Air Commodore Davendra Nath Gupta was commissioned in the Medical Branch of the Indian Air Force in August, 1943. During his services career, he has distinguished himself not only by brilliant academic achievements, but also by outstanding professional competence and administrative abilities. Early in his career, as the medical officer of a Transport Squadron, he was closely associated with para­troopers training and casualty evacuation during the operations against Pakistani Aggression in J&K, 1947. In 1952, he became a Medical Specialist after completing the senior medical officers' course. Later, he obtained his membership of Royal College of Physicians, London and Edinburgh and was awarded the Greig Medal for his outstanding performance in the DTM&H Examination (1957) of Edinburgh University. His sustained efforts and high reputation as a specialist eventually won him the appointment in 1962 of the first Adviser in Medicine in the Indian Air Force. After a successful tenure at the newly acquired No.8 Air Force Hospital, Air Commodore Gupta commanded No. 7 Air Force Hospital from 1963 to 1967. It was during his stewardship that this hospital became one of the finest in the Armed Forces. For his painstaking efforts, high professional ability and great flair for organisation and administration, he was commended by the Chief of the Air Staff. After a six­year tenure with, the Army during which he held the appointment of ADMS, officiating Medical Adviser in the Indian High Commission in the UK and successfully completing the National Defence College Course, he has come back to the Air Force as the Principal Medical Officer of HQ, Western Air Command. As the Principal Medical Officer he inspired in his officers and men a positive participation by planning and effective execution relating to medical services, bringing about an all round improvement.

Throughout, Air Commodore Davendra Nath Gupta has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Walter Joseph Fernandes was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in November, 1943. After completing a tour of operational flying in Burma, he became a flying instructor. He holds the highest flying instructor's category and has held many staff and command appointments with distinction. He has been the Director of Systems Evaluation in Air Headquarters since early 1970. He has been responsible for the success of the Directorate and its contribution to increased effectiveness, economy and efficiency in various spheres of Air Force activity. He has also been responsible for a large number of studies ranging from the evaluation of Air Force effort during Indo-Pak Conflict, 1971, the optimum constitution of a Fighter Squadron the optimisation of resources at flying wings and the rationalisation of organisation and establishments at Air Headquarters and the Commands. These studies have generated a systems approach in the Air Force and led to significant savings in manpower, material and other resources and to an increase in the operational potential of units. As a pioneer flying instructor and Officer Commanding of Flying Instructors School, he was instrumental in the implementation and success of the categorisation scheme which is the basic foundation of the high standards of flying instruction. At operational stations, he ensured very high level of operational efficiency of Squadrons and Signals Units.

Air Commodore Walter Joseph Fernandes has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Peter Dennis Antony Albuquerque was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) Branch of the Indian Air Force in January, 1950. He has held with credit important staff appointments at Air Headquarters and has commanded a Base Repair Depot. Towards the end of 1972, a decision was taken to form the “Faculty of Management Studies and Advanced Technology" for imparting education in management science to senior Technical Officers of the Air Force. The instructional staff consisting of only four members of the directing staff, was provided in the establishment, although a variety of subjects is required to be taught on management science. The task of setting up this Faculty and to commence the first course in April, 1973 was assigned to Group Captain Albuquerque in February. 1973. He set about his task with great vigour and zeal and with the help of his three other officers, was ready to commence the first Senior Technical Officers' Management Course right on schedule in April, 1973. Undaunted by the heavy odds, particularly due to shortage of time and lack of a adequate funds and man­power he cheerfully led his team of officers, and worked for very long hours every day and gave concrete shape to the plans which he so methodically prepared to establish this first ever Air Force institution for modern management training. For this purpose, he had to maintain public relations with other management institutions in the country to draw upon their experience and expertise during this very vital formative period of the Faculty of Management Studies and Advanced Technology. Throughout the period of his tenure as Officer-in-Charge Faculty of Management Studies and Advanced Technology, he has been personally conducting and directing classes, discussions and lectures, and quite often going on tours with the participating officers, for heir project studies at far flung places, to give his personal guidance to them.

