On the 25th November, 1982, Flight Lieutenant Sumer Chand Gaur (14118) AE (M)/ Air was detailed as the Flight Engineer on board a Packet aircraft to carry out “Circuits and Landing” exercise at night. In the sortie, on the sixth circuit, the positive lock down green indication for the nose wheel gear did not come on when the undercarriage lever was selected down. The officer immediately took appropriate steps to handle the emergency. He, on visual check of the nose wheel, found that the nose gear was not fully extended and ground locking pin holes were not aligned. All laid down emergency procedures carried out to lower the under-carriage to extend failed. With the sound knowledge and background of the system, the officer envisaged that the only alternative was to disconnect the nose actuator and allow the nose under carriage to extend fully, whereby it would be possible to insert nose locking pin thus ensuring a safe landing. This, however, required walking into open nose wheel bay and undoing the actuator jack bolts, aligning ground locking pin holes and inserting the ground locking pin. He undertook this task at grave personal risk and successfully completed it. The aircraft later carried out a safe landing.

Flight Lieutenant Sumer Chand Gaur thus displayed courage and high order of professional competence.

Group Captain Sumer Chand Gaur SC (14118) AE (L) was commissioned in the IAF on 07 Jul 75. During his 25 years of distinguished career he has served in a number of operational transport and helicopter squadrons. He has also been Senior Technical Officer (STO) at the Basic Flying Training School (BFTS) and Commanding Officer of a Repair and Salvage Unit. As STO, BFTS, he was commended by the Chief of the Air Staff for ensuring high serviceability of HPT-32 aircraft. He was awarded Sharuya Chakra in 1984, for display of a high order of professionalism and courage during an in-flight emergency. Gp Capt Gaur has been the Chief Engineering Officer at Air Force Station, Bidar since 01 Sep 97. As C Eng O of this very important and very busy flying establishment, he has displayed a high degree of maturity, tact and technical expertise. His skilful handling of both men and material resulted in a steady improvement of aircraft serviceability, which rose from 40-50% in 1997 to 80-90% by end of 1998. This trend has continued to date. By personal example he established a culture of hard work and professionalism. On many occasions he was called upon to ensure servicing or rectification of unusually large number of Kiran aircraft in a limited time frame. By sheer hard work, close supervision and meticulous planning he successfully met such challenges. By innovation and perseverance he successfully modified the smoke emission system of the Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team Kiran MK-II aircraft to greatly enhance the visual effect. He also ensured a qualitative improvement in the Ground and Test Equipment of the aircraft. He was also instrumental in bringing about substantial savings by ensuring skilful retrieval or rectification of many expensive aircraft components.

For this dynamic leadership, professionalism and distinguish service of a high order, the Hon'ble President is please to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Group Captain Sumer Chand Gaur SC.