Flight Lieutenant Mohammed Sultan Sherrufudeen was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) Branch of the Indian Air Force in April, 1964. He was serving as an engineering officer in an Air OP unit prior to and during the December, 1971 war. The unit was a hybrid composite of Helicopter and Krishak aircraft. When the aircraft were deployed for operations at places five to six hundred kilometers from the squadron maintenance base, maintaining these aircraft became very difficult. Unde terred, Flight Lieutenant Sherrufudeen displayed outstanding initiative and drive by redesigning and locally fabricating all the tools and test equipment required to permit the detached aircraft to be self sufficient upto the 25 hours servicing stage. He also reorganized the servicing base so that the 100 hours servicing of Helicopters could be completed in half the normal time.

Throughout the operations, Flight Lieutenant Mohammed Sultan Sherrufudeen visited all the Air Observation Post Flights at their forward bases and with consistent hard work, carried on-the-spot repairs to the damaged aircraft. It was primarily due to his untiring efforts that the unit was able to provide maximum support to Army formations throughout the period of the conflict.

By his initiative, extreme devotion to duty, high professional knowledge and consistent hard work, Flight Lieutenant Mohammed Sultan Sherrufudeen maintained a very high rate of aircraft serviceability against heavy odds. For distinguished service rendered of a high order, he is awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal.