Mohinder Singh Pujji

MOHINDER SINGH PUJJI

Mohinder Singh Pujji was born in Simla, the summer capital of India, educated in Delhi and received a law degree from Bombay University before qualifying as a pilot at Delhi Flying Club in 1937.At the outbreak of the War in Europe he volunteered to join the RAF and travelled to England to undertake his military training.

M S PujjiIn April 1941 he began his first operational tour flying Hurricane aircraft in Scotland before being transferred to Kenley where he flew on combat patrol, bomber escort and intercepts of enemy aircraft.He remembers times when 18 aircraft were launched and only 6 returned.

He said "We just seemed to accept that we would lose 2 or 3 aircraft each sortie.I was shot down twice and I am very fortunate to have survived."

M S PujjiMohinder set an unusual RAF precedent in that he flew throughout the war while wearing his Dastar or turban.Indeed, he even insisted on carrying a spare in his cockpit so that, if taken prisoner, he had a replacement.

He later served in the Middle East, flying Hurricanes, where again he had to ditch his damaged aircraft but was fortunate to have been picked up by retreating allied troops and taken to hospital in Cairo.In 1944 he was posted to Burma where he flew in support of ground troops and earned a DFC for his courageous reconnaissance sorties over Japanese occupied territory often in adverse monsoon weather.Squadron Leader Pujji was invalided from the RAF in 1947 suffering from tuberculosis.

M S PujjiNow aged 86, he lives in Kent and is still very alert mentally but less able to get around due to much reduced mobility.When walking he now needs support as he is likely to fall unless supported.The RAF Benevolent Fund provided an electric scooter so he could regain a level of independence and make visits to his doctor and the local shops unaided.

He said "It's not quite a Hurricane but it provides me with the power and strength to get around - and for that I am grateful."

RUN REMEMBER REJOICE AT LONDON 10K RUN

Mohinder Singh Pujji, a pilot of Royal Air Force who took part in the European campaign was honored along with several living soldiers of World War II by Governor Paul Brijn of Inflanders Province . Flt. Lt.