Karun Krishna Majumdar

September 6, 1913 (age 31)

Kolkata

He was nicknamed Jumbo. In 1932, he travelled to England and took admission in Royal Air Force College Cranwell. In 1933, he returned to India as a trained pilot. Majumdar joined Number. 1 Squadron of the Indian Air Force in the 1930s as Flying Officer. Majumdar first flew Westland Wapiti and then Hawker Hart. Soon he was promoted to Flight Commander of the "C" Flight of Number. 1 Squadron. In June 1941, Majumdar was promoted to Squadron Leader and he took charge of Number. 1 Squadron in Miramshah. In August 1941, the Number. 1 Squadron was upgraded with Westland Lysander aircraft and training commenced in Drigh Road. In 1942, the Imperial Japanese forces occupied Burma. The Number. 1 Squadron of the Royal Indian Air Force was posted to Burma. Majumdar reached Taungoo with forces on 1 February 1942. However, the Number. 1 Squadron remained unharmed. Majumdar immediately planned retaliatory action with Westland Lysander, even though it was not considered a fighter aircraft. Next day he flew solo on a Westland Lysander carrying two 250 pound bombs, towards the Japanese airbase in Mae Hong Son. The New Zealanders of Number. 67 Squadron of Royal Air Force send two Buffalo aircraft in support. Majumdar took considerable risk in flying low and dropping bombs accurately on target, destroying the enemy hangar, aircraft and airfield. On the next day, Majumdar led the entire squadron in a bombing mission and destroyed the aircraft, wireless installations and the buildings. Till the fall of Yangon in April 1942, the Westland Lysanders of the Number. 1 Squadron played a supporting role for the army. After that Majumdar returned to India and spent the next to years in staff and flying assignments. He was promoted to Wing Commander. In 1943, Majumdar volunteered for a role in the European War. He arrived in England in March 1944. He resumed his flying duties in June 1944, in a reconnaissance role in the Number. 268 Squadron of Royal Air Force. In his first operational flight on 10 June 1944, he made a reconnaissance over Seine River attacking enemy ground targets. His operational tour ended on 20 September. During this period of 100 days Majumdar flew 65 operational sorties in Supermarine Spitfires. He successfully operated vital reconnaissance mission over the Falaise Gap in Normandy. His photographs were later used by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery in the Battle of the Falaise Pocket. On 17 February 1945, Majumdar attempted an aerobatic practice sortie in a Hawker Hurricane. The aircraft he chose had a past history of snags and malfunction and he was warned by Flying Officer Harjinder Singh. During a dive in the aerobatic routine, the aircraft developed a snag and it crashed headlong into the ground. Majumdar died instantly.

Karun Krishna Majumdar

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Background

Karun Krishna Majumdar was born in Kolkata on 6 September 1913.

Education

Majumdar attended Saint Pauls School in Darjeeling.

Career

He was nicknamed Jumbo. In 1932, he travelled to England and took admission in Royal Air Force College Cranwell. In 1933, he returned to India as a trained pilot.

Majumdar joined Number.

1 Squadron of the Indian Air Force in the 1930s as Flying Officer. Majumdar first flew Westland Wapiti and then Hawker Hart. Soon he was promoted to Flight Commander of the "C" Flight of Number.

1 Squadron.

In June 1941, Majumdar was promoted to Squadron Leader and he took charge of Number. 1 Squadron in Miramshah. In August 1941, the Number.

1 Squadron was upgraded with Westland Lysander aircraft and training commenced in Drigh Road.

In 1942, the Imperial Japanese forces occupied Burma. The Number. 1 Squadron of the Royal Indian Air Force was posted to Burma.

Majumdar reached Taungoo with forces on 1 February 1942. However, the Number. 1 Squadron remained unharmed.

Majumdar immediately planned retaliatory action with Westland Lysander, even though it was not considered a fighter aircraft.

Next day he flew solo on a Westland Lysander carrying two 250 pound bombs, towards the Japanese airbase in Mae Hong Son. The New Zealanders of Number. 67 Squadron of Royal Air Force send two Buffalo aircraft in support.

Majumdar took considerable risk in flying low and dropping bombs accurately on target, destroying the enemy hangar, aircraft and airfield.

On the next day, Majumdar led the entire squadron in a bombing mission and destroyed the aircraft, wireless installations and the buildings. Till the fall of Yangon in April 1942, the Westland Lysanders of the Number.

1 Squadron played a supporting role for the army. After that Majumdar returned to India and spent the next to years in staff and flying assignments.

He was promoted to Wing Commander.

In 1943, Majumdar volunteered for a role in the European War. He arrived in England in March 1944. He resumed his flying duties in June 1944, in a reconnaissance role in the Number.

268 Squadron of Royal Air Force.

In his first operational flight on 10 June 1944, he made a reconnaissance over Seine River attacking enemy ground targets. His operational tour ended on 20 September.

During this period of 100 days Majumdar flew 65 operational sorties in Supermarine Spitfires. He successfully operated vital reconnaissance mission over the Falaise Gap in Normandy.

His photographs were later used by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery in the Battle of the Falaise Pocket.

On 17 February 1945, Majumdar attempted an aerobatic practice sortie in a Hawker Hurricane. The aircraft he chose had a past history of snags and malfunction and he was warned by Flying Officer Harjinder Singh. During a dive in the aerobatic routine, the aircraft developed a snag and it crashed headlong into the ground.

Majumdar died instantly.

Connections

allies:: Mae Hong Son

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