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Michael John O'Brian

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Pakistan Deputy Chief of Air Staff (1928-1995) Not to be confused with Michael John O'Brien.

Air Vice MarshalMichael John O'Brian
مائیکل جان اوبرائن
Portrait, c. 1974
Commandant National Defence College, Islamabad
In office
1 September 1975 – 9 April 1976
Preceded byM. Rahim Khan
Deputy Chief of Air Staff
Pakistan Air Force
In office
13 May 1974 – 31 August 1975
Commander PAF Base Korangi Creek
In office
February 1973 – July 1974
Preceded byAnwar 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(1928-05-01)1 May 1928
Lahore, Punjab Province (British India)
Died1 December 1995(1995-12-01) (aged 67)
Islamabad, Pakistan
Spouse June Brown ​(m. 1949)​
EducationForman 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 service1946-78
Rank Air Vice Marshal
UnitNo. 9 Squadron PAF
CommandsNational Defence College, Islamabad
Deputy Chief of Air Staff
PAF Base Korangi Creek
PAF Academy
No. 35 Wing
Battles/wars
AwardsGolden Eagle Award (Pakistan)
Service numberPAK/3337

Michael John O'Brian (5 January 1928 — 1 December 1995) known as M.J. O'Brian and Micky O'Brian was among the pioneering officers of the Pakistan Air Force and two-star rank air officer who holds 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 and Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

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.

Early life

Of 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.

Personal life

O'Brian with his wife June Brown on their wedding day (1949)

Flying Officer M. J. O'Brian married June Brown on 18 April 1949, at St. Anthony's Church on Empress Road, Lahore. Both families were very old residents of Lahore. The bride had won the title of 'Miss Karachi 1949' in a beauty competition.

Royal Indian Air Force career and accident

O'Brian enlisted in the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) on 29 April 1946 after graduating the 39 Course of the Initial Training Wing, Pune. He was promoted to Pilot Officer on 29 October 1946.

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.

Pakistan Air Force career and education

Portrait at the National Defence College, Islamabad (1974)

After the Partition of British India, he joined the Royal Pakistan Air Force (RPAF) 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.

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.

O'Brian was promoted to Wing Commander on 1 August 1961 commanding the No. 35 Wing until 28 January 1962.

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.

On 13 May 1974, O'Brian was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Air Staff until 31 August 1975.

Visit to Peking

On 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.

Retirement

O'Brian retired from the Pakistan Air Force in April 1978.

Death

He lived a quiet life and died on 1 December 1995.

See also

References

  1. ^ The Gazette of Pakistan. 1978.
  2. Sultan M Hali (November 1998). "PAF'S gallant Christian heroes carry Quaid's message". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  3. ^ Syed Shabbir Hussain; M. Tariq Qureshi (1982). History of the Pakistan Air Force, 1947-1982. Pakistan Air Force. ISBN 978-0-19-648045-9.
  4. Mansoor Shah (2002). The Gold Bird: Pakistan and Its Air Force, Observations of a Pilot. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-579772-5.
  5. Sajad Haider (2009). FLIGHT OF THE FALCON: Demolishing myths of Indo-Pak wars 1965 & 1971. p. 121.
  6. "M. J. O'Brien and June Brown". 24 April 1949.
  7. "Pioneering Officers: See Pilot Officers". Pakistan Air Force. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  8. "Spitfire Mk VIII Accident Report". 9 December 1946.
  9. Syed Shabbir Hussain; M. Tariq Qureshi (28 April 1982). History of the Pakistan Air Force, 1947-1982. Pakistan Air Force. p. 222. ISBN 978-0-19-648045-9.
  10. "The Wages of Obedience". 12 February 2002.
  11. News Review on China, Mongolia and the Koreas. 28 April 1976. p. 265.
  12. Summary of World Broadcasts Far East Part 3. 1976.
  13. Survey of People's Republic of China Press. 1976.
  14. Survey of People's Republic of China Press. 1976. pp. 94, 213.
  15. Pakistan Horizon. Vol. 29. p. 1976.

Notes

  1. Urdu: مائیکل جان اوبرائن
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