Squadron Leader Goplasamudram Mahadevan Viswanathan was commissioned in the Air Force in December, 1964. He has been performing the duties of a flight commander in a front line supersonic fighter Squadron since July, 1976.

He has to his credit 1980 hours of flying on various types of aircraft, of these 1625 hours are on jet fighters. He has maintained an accident-free flying record and it is for this unblemished performance that the he was commended by Chief of the Air Staff on the 26th January, 1975.

On the 16th March, 1978, at about 1100 hours while Squadron Leader Viswanathan was performing the duties of Senior Flying Supervisor in the Air Traffic at a Station, a fighter pilot was coming in for a landing after his training sortie. A bird hit the aircraft at a very low height just a few second before landing. The young pilot decided to eject and transmitted his intentions on the Radio telephone. Squadron Leader Viswanathan, who was fully attentive, realised that the aircraft was at too low a height to permit a safe ejection. Without loosing even a fraction of a second, he advised the pilot to force land straight ahead and thereafter guided him on Radio telephone about the forced landing. His alertness on duty and sound judgment helped in saving the valuable life of a young pilot as well as a valuable aircraft.

Squadron Leader Gopalasamudram Maha devan Viswanathan thus displayed exemplary professional competence and devotion to duty of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore GM Vishwanathan, VM was commissioned as a fighter pilot on 25 Dec 64. The Air officer is a very experienced combat pilot with more than 4000 hours of accident free flying on single engined combat aircraft. During his career he has commanded a fighter squadron, a modern high-performance air defence radar unit and an all important fighter support airbase in the Kashmir valley.

As Air Officer Commanding of a major fighter base since Oct 93 he systematically analysed the role his airbase has to play during hostilities and peacetime. Directorate of Air Staff Inspection during their inspection assessed the Base and all the lodger units as highly satisfactory. The Base has flown/ recovered more than 10,000 sorties. The Base being nodal point for distribution of armament stores, was able to effect transfer of large quantity of munitions without any incident.

Air Commodore Vishwanathan also undertook the onerous task of constructing an Air Force School building with non­public funds to improve the educational facilities at the station.

Air Commodore GM Vishwanathan, VM has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.