Group Captain Peter Dennis Antony Albuquerque has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Kanwar Krishan Ball was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) Branch of the Indian Air Force in January, 1950. He has held a number of important appointments at units, Western Air Command and Air Headquarters and has acquitted himself creditably. He served as the Commanding Officer of a major Base Repair Depot from October, 1971 to June, 1974. During this period, he introduced various modern management concepts which have brought about marked improvement in production. A number of major development programmes, like installation of Dacca Doppler Navigational System, Radio Altimeter for aircraft, and AVSM 1975 production of Antenna Lifting Jacks, Compressor Test Rig and High Voltage Rectifiers for Radar have been successfully completed or progressed. Under his guidance, the Depot also embarked upon the project concerning Material Identification Classification and Inventory Reduction. Commendable results have also been achieved in the field of market research and indigenous substitution of signals spares and components. By his exceptional devotion to duty, sound professional ability and leadership, Group Captain Kanwar Krishan Bali has achieved outstanding results in production which have increase the operational potential of the units.

Group Captain Kanwar Krishan Bali has thus rendered distinguished service an exceptional order.

Group Captain Sanat Kumar Mitra was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in April, 1950. He served with distinction in a number of operational units and has commanded two operational Squadrons. He assumed command of an operational Wing in March, 1973. He has made determined efforts to raise the flying standard of the Wing. All flying tasks allotted to the Station have been accomplished with unqualified success. Under his dynamic leadership and able guidance, the Squadrons of the Wing have maintained a cent per cent categorised state of all aircrew. One of the Squadrons of the Wing won the Chief of the Air Staff's trophy for the best categorised squadrons for two years running i.e., 1972-73 and 1973-74. Except for one successful forced landing due to engine failure, the Station has maintained an accident­free record during his command. Aircraft serviceability of the Wing is of a very high order and it was only during his tenure that the Maintenance Control Centre and Central Repair and Servicing Section were organised and set up. This has resulted in reducing the 'down' time of aircraft due to inspection and rectification and thus considerably enhancing the Station's operational efficiency. Due to shortage of funds works services for preparation of football and hockey fields of his Station were held in abeyance. On a self-help basis, with extreme resourcefulness and initiative, he has successfully cleared up a jungle and has prepared hockey and football fields, all at no cost. This has saved the Government a sum of Rs. 70,000/ In addition to this, he has started, during his tenure, a Co­operative AVSM 1975-76 Store, a nursery school, Maternity and Child Welfare Centre, Gymnasium and Cinema. All these efforts for the well being of the Station personnel have raised their morale to the highest peak.

Throughout, Group Captain, Sanat Kumar Mitra has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Man Mohan Singh was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in January 1951. He has held with distinction, many important flying appointments including the Command of fighter Squadrons and an operational flying station. He was awarded Vir Chakra for his acts of gallantry during the Indo-Pak Conflict, 1971. While commanding a Fighter Station, he set to work with commendable energy and perseverance in the face of numerous difficulties and brought his Squadrons to a high state of offensive preparedness. His dynamic leadership, personal endeavour and persistent efforts, have paid rich dividends. A Pilot of outstanding calibre, his unflagging zeal and understanding have earned an excellent inter­service support and co­operation. By his outstanding leadership in flying, administrative and technical preparations he has brought his Wing to a very high level of combat efficiency.

Throughout, Group Captain Man Mohan Singh has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Wing Commander Partha Kumar Dey was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in January, 1953. He has been on the posted strength of Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment since February, 1973, as the Chief Test Pilot. He has been associated with Flight Testing assignments since 1958. As a test pilot, he has held many important posts such as the Indian Air Force representative Test Pilot with Folland Aircraft Ltd. for the Gnat Development and as Test Pilot with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited for the development of indigenous aircraft. He has participated in the flight test development of a number of prototype such as Gnat, Marut, Kiran, Pushpak, Krishak and Jet Packet. He has made an extremely valuable contribution to the design and development of aircraft and systems within the country. He has flown various types of aircraft which included evaluation of a number of supersonic advanced aircraft of widely varying designs. He has flown 1100 hours on flight testing of indigenous aircraft and equipment. During his tenures as test pilot he has been in a number of difficult and hazardous situations. He has coped successfully with the situations without a single incident of loss or damage to the aircraft and equipment under development. He has successfully commanded two operational squadrons. He has also been on the Directing Staff of the Defence Services Staff College. In the present appointment as the Chief Test Pilot, he has shown extreme devotion to duty and made an outstanding contribution to the aeronautical development in the country in general and flight testing in particular.

Throughout, Wing Commander Partha Kumar Dey has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Wing Commander Inderjit Singh Sandhu was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in November, 1954. He was employed on test flying duties from March, 1968 to May, 1974. During this period, he served as a Test Pilot in different establishments such as Aircraft and Armament Testing Unit