Flight Lieutenant (Mrs.) Padma Bandopadhyay (11528) Medical has been in charge of the Family Ward and Station Family Planning Section of an Air Force Hospital located at a forward airfield since February, 1969. She set about her task with unflagging zeal and dogged determination, zeal and worked incessantly without disregard to her personal comfort. Her accurate diagnosis and understanding of the patients' problems earned her their admiration and appreciation. She was responsible for delivering three cases of premature babies and used her practical knowledge of her profession in improvising her own incubator for them. It was mainly due to her initiative, perseverance and untiring energy that an officer's family ward was opened on the station and a healthy baby clinic started functioning. During the December, 1971 conflict, Flight Lieutenant (Mrs.) Padma Ban- dopadhyay worked tire lessly and was a great asset to the surgical team in conducting numerous operations. By her personal example, cheerful demeanour and courage, she was a source of great help in keeping the morale of the families at a high level, throughout the period of hostilities.

For exceptional devotion to duty, singular efficiency, tremendous zeal, outstanding professional capability and extraordinary capacity for continued hard work beyond the call of duty, Flight Lieutenant (Mrs.) Padma Bandopadhyay is awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal.

Air Commodore (Mrs.) Padmavathy Bandopadhyay VSM (11528), Med joined Army Medical Corps on 22 Jan 1968 and seconded to the Air Force from the same date. Her career spanning over three decades has been full of achievements. She has held key appointments and demonstrated dedicated hard work and foresight. Academically, she is highly qualified in Aviation Medicine and Physiology. She is also a post-graduate of Defence Services Staff College and holds MSc (Defence Sciences). She has flown as passenger (and for research work) in quite many types of aircraft, which has contributing in enriching her knowledge with regard to the problems faced by aviators.

Her interaction with the flying and being with the aircrew was appreciated during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, and in recognition, she was awarded 'Vishisht Seva Medal' in 1972, and commendation by the Chief of Air Staff in 1982. Well attuned to the adventure, she has been a member of Arctic Team in 89-90 where she collected a lot of data for physiological research.

In the present assignment as Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Central Establishment (AFCME), she has effected substantial improvements in the working conditions of the unit, acquisition of high-tech equipment, as well as in the aesthetics. As chairman of the officers' Mess Committee, she has been able to improve the functioning of the Mess, which has been quite obvious in the recent past. Work services to the tune of Rs. 30 lakhs have been completed/in the pipeline in the Mess and about Rs. 75 lakhs in the unit during the year.

She has displayed exceptional qualities of leadership. She has been able to harness all the resources, which are required for smooth functioning of the AFCME, which is always in the notice being premier institution for aircrew evaluation, service as well as the civil. Her dedication to work, forthrightness, futuristic vision has led to all round improvement in the functioning of the unit.

Air Commodore (Mrs.) Padmavathy Bandopadhyay VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Marshal (Mrs.) Padma Bandopadhyay AVSM VSM (11528) Med was commissioned in the Army Medical Corps on 22 January 1968. An astute aviation medicine specialist she had held coveted appointments as Senior Advisor in Aviation Medicine, Professor of Physiology & Aviation Medicine at Institute of Aviation Medicine, Senior Scientist 'D' at DIPAS. She was appointed as Air Officer Commanding of prestigious Air Force Central Medical Establishment. She held the appointment of Additional Director General Armed Forces Medical Services. Presently she is holding the appointment of DGMS (Air).

Earlier in her formative years she served with distinction as medical officer at Air Force Hospital Halwara and was awarded Vishisht Seva Medal for distinguished services of high order in 1973. She distinguished herself as an excellent Professor of Physiology and Aviation Medicine at IAM and guided many research projects and PG students. She displayed excellent administrative skills as DPMO, WAC and later as AOC, AFCME. At CME with her professionalism and vast experience in training and teaching she brought out significant improvement in quality of the medical evaluation of aircrew. She modernized various departments of AFCME. For her distinguished services of exceptional order, she was awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2002.

As additional DGAFMS, the Air Marshal was instrumental in formulating new promotion policy of AMC officers. As DGMS (Air) she has guided the establishment of Medical Evaluation Centre in Eastern sector for aircrew thereby saving costly man hours of aircrew. The most advanced concept of medical delivery system i.e. Telemedlcine is being established at five Air Force Stations covering North, East, South West with CHAF (B) as a part of first phase with her untiring efforts. A major fillip has been given to acquire much needed state of the art MRI and Cardiac Cath Lab for CHAFB.

With her constant endeavor, fresh diploma courses recognized by paramedical board of Karnataka for Medical Assistants have been started for Medical Assistants. This will not only bring in significant improvement in the medical care at all levels but also benefit the tradesmen post-retirement. The Air Officer has excelled as a towering Professional and has displayed excellent organizational skill as an able administrator during her career spanning over 39 years and contributed to the growth of Medical Services of IAF

Air Marshal (Mrs) P Bandopadhyay AVSM, VSM, PHS has thus rendered distinguished service of most exceptional order.