<p>New Delhi: Former vice chief of Indian Air Force Air Marshal P K Barbora (retd), known to be an outstanding air warrior who was instrumental in reactivation of the Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) air strip in eastern Ladakh, passed away at a military hospital here on Monday. He was 72.</p>.<p> Barbora's friends in the military said he was unwell for some time and was undergoing treatment at the Army's Research and Referral hospital where he breathed his last this morning.</p>.<p> Barbora, who hailed from Assam, was perhaps the first person from the Northeast to reach such a coveted post in the armed forces.</p>.<p> Air Marshal Barbora was the vice chief of the IAF from June 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010.</p>.<p> He was born on December 10, 1950 in Shillong and was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot on June 13, 1970.</p>.<p> Known to be a highly experienced aviator with over 3,500 hours of flying, he had taken part in the 1971 war as well.</p>.<p> Former IAF officers said Barbora was instrumental in reactivation of the DBO air strip in 2008 after a gap of over four decades.</p>.Rajnath urges IAF to adapt to evolving security challenges.<p> In his illustrious career, he served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of IAF's Western Air Command and Eastern Air Command.</p>.<p> A qualified flying instructor and a fighter combat leader, Barbora was on the staff of Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment which is a premier flying establishment of the IAF.</p>.<p> Among his several operational assignments include command of a MiG-21 squadron, chief operations officer of a fighter airbase and air officer commanding of a premier fighter airbase under Eastern Air Command.</p>
<p>New Delhi: Former vice chief of Indian Air Force Air Marshal P K Barbora (retd), known to be an outstanding air warrior who was instrumental in reactivation of the Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO) air strip in eastern Ladakh, passed away at a military hospital here on Monday. He was 72.</p>.<p> Barbora's friends in the military said he was unwell for some time and was undergoing treatment at the Army's Research and Referral hospital where he breathed his last this morning.</p>.<p> Barbora, who hailed from Assam, was perhaps the first person from the Northeast to reach such a coveted post in the armed forces.</p>.<p> Air Marshal Barbora was the vice chief of the IAF from June 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010.</p>.<p> He was born on December 10, 1950 in Shillong and was commissioned into the IAF as a fighter pilot on June 13, 1970.</p>.<p> Known to be a highly experienced aviator with over 3,500 hours of flying, he had taken part in the 1971 war as well.</p>.<p> Former IAF officers said Barbora was instrumental in reactivation of the DBO air strip in 2008 after a gap of over four decades.</p>.Rajnath urges IAF to adapt to evolving security challenges.<p> In his illustrious career, he served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of IAF's Western Air Command and Eastern Air Command.</p>.<p> A qualified flying instructor and a fighter combat leader, Barbora was on the staff of Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment which is a premier flying establishment of the IAF.</p>.<p> Among his several operational assignments include command of a MiG-21 squadron, chief operations officer of a fighter airbase and air officer commanding of a premier fighter airbase under Eastern Air Command.</p>