Idris Hasan Latif - Military Career

Military Career

Air Chief Marshal Latif was commissioned into the Royal Indian Air Force in 1942, and took part in the Burma Campaign on the Arakan Front during World War II. Later, he was a member of the Indian Advisory Group to Indonesia that helped the Indonesian Air Force induct jet fighters. Latif also served as Air Defence Commander and Senior Air Staff Officer in Eastern Air Command. During 1961-65, Latif was the Air Attaché at the Indian embassy in Washington D.C. During the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war, he was Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Plans). In 1971 he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. In 1974, Latif was promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal, and posted as Air Officer in charge, Administration, at Air Headquarters. He led Air Force Relief operations during the Patna floods in 1975. In 1977, then Air Marshal Latif was posted as Vice Chief of Air Staff, and took over as Chief of Air Staff on 1 September 1978.