Air Chief Marshal (Retd) I.H. Latif PVSM

Air Chief Marshal I.H. Latif has had a brilliant career in the Indian Airforce. In 1942, at the age of just eighteen, he was commissioned as an officer in the Flying branch of the Indian Air Force. After initial training for some months, ACM Latif then on the rank of a Flying Officer was sent to Britain, where he flew Spitfires and Hurricanes with units of the Royal Air Force, manned by aircrew of various nationalities.

World War II
ACM Latif took part in the Burma campaign on the Arakan front during the Second World War. He was given command of a Fighter Squadron of the Indian Air force in 1947, just prior to India’s independence.
In later years Air Chief Marshal Latif graduated from the Defence Services Staff College and the National Defence College.

Indonesia, Burma, Washington
Having earned experience in World War II, Air Chief Marshal Latif was deputed to Indonesian Air force as a member of an Advisory Group. In the early sixties, he served as Air Attaché at the Embassy of India in Washington and was concurrently accredited to Canada.

Pakistan War
During the 1965 conflict with Pakistan, ACM Latif served as Air Defence Commander of the Eastern theatre. Again during the 1971 conflict with Pakistan, he was assigned the responsibility of being the personal representative of the chief of the Air Force and served on both the Eastern and Western theatres. He was assigned the task of making a first hand assessment of the performance of front line squadrons.

Param Vishishta Seva Medal
That year he was awarded the Param Vishista Seva Medal in recognition of his distinguished services of the most exceptional order.
In 1974, he was promoted to the rank of Air Marshal and was made Air Officer Commanding-in- Chief of Central Air Command. In 1977, he was appointed as the Vice-Chief of the Air Staff.
On 1st September 1978, he was appointed as the Chief of the Air Staff in the rank of Air Chief Marshal which is the highest rank in the Indian Air Force and higest position in the defence services at par with the other chiefs of Army and Navy.

Meritorious Services
Air Chief Marshal Latif during his Air Force career, of 40 years, flew many thousand hours on fighter, bomber, and transport aircraft, ranging from pre Second World War vintage bi-planes to the supersonic Anglo-French Jaguar, the Russian MIG-25 and the Indian Marut fighter bomber. He also flew the Mirage-II, 2000 during an official visit to France.

Governor of Maharashtra and Ambassador to France
After retirement from the Air Force Air Chief Marshal Latif was appointed Governor of the State of Maharashtra. In 1995 he was sent as the country’s Ambassador to France.
Since 1988, Air Chief Marshall (Retd.) Latif has settled in his hometown of Hyderabad. Even at this age, ACM Latif is very active and associates himself with several social activities. His wife Mrs. Bilkees Latif is also a renowned social worker.
He has three children, one daughter and two sons. His daughter, Mariam is now in China and both his sons, Asad and Asgar are settled in USA. He is a proud grandfather of five grandchildren, one grandson and four grand daughters.

AM Charitable Trust is proud to have such a distinguished personality in its team of Trustees. He takes active part and guides the Trust in all its activities.