Air Marshal Madon expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation to His Majesty and the royal government for the assistance extended by the Royal Bhutan Army to search for a MiG-21 jet that had gone missing during a training flight in the eastern sector along the Bhutan-Assam border.

His Majesty and Their Majesties the Queens hosted a lunch for the air marshal and Mrs. Yasmin Madon at the Dechenchholing Palace.

Air Marshal Madon also met with the chief operations officer of the Royal Bhutan Army, Goongloen Lam Dorji, and senior officials of the Bhutanese government. The air marshal visited Thimphu, Paro, and Haa during his stay in Bhutan.

Commissioned as a pilot in the fighter stream of the IAF in 1963, Air Marshal Madon has flown a large variety of fighter aircraft. He is a qualified flying instructor and a fighter combat leader. He took active part in the 1965 and 1971 operations of the Indo-Pakistan war and, in an operational combat mission in 1971, earned a gallantry award.

The air marshal has also served in a number of senior administrative posts including the senior air staff officer at the western air command of the IAF.

He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (VSM) twice for professionalism and gallantry and the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for service of a high order and, early this year, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for his life time achievements and distinguished service.

Goongloen Lam Dorji said that the RBA had always enjoyed very close relations with the Indian Air Force.

“The eastern air command gives us unfailing and prompt support when we need helicopter services for the royal government and for the evacuation of medical patients and other emergencies,” said Goongloen Lam Dorji.

The RBA chief added that the visit of Air Marshal Manek Madon would greatly strengthen the cooperation between the Royal Bhutan Army and the Indian Air Force.

By Kinley Dorji