Paddy Mendis

Infobox Military Person
name=Paddy Mendis
lived=1933 –
placeofbirth=Hikkaduwa, Ceylon
placeofdeath=


caption=
nickname=
allegiance= flagicon|Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
serviceyears=25 years
rank=Air Chief Marshal
branch=
commands=Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force
unit= No. 2 (Transport) Squadron, RCyAF
battles=1971 JVP Insurrection
awards=
laterwork= Chairman, Air Ceylon;
Chairman, Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka
Air Chief Marshal Deshamanya Paddy Mendis MBIM, idc, psc, SLAF ( 1933 – ) forth Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force from 1971 to 1976.

Early life and education

Son of a Doctor, he was educated at S. Thomas' College. He joined the newly formed Royal Ceylon Air Force as its fifth recruit as an Cadet Officer, on 8 August 1951 he along with Cadet Officer D. De S. Seneviratne were sent to Britain for their training at RAF College Cranwell, after graduating on 6 April 1954 he specialized in De Havilland Vampires before returning home.

Career

When the government decided to deploy more transports instead of the Vampires, he trained for Airspeed Oxfords and later took command of the newly formed Transport Squadron. Later he would become a Flying Instructor and command the Royal Ceylon Air Force Flying School. Graduating from Defense Services Staff College, Wellington, India he was appointed Senior Air Staff Officer at Air Force Headquarters and in 1968 he attended the Imperial Defence College in London. Apron his return he was made Chief of Staff in 1969 and made Commander of the Air Force in January 1971.

Three months later the RCyAF was mobilized for combat for its first time when the 1971 JVP Insurrection began. Facing it self unprepared of a full scale insurrection with limited aircraft, under his command the air force responded effectively, at first carrying out troop and supply transport to stations under attack then turning to ground attacks. Insurrection was brought under control in two months. Following the insurrection military spending was drastically cut as a result of major economic problems faced by the country due failure of new economic polices of the government. As a result Mendis was forced the create Helitours form air force planes and pilots to finance the operation of the Air Force.

One of his major contributions to the air force was the creation of the current management structure of the air force , including the broad of management. He established the Air Force Academy at SLAF China Bay for officer training locally and the Electronic Maintenance and Training school at SLAF Ekala, Trade training School at SLAF Katunayake for ground crew training. He retired from service in 1976 as a Air Marshal.

Later work

After retiring he went on to work as Chairman, Air Ceylon; Commissioner General, Civil Defence and Aviation; member, Reserve Affairs Council and Chairman, Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka.

For his service to the country he was awarded the title Deshamanya from the Government of Sri Lanka and in 2007 he was promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal along with 9 other former service chiefs [http://sundaytimes.lk/071111/News/news00022.html Former service chiefs promoted] ] .

Family

He married his wife Charmaine in 1957, they had 3 children. One of his grandsons is a US Navy pilot.

Referenece

* [http://www.dailynews.lk/2006/12/09/spice01.asp Paddy Mendis: Administrator par excellence]

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