Squadron Leader Narayana Kestur Sastry joined the Indian Air Force as an airman in November, 1943. With meritorious noncommissioned service of over 15 ears behind him, he was commissioned in the Technical/ Signals branch in January, 1963. During his service, he has served as an Air Signaller in a transport squaron, Air Headquarters Communications Squadron and Aircrew Examination Board. His tenure in a transport squadron involved flying to the far flung airfields and dropping zones in Kashmir and Ladakh, over very inhopsitable terrain. During his service in the Air Headquarters Communications Squadron, he had the privilege of being a crew member on numerous imporant flights. In the Aircrew Examining Board, he was responsible for judging the efficiency standards of the Air Signallers throughout the Air Force, for which task he was eminently suitable, for having set the highest standards himself. In the performance of his duties as an Air Signaller in various units, he has logged a otal of 7325 hours of flying, which is a noteworthy achieveme nt. During the operations in December, 1971, he was attached to one of the important forward operational bases of the Air Force. He served there is a member of a team responsible for conducting certain special operations of great significance to the Air Force. He worked with unremitting zeal which enabled the team to achieve the aims of the special operation in full measure.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Narayana Kestur Sastry displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.