Group Captain Karori Lal Bhatia (1605) commanded No.12 Squadron from the early days of the Operations in Kashmir. As a Commanding Officer of the Transport Squadron, he shouldered the heavy responsibility of training his pilots for operations in the mountainous terrain of Kashmir, landing and taking off from hastily prepared airstrips and flying in vital supplies of rations, stores and ammunition to the besieged garrison located in places like Poonch etc.

He always displayed the highest order of leadership, and thus was an example to all his Squadron Pilots. He exhibited extraordinary courage and exemplary devotion to duty when his aircraft was damaged by enemy fire while landing at Poonch and by his prompt action and “Sangfroid” saved the lives of the other members of the aircrew and passengers in the damaged aircraft.

For the outstanding services rendered by him during the Kashmir Operations, he was awarded the Vir Chakra.