Mukerjee was among the first batch of Indian cadets commissioned into the Royal Indian Air Force in 1932.

Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee (1911–1960) was a pioneering figure in Indian military aviation, becoming the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on April 1, 1954.

In 1939, Mukerjee became the first Indian officer to command a squadron, leading No. 1 Squadron of the IAF.

On April 1, 1954, he was appointed as the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the IAF, a position later redesignated as Chief of the Air Staff.

In 1955, Mukerjee became the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, serving as the senior-most military officer in the Indian Armed Forces.

Mukerjee is often referred to as the “Father of the Indian Air Force” for his instrumental role in its development and modernization.