 Flight Lieutenant Thakur Ramanuj Singh was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in October. 1966. He has to his credit a total of 2,740 hours of accident-free flying. On 14th October, 1977, Flight Lieutenant Singh was ordered to evacuate Sir Edmund Hillary, the Everest Hero and the leader of the "Ocean to Sky Expedition", who was reportedly lying critically ill near Manna helipad. Flight Lieutenant Singh immediately got airborne and, using his professional skill and immaculate planning, reached the helipad in a record time. On arrival at the helipad, be was told that Sir Edmund Hillary was lying at the base camp, located at approximately 17,5000 feet above mean sea level on Nar Parbat. The weather was extremely turbulent and the whole area between 11,500 and 19,000 feet was covered with clouds. In utter disregard to his own safety, he got airborne and made an attempt to reach the base camp. He exhibited exceptional skill in this search but his efforts were thwarted due to clouds near the base camp. He continued to make efforts to rescue Sir Edmund Hillary till the last light when he was forced to return. On 15th October, 1977, Flight Lieutenant Singh was detailed to fly as a co-pilot for the same mission. The helicopter got airborne at first light. Weather condition by now had slightly improved and the crew reconnoitered the area. After 15 minutes of flying, it was Flight Lieutenant Singh, who first located Sir Edmund Hillary at a height of 17,500 feet above mean sea level. With a continuous commentary, he assisted the captain in bringing the helicopter to hover close to the casualty. The terrain did not permit a landing or winching. Disregarding his personal safety, Flight Lieutenant Singh jumped out of the hovering aircraft and assisted Sir Edmund Hillary to board the hovering aircraft and got in after him. Thereafter, he made Sir Edmund Hillary comfortable and also helped the Captain in flying the aircraft back to base. Flight Lieutenant Thakur Ramanuj Singh displayed high standard of flying skill, exemplary courage and devotion to duty of an exceptional order. | 
