AFVOA Newletters of Year 2002

Page 20 of 84 picture of those honoured is given so as to inspire us to follow in their footsteps. a) Lt Col NT Rajan, ASC Col Rajan was born on 19 May 1909. He was on apprenticeship with Minerva Motors, Antwerp, Belgium between 1931-32. He obtained his PPL (Private Pilots Licence) from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, UK, and served in UK and France during 1932-33. He was commissioned in the Army in India Reserve of Officers (AIRO) as an RIASC (MT) officer on 19 August 1937, and his service number was ICRO 10. He obtained his regular commission on 01 September 1940 (IC 3916), and retired on 23 May 1956. He served in various formations/sectors, including Waziristan, in 23 and 25 Divisions, Western Command etc., in Independent Transport Platoons, GT Companies, ASC Centre, EME Depot, and the American Army Surplus Stores Unit. After retirement, he served in the Embassy of India at Moscow, and later as the Superintendent of Trainees of the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP). Col Rajan lives at No 19, 3rd Street, Abhiramapuram, Chennai 600 018, and may be contacted on telephone 499 4638. b) Maj AC Mansukhani , Armoured Corps Major Mansukhani was born on 10 September 1910 at Multan, and commissioned in the Armoured Corps in 1941. He served in 45 Cavalry, which later converted from a horsed cavalry to a mechanised regiment, as well as in 3 Cavalry. During the World War II, he served in Malaya. He officiated as a lieutenant colonel in the Technical Development Establishment (TDE) at Cossipore for five years, before retiring in 1960 and moving to Madras. Maj and Mrs Mansukhani’s daughter is in Australia, and their son is a senior marine engineer now on a shore job at Bangkok. Mrs Mansukhani’s memory is still sharp, and she recalls all the events of their life in the Army with ease. This venerable couple came to be known to the AFVOA through a chance encounter when Col Krishnaswami met them at MH Chennai. Maj and Mrs Mansukhani live at A1, 118, Shanthi Apartments, 13, 8th Main Road, Anna Nagar, Chennai 600 040, and may be contacted at telephone 621 4376. c) Lt Col LA Venkatadri, Engrs. Col Venkatadri was born on 16 June 1915, and was commissioned in the Madras Sappers on 01 December 1941. His service number was EC 927. Starting off as the Chief Instructor at the Jalahalli Workshop in 1941, he served in the Forming Battalion and was sent to Burma in charge of a Bridging Platoon to take part in the Akyab Campaign. He served in 425 Field Company as a Second in Command His unit trained on the Cuddalore beaches for the Malayan Campaign, and whilst on their way to Malaya on board a troopship, news came of Japan’s surrender. After return from Malaya, Col Venkatadri headed the E&M Wing of the College of Military Engineering (CME), Kirkee. He was posted in the office of the CE, Eastern Command, which was initially at Lucknow, and later moved to Calcutta. He retired on 16 June 1967. Col and Mrs Venkatadri live at D1, Jawahar Flats, Karneeswarar Koil St, 1st Lane, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004, and may be contacted on telephone at 498 1887. d) Sqn Ldr H Ramakrishnan , AE (M): Sqn Ldr Ramakrishnan was born on 04 February 1921. He was enrolled in the RIAF on 28 Jun 1941 and took part in the parade at Risalpur in 1942, when HRH the Duke of Gloucester conferred the title of RIAF on the IAF in honour of its war record. He served in No 2 Squadron at Kohat before partition. In 1955, he was the only aircraft technician to accompany the Indian Military goodwill mission to Egypt. In 1956-57, he was part of the team on board an aircraft carrier of the French Navy that shipped the IAF’s first batch of Dassault Mystere IV fighters. On 24 April 1961, he was commissioned as an officer in the then Technical (Engines) branch from the rank of Master Warrant Officer. He retired on 04 February 1973. Sqn Ldr Ramakrishnan lives at No 39, Ramaswamy Garden St, Arunachalapuram, Adyar, Chennai 600 020, and may be contacted