Air Vice Marshal Michael John O'Brian (Urdu: مائیکل جان اوبرائن; 5 January 1928 — 1 December 1995) known as M.J. O'Brian and Micky O'Brian was a two-star rank pioneering officer of the Pakistan Air Force who held the distinction of being the only Air Force officer to serve as Commandant of the National Defence College, Islamabad. He served as the Deputy Chief of Air Staff from 1974 to 1975. O'Brian was one of the distinguished Christian pilots who participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.[2][3][4][5]
Michael John O'Brian | |
|---|---|
| مائیکل جان اوبرائن | |
 O'Brian in the 1970s | |
| Commandant National Defence College, Islamabad | |
| In office 1 September 1975 – 9 April 1976 | |
| Preceded by | M. Rahim Khan |
| Deputy Chief of Air Staff (Pakistan) | |
| In office 13 May 1974 – 31 August 1975 | |
| Commander PAF Base Korangi Creek | |
| In office February 1973 – July 1974 | |
| Preceded by | Anwar Shamim |
| 12th Commandant PAF Academy | |
| In office September 1969 – February 1973 | |
| Wing Commander No. 35 Wing | |
| In office 1 August 1961 – 28 January 1962 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 May 1928 Lahore, Punjab Province (British India) |
| Died | 1 December 1995 (aged 67) Islamabad, Pakistan |
| Education | Forman Christian College (BSc) College of Flying Training (Certified Diploma) National Defence College, Islamabad (BSc, honorary PhD) |
| Nickname(s) | Micky O'Brian M.J. O'Brian |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  Royal Indian Air Force (1946-47) Pakistan Air Force (1947-78) |
| Years of service | 1946-78 |
| Rank |   Air Vice Marshal |
| Unit | No. 9 Squadron PAF |
| Commands | National Defence College, Islamabad Deputy Chief of Air Staff PAF Base Korangi Creek PAF Academy No. 35 Wing |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Golden Eagle Award (Pakistan) |
| Service number | PAK/3337[1] |
Throughout his career, O'Brian served as the Commandant of National Defence College, Islamabad, Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Base Commander PAF Base Korangi Creek, Commandant PAF Academy, and Commander No. 35 Wing.[3]
Early life
editOf Irish descent, Michael John O'Brian was born on 1 May 1928 into a Christian family in Lahore. His brother, Charles O'Brian was a Excise and Taxation officer in Sargodha.[6]
Royal Indian Air Force career and accident
editO'Brian enlisted in the Royal Indian Air Force on 29 April 1946 after graduating the 39 Course of the Initial Training Wing, Pune. O'Brian was promoted to Pilot Officer on 29 October 1946.[3][7]
On 9 December 1946, he was struck by a Spitfire Mk XIVe while parked in his Spitfire LF Mk VIII at RIAF Ambala. There were no injuries.[8]
Pakistan Air Force career and education
edit
After the partition of British India, he joined the Pakistan Air Force and participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He was promoted to Flying Officer on 29 April 1947. After the war, O'Brian pursued his Bachelor of Science in mathematics at Forman Christian College in 1948.[citation needed]
O'Brian attended the College of Flying Training, where he gained a Bachelor of Science in aviation sciences and received a Certified Diploma in Flying from the Flying Instructors School. O'Brian held a Master of Science in Military Science and honorary PhD in War studies from National Defence College, Islamabad.[citation needed]
O'Brian was promoted to Wing Commander on 1 August 1961 commanding the No. 35 Wing until 28 January 1962.[3]
O'Brian played an important role in setting up the training institutes within the Pakistan Air Force. He was appointed as the 12th Commandant PAF Academy in September 1969 until February 1973 when he was given command of PAF Base Korangi Creek.[3]
On 13 May 1974, O'Brian was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Air Staff until 31 August 1975.[9][10]
Visit to Peking
editOn 22 April 1976, Commandant O'Brian led the delegation of the National Defence College, Islamabad on a visit to Peking, China where banquets were held by both countries for each other. The Pakistani delegation returned to Pakistan on 3 May 1976.[11][12][13][14][15]
O'Brian retired in April 1978.[1]
Death
editHe lived a quiet life and died on 1 December 1995.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b The Gazette of Pakistan. 1978.
- ^ "PAF'S GALLANT CHRISTIAN HEROES CARRY QUAID'S MESSAGE". November 1998. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Hussain, Syed Shabbir; Tariq Qureshi, M. (1982). History of the Pakistan Air Force, 1947-1982. Pakistan Air Force. ISBN 978-0-19-648045-9.
- ^ Shah, Mansoor (2002). The Gold Bird: Pakistan and Its Air Force, Observations of a Pilot. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-579772-5.
- ^ "PAF'S gallant Christian heroes carry Quaid's message". 25 December 2022.
- ^ S SAJAD HAIDER, FLIGHT OF THE FALCON: Demolishing myths of Indo-Pak wars 1965 & 1971, page 121, VANGUARD BOOKS, Lahore, 2009
- ^ "Pioneering Officers: See Pilot Officers".
- ^ "Spitfire Mk VIII Accident Report (1946)".
- ^ Hussain, Syed Shabbir; Tariq Qureshi, M. (28 April 1982). History of the Pakistan Air Force, 1947-1982. Pakistan Air Force. p. 222. ISBN 978-0-19-648045-9.
- ^ "The Wages of Obedience".
- ^ News Review on China, Mongolia and the Koreas. 28 April 1976. p. 265.
- ^ Summary of World Broadcasts Far East Part 3. 1976.
- ^ Survey of People's Republic of China Press. 1976.
- ^ Survey of People's Republic of China Press. 1976. pp. 94, 213.
- ^ Pakistan Horizon. Vol. 29. p. 1976.