Wing Commander Jumbo: a true trailblazer
Karun Krishna ‘Jumbo’ Majumdar was no ordinary pilot. He was a fearless trailblazer who etched his name into WWII history, becoming one of the most celebrated Indian airmen to serve across both Asian and European fronts.
Born in Calcutta in 1913 and schooled in Darjeeling, Majumdar graduated from Royal Air Force Flying College in England and later returned to India to join No. 1 Squadron of the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF)—one of the first Indian officers to do so.
In 1942, during the Burma campaign, Majumdar led daring solo bombing raids on Japanese positions using a slow Westland Lysander aircraft. He dropped 250 lb bombs on enemy hangars and communication posts, and after a forced landing in the state of Shan, trekked for four days to get to safety.
An aviation legend for the ages
Jumbo’s audacious Burma missions earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), making him the first Indian airman from the RIAF to receive the honour for combat operations. He broke racial barriers and paved the way for other Indian officers at a time when colonial hierarchies were deeply entrenched in the military establishment.
Eager to return to combat, Majumdar volunteered to serve in Europe. He relinquished his acting rank of Wing Commander and requalified as Squadron Leader to fly with RAF’s 268 Reconnaissance Squadron in early 1944.
Flying Mustangs and Typhoon aircrafts, he conducted 65 reconnaissance and strafing sorties over Nazi-occupied France. His photos, especially of the Seine and Falaise regions, proved vital to Field Marshall Montgomery’s success in the Normandy campaign. For his heroics in the campaign, ‘Jumbo’ received a Bar to his DFC—becoming the only Indian pilot to win the honour twice.
Majumdar’s brilliance wasn’t unnoticed. LIFE magazine featured him among the world’s top 12 airmen in its 15 May 1944 issue, celebrating his boldness, and precision under fire.
Tragically, Karun Krishna Majumdar passed away in February 1945 while performing an exhibition flight at Walton Airport near Lahore. Wing Commander KK Majumdar’s legacy endures as a symbol of courage, leadership, and excellence in the skies.
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