World War II Indian-RAF flying ace Squadron Leader Mahinder Singh Pujji dies
September 24th, 2010 - 1:29 pm ICT by ANILondon, Sep 24(ANI): An Indian pilot who served for the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II has died at the Darent Valley Hospital in Kent after suffering a stroke.
Squadron Leader Mahinder Singh Pujji, 92, was believed to be the last surviving fighter pilot from a group of 24 Indians who arrived in Britain in 1940, The BBC reports.
He was one of thousands who risked their lives in the Battle of Britain, and was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery after helping to save 300 American soldiers from Japanese troops in Burma.
Pujji was also part of several combat missions in Britain, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East during the war.
Earlier, this year, he had published a book about his wartimes experiences entitled, ‘For King and Another Country’. (ANI)
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Tags: 1940, ace, africa and the middle east, american soldiers, battle of britain, bbc, bbc reports, bravery, burma, combat missions, darent valley hospital, distinguished flying cross, fighter pilot, indian pilot, indians, japanese troops, north africa, raf, squadron leader, world war ii