Major General Dewan Misri Chand – Born on 11 October 1907, Lieutenant Misri Chand of the 1st Battalion, Punjab Regiment was trained at the Prince of Wales Military School, Dehradun and Sandhurst. He distinguished himself at Sandhurst, and received a King’s Commission into Royal Indian Army in 1927.
Whilst seeing active service in the Mohmand (NWFP, Afghanistan) conflict, he took to flying in bi-planes the British had pressed into service, and was among the few early Indian to obtain a Flying Licence. In 1932, he won the Amateur Flying Trophy in India, and held the trophy for a record 17 years. Two years later, he took part in the National Air Rally in the USA.
In 1936 he became the first native Indian to win the Viceroy's Cup Air Race (started in 1932 and modelled on the King's Cup Air Race in Britain). He completed the 1,520 miles from Madras (now Chennai)-Delhi in a DH.60 Moth. He then flew to Britain to take part in the King's Cup Air Race at Hatfield, flying a Percival Vega Gull (G-AEAB) with Lieutenant P Randolph of the Grenadier Guards, in July 1936. In September, also with Lieutenant Randolph, he took part in the Air Race to the Rand (South Africa).
Lieutenant Chand rose to the rank of Major General. He died on 13 March 1970.
Lieutenant Chand rose to the rank of Major General. He died on 13 March 1970.
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