Wing Commander Kumarapalayam Ramasubramaniam Natarajan was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) Branch of the Indian Air Force in February, 1952. He was posted as Senior Technical Staff Officer of Headquarters Eastern Air Command in January, 1970. From February, 1971 he has been functioning as Command Engineering Officer responsible for maintenance of all aircraft and airborne equipments including the provisioning responsibilities associated with it. There was need for streamlining and systematizing the modus operand so that timely action was initiated to ensure that spares were produced in a scientific manner. There was also the need for rationalising the second­line servicing aspects to ensure optimum efficiency. He infused a sense of urgency and understanding of the problem to the various units concerned and his efforts resulted in a high degree of serviceability of aircraft during the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971.

Throughout, Wing Commander Kumarapalayam Ramasubramaniam Natarajan displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Group Captain Kumarapalayam Ramasubramanyam Natarajan was commissioned in 1952. He is a graduate of the Cranfield Institute of Technology and has held, with distinction, a number of important posts at flying stations, Base Repair Depots,

Command and Air Headquarters. In May, 1976, he was posted as the Senior Maintenance Staff Officer 1 (Operational) Group. The general state of serviceability in the Group, and the quality of maintenance management needed distinct improvement. His initial efforts to raise the level of the standard of maintenance in general and maintenance safety in particular led, within two years, to a creditable all round improvement in maintenance. Under his able guidance, a number of units in the Group were able to achieve 100 percent serviceability which is an outstanding achievement in the Air Force. He also brought down considerably the maintenance induced accident rate which he accomplished because of his clear understanding of the rooted ills that caused maintenance errors and lapses.

Group Captain Natarajan has all along displayed deep professional knowledge, an analytical approach to maintenance problems and ability to manage available resources to yield maximum results. He has enthusiastically shouldered every responsibility entrusted to him and has set an example to his colleagues by his dedicated hard work, disregarding his personal comfort. As the Senior Maintenance Staff Officer, he has provided the necessary dynamic leadership and sound professional direction. By his personal participation in all maintenance activities, he has gained the confidence of the units and has inspired them to achieve the highest standards of maintenance safety and discipline. The high serviceability state of aircraft and associated equipment have contributed significantly to the operational preparedness of the Group.

Group Captain Kumarapalayam Ramasubramanyam Natarajan has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.