Wing Commander Shyam Chander Mehra (4290) Technical/Signals was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 26th February 1952.

After training at the Air Force Technical College, he has been employed in various operational units of the Indian Air Force. He has also been Commanding Officer of the Technical Wing of a Wireless Experimental Centre. At present he is serving in a Surface to Air Guided Weapon Unit, where he has been in Command since March 1969.

During October, 1969, a major fault was detected in the auto-pilot units of the weapon with which Wing Commander Mehra's unit is equipped. He successfully analysed the problem and carried out the necessary repair and testing of this unit in respect of all weapons held. This was a precision job involving careful handling of delicate equipment. It entailed work round the clock, as any delay would have set-back the operational readiness of the units. His initiatives finally resulted in saving a large amount of foreign exchange.

Throughout his career, Wing Commander Mehra has displayed a high degree of imagination, intelligence and practical ability. He is a rare combination of an efficient Engineer and a skillful Manager. His meticulous planning and foresight have paid dividends in saving valuable foreign exchange and, at the same time, improving the technical ability of our own personnel.

Air Commodore Shyam Chand Mehra was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 26th February, 1952. He has been employed in various operational units of the Indian Air Force. For his distinguished work in enhancing the operational capabilities of SAM system in 1971-72 he had been awarded Vishisht Seva Medal. As Chief Instructor at a Guided Weapons Training Institute he did a commendable job in organising and imparting effective training in a short period. On completion of a course in the USSR on a newly included Surface to Air Guided Weapons system he was graded exceptional “Chief Engineer". He organised the complete training syllabus of this new system and successfully conducted two courses without the USSR assistance. The standard of training was later highly appreciated by a team of Russian specialists.

As Command Signals Officer of Western Air Command, since March 1981 he has streamlined the existing communications, navigational aids and radar systems to a stage of very high efficiency for operational use. He was also assigned the additional responsibilities of maintenance of ground support equipment and armament facilities, which he discharged excellently.

Throughout his long career the Air Officer had displayed a very high degree of dedication and technical ability. His untiring efforts have improved technical ability of personnel, increased serviceability of the sophisticated equipment and by innovation saved foreign exchange.

Air Commodore Shyam Chand Mehra has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.