Idris Hasan Latif
Idris Hasan Latif, PVSM (9 June 1923 – 30 April 2018) was a former air officer in the Indian Air Force. He served as the 10th Chief of Air Staff (CAS) of the Indian Air Force (IAF) from 1978 to 1981. After retiring from the air force, he served as 11th Governor of Maharashtra from 1982 to 1985.
I H Latif PVSM | |
|---|---|
| 12th Indian Ambassador to France | |
| In office April 1985 – August 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Narendra Singh |
| Succeeded by | Mrs. Soonu Kochhar |
| 8th Governor of Maharashtra | |
| In office 6 March 1982 – 16 April 1985 | |
| Appointed by | President of India (then, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy) |
| Chief Minister | Babasaheb Bhosale Vasantdada Patil |
| Preceded by | Om Prakash Mehra |
| Succeeded by | Kona Prabhakara Rao |
| 22nd Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee | |
| In office 31 May 1981 – 30 August 1981 | |
| President | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
| Prime Minister | Morarji Desai |
| Preceded by | Om Prakash Malhotra |
| Succeeded by | Ronald Lynsdale Pereira |
| 10th Chief of the Air Staff (India) | |
| In office 1 September 1978 – 31 August 1981 | |
| President | Neelam Sanjiva Reddy |
| Prime Minister | Morarji Desai |
| Preceded by | Hrushikesh Moolgavkar |
| Succeeded by | Dilbagh Singh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 June 1923 Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, British Indian Empire |
| Died | 30 April 2018 (aged 94) Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| Resting place | Hussaini Alam, Hyderabad, India |
| Spouse | |
| Relations | Tyabji family Ali Yavar Jung (father-in-law) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | British India (1941–1947) India (from 1947) |
| Branch/service | Royal Indian Air Force (1941–1947) Indian Air Force (1947–1981) |
| Years of service | 1941–1981 |
| Rank | Air Chief Marshal |
| Commands |
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| Battles/wars | World War II Indo-Pakistan War of 1947 Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 |
| Service number | 1804 |
| Award(s) |
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Born in an affluent family in Hyderabad, he joined the Indian Air Force Volunteer Reserve (IAFVR) during World War II. After joining the Coastal Flight at Karachi, he spent a year in the United Kingdom with the Royal Air Force. As part of the No. 3 Squadron IAF, he served in the Burma campaign. After the partition of India, he chose to stay with the IAF. He commanded the No. 4 Squadron IAF and led the squadron in the fly-past during the first Republic Day parade in 1950. He commanded a squadron at the Joint Services Wing, the precursor to the National Defence Academy.
As a Wing Commander, he advised the Indonesian Air Force and helped them induct jet fighters in 1955. After attending the Defence Services Staff College in 1957, he served as the Senior Air Staff and Administrative Officer of the Maintenance Command. Promoted to Group Captain, he served as the Station Commander in Hyderabad, commanding the airbases at Begumpet and Hakimpet. Latif served as the Air Attaché at the Embassy of India, Washington, D.C. from 1961 to 1965.
From 1965 to 1966, Latif served as the Air Defence Commander and the Senior Air Staff Officer of the Eastern Air Command. In 1967, he attended the National Defence College. He subsequently commanded the Lohegaon airbase from 1968 to 1970. In August 1970, he was promoted to Air Vice Marshal and took over as the first ACAS (Plans) at Air HQ. He was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal in 1971. He served in this appointment during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. In the rank of Air Marshal, from 1974 to 1978, he served as the Air Officer-in-Charge Administration at Air HQ and Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief (AOC-in-C) of the Central Air Command and the Maintenance Command. In 1977, Latif was posted as Vice Chief of Air Staff and took over as Chief of Air Staff on 1 September 1978.
After retirement from military service, Latif served as the Governor of Maharashtra from 1982 to 1985. He also held additional charge as Administrator of Goa, Daman and Diu and Administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. From 1985 to 1988, he served as the Indian ambassador to France.