayal Sharma
K. R. Narayanan
Primeminister1:H. D. Deve Gowda
Inder Kumar Gujral
Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Predecessor1:Trevor Raymond Joseph Osman
Successor1:Prithvi Singh Brar
Allegiance: India
Serviceyears:20 May 1960 – 31 December 2001
Rank: Air Chief Marshal
Commands:Western Air Command
AFS Gwalior
23 Squadron
Unit:No. 7 Squadron IAF
Battles:Kargil War
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Military Blank1:Awards
Military Data1:

Air Chief Marshal Anil Yashwant Tipnis, PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC (born 15 September 1940) served as Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force from 31 December 1998 to 31 December 2001. He commanded the Air Force to distinction during the Kargil War, when the force flew air superiority and close air support at heights of over 18,000 feet[1]

Early life and education

Anil Yashwant Tipnis was born on 15 September 1940. He did his education at Barnes School, Deolali. After his schooling, he joined the National Defence Academy, (NDA) Pune in January 1956.[2]

Career

Tipnis was commissioned as a fighter pilot on 28 May 1960. He spent his initial years as an operational pilot in several front line fighter squadrons.[2]

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Tipnis served with The First Supersonics, the 28 Squadron.After the war, Tipnis was deputed to Iraq as a Pilot Attack Instructor (PAI).[2]

Tipnis qualified as a Fighter Combat Leader at the Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) in 1973.[2]

After attending the Staff College course at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Wing Commander Tipnis took command of 23 Squadron quipped with Mig 21 Bison. After this stint, Tipnis was also short-listed (one among four) for the Interkosmos space program.[2]

As an Air Commodore, Tipnis commanded Air Force Station Gwalior which was equipped with Mirage 2000.[2]

He attended the Defence Studies Course at National Defence College in 1989. On promotion to Two-star rank, AVM Tipnis was appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Inspection) at Air HQ. He later took over as Air Officer Commanding (AOC) J & K Area.[2]

As an Air Marshal, Tipnis served as Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) of Eastern Air Command and of Western Air Command. He later served as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command from Aug 1995 to March 1997.[3]

Tipnis then moved to Air HQ and served as the Vice Chief of the Air Staff before taking over as the 18th Chief of the Air Staff.[2]

Awards and decorations

Param Vishisht Seva MedalAti Vishisht Seva MedalVayu Sena Medal
Meritorious Service MedalSiachen Glacier MedalRaksha MedalSangram Medal
Sainya Seva MedalHigh Altitude Service MedalVidesh Seva Medal50th Anniversary Independence Medal
25th Anniversary Independence Medal30 Years Long Service Medal20 Years Long Service Medal9 Years Long Service Medal

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ex-Chiefs Gallery . Indian Air Force . 21 December 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120430222917/http://indianairforce.nic.in/show_exchief.php?pg_id=19&ch=31 . 30 April 2012 . dead .
  2. Web site: A.Y. TIPNIS PVSM,AVSM, VM, ADC CAS . indianairforce.nic.in/.
  3. Web site: Air Chief Marshal Anil Yeshwant Tipnis . bharat-rakshak.com.