The Flying Sikh of WWI (1917): Lt. Col. Hardit Singh Malik | Shortfactwizard

Описание: Soar into the skies of World War I with Lieutenant Colonel Hardit Singh Malik, the ‘Flying Sikh,’ in this captivating 60-second ShortFactWizard video. In 1917, the 22-year-old from Rawalpindi, British India, becomes the first Indian pilot in the Royal Flying Corps, flying 60 missions in a Sopwith Camel with No. 28 Squadron, part of 1,500 Camels that downed 3,000 enemy aircraft. A 1915 Oxford history graduate, Malik overcomes racial barriers through his tutor’s intervention, adapting his turban to fit a Brodie helmet—a design later used by 500 Sikh soldiers. On September 17, 1917, he survives a dogfight, taking two bullets in his leg and 400 hits to his plane, landing safely to fight another day. Meeting King George V in 1918, Malik, one of 12 Indian pilots in WWI, challenges stereotypes when only 34 Indians held King’s Commissions. Post-war, he joins the Indian Civil Service, becoming India’s ambassador to France in 1949, negotiating the 1950 Indo-French trade treaty. Dying in 1985 at 90, Malik’s legacy inspires the Indian Air Force’s 223 Squadron, named ‘Flying Sikhs’ in 1987, and a 2018 UK stamp honoring Sikh contributions among 140,000 Indian WWI soldiers. His 1982 autobiography, A Little Work, A Little Play, and a Sopwith Camel model at the IAF Museum in Delhi cement his place in history. This video captures Malik’s bravery through vivid reenactments, honoring a trailblazing WWI hero. Subscribe to ShortFactWizard for more war stories, and let us know in the comments which WWI hero you’d like to learn about next. Share this video to honor Lt. Col. Malik’s legacy! #WWI #HarditSinghMalik #FlyingSikh