Squadron Leader Jagjit Singh Sandhawalia has been the Squadron Engineering Officer of one of our heavy transport squadron in J&K area since April, 1961. In spite of the shortage of manpower and limited resources this officer successfully organized the maintenance facilities for the newly acquired aircraft within a very short time. By his professional skill, devotion to duty and organizing ability he succeeded in achieving and maintaining a high rate of serviceability.

On a number of occasions when the aircraft were stranded at forward airfields, away form base and required engine changes or repairs of Airframe component, he through his leadership and determination got the aircraft airworthy in the shortest possible time. Since the outbreak of hostilities in October 1962, this officer through his untiring efforts brought the serviceability rate of aircraft to a new high figure of 90 percent. But for the commendable effort on the part of Squadron Leader Sandhawalia, it might not have been possible to keep up the schedule of all the vital airlift commitments assigned to them

Throughout the period, this officer has rendered distinguished service of a high order.

Air Marshal Jagjit Singh Sandhanwalia (3810) was commissioned in the Technical Branch of the Indian Air Force in January, 1950. He has held a wide variety of Command and Staff assignments during his long and meritorious service in the Air Force and has distinguished himself not only by professional competence but also by outstanding administrative ability.

The important Staff/Command appointments held by him include that of Chief Technical Officer of two major wings, Assistant Air Attaché USSR, Commanding Officer of Central Servicing Development Organisation and of a Base Repair Depot, Senior Maintenance Staff Officer of two commands and Project Director of Radar and Communication Project Office.

During his command of Central Servicing and Development Organisation the servicing and maintenance schedules were rationalized for various types of aircraft in use. The 2nd line servicing cycle of Avro 748 was successfully extended from a periodicity of 125 hours to 750 hours. This resulted in saving considerable number of man hours and increasing availability of aircraft. Planned servicing schedules were drawn up and made applicable for various types of aircraft.

After being trained for the 1st and 2nd line Maintenance of AN-12 aircraft in USSR, he was specially assigned the task of setting up such facilities in India. Later as Officer Commanding of the BRD, he improved upon the standard of Maintenance practices, changed over to possible indigenous substitutes and ensured optimum utilization of available technical facilities/equipment in the Depot, as a result of which the ferrying of aircraft to USSR and back for Maintenance of aircraft was reduced to the barest minimum, thereby saving substantial amount of foreign exchange.

As Senior Maintenance Staff Officer of two Commands, he achieved substantial qualitative improvements in the Maintenance standards. He was extremely successful in bringing about significant changes in scientific and methodical manner, covering various aspects of modern technology and logistics support.

Presently, Air Marshal Sandhanwalia is serving as Project Director of Radar and Communication Project Organisation and has achieved the rare distinction in planning, installation and commissioning of tropo, microwave and radar facilities, for Air Defence Ground Environment system. He has been very successful in achieving a high state of maintenance of all installations, including these located at far flung, remote and inaccessible mountainous terrain.

Air Marshal Jagjit Singh Sandhanwalia has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.