During the tenure as Command Met Officer, he has enhanced the efficiency of meteorological facilities for the optimum operational flying by sheer initiative and enthusiasm. By arranging continuous Met Training and high lighting effects on flying of seasonal weather hazards through periodic circular, he has made the aircrew more weather conscious. He has spared no efforts to ensure that Met Sections situated at remote corners function at the highest efficiency. The officer's forecasting abilities are of a high order. During last two years, Headquarters Western Air Command organised several exercised and fly pasts involving a large number of aircraft. The officer's forecasts in marginal weather conditions were found to be very accurate and extremely useful for carrying out the exercises with safety. During the last twenty five years of active forecasting the officer has developed a deep insight into the ways of weather.

Throughout his service career, the officer has put in very hard work, and willingly met exacting commitments very creditably, in spite of limited staff and facilities. As a Met Officer at various operational Wings, without caring for his personal comforts, this officer worked long hours for several days at a time to cope with the heavy burden. With the cooperation of aircrews he was responsible for planning nearly 300 Met Reconnaissance flights. These have yielded unique and very valuable high level data and have attracted world-wide attention. He identified himself with the aircrews by flying with them whenever possible and by personal interest in their problems and flight safety. As the first Command Met Officer of HQ Training Command, he was responsible for organising Met Training and Met facilities for flying training for aircrews and Met Officers and men, when the Emergency training plan was at its peak strength. Through standardization of Met précis, training aids and frequent inspections of all training Unit he ensured a high standard of Met training and Met facilities.

The officers has flown over 300 hours in various types of aircraft including an eleven hour marathon chase of a severe cyclonic storm in a research aircraft. He has represented India in International Meteorological Seminar and Expedition.

The superb manner in which Wing Commander Deshpande shouldered the great responsibilities in providing excellent meteorological facilities for optimum operational efforts and succeeded in gaining the confidence of aircrew by his accurate predications is in the best and highest traditions of the Indian Air Force.