Group Captain George Kanisht Kumar John has been in command of an operational wing since October, 1962. He has shown commendable initiative and ability in inspiring his Squadron personnel to a high degree of combat effectiveness.

During the fighting with Pakistan his Wing, which is one of the front line units in the Punjab, was called upon to undertake offensive operations against the enemy. These comprised fighter sweeps, armed reconnaissance, close support and escort for bomber besides combat air patrols over the airfield itself, all of which were successfully carried out by his units located at his Wing.

On 7th September, 1965, Pakistan Air Force planes raided the airfield for the first time and they continued without any let up during the period of hostilities. Although the number of bombers that came over on each raid was small, the airfield had more than one raid alerts on most of the nights. Added to the nuisance of the air raids, which imposed numerous interruptions on the servicing activity, was the harassment of the Pakistani snipers who had been para dropped near the airfield on the nights of 7th and 9th September with the specific aim of breaking into and carrying out sabotage to our aircraft and installations. His ground defence measures foiled the enemy plans. Work on the unit went on with undiminished vigour, enemy interference notwithstanding. Unserviceable and damaged aircraft were serviced during the night and aircraft flown on offensive missions the next morning. Credit for the unceasing activity in the Station in spite of continued air raids in a large measure, due to the personal example of a very high sense of duty, steadfastness of purpose and leadership set by Group Captain John.

By the time Group Captain Walter Vernon Alexander Lloyd was appointed Officer Commanding of an operational Wing in Punjab, trouble from the infiltrators had already erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir area. Aware of the imminence of a full-fledged war, Gp. Capt. Lloyd immediately set about making preparations for it. In the limited time available he instituted passive air defence measures and spurred his officers and men to greater effort towards improving the serviceability of aircraft and operational preparedness of the unit. As a result his Station was ready to meet the challenge when Pakistan entered the arena openly as an aggressor.

One of the front line wings which menaced Pakistani activity in the area of Sialkot and Lahore, Gp. Capt. Lloyd's Wing was subjected to continuous nigh bombing raids and the enemy paratroopers' forage, work on the aircraft and airfield went on with unabated vigour. An index of the unflagging zeal of the air and ground crew and of the courage and fortitude is the steadily increasing number of sorties the Station was able to mount. There were 29 sorties on the 7th September, the day following the first Pakistani night raid, 74 on 11th and 77 on the 22nd September, 1965.

Although Gp. Capt. Lloyd had been in Command only a few days before the declaration of hostilities, he imbued, by personal example everyone in his Station with courage, determination, confidence in the justness of our cause and a sense of selflessness and purpose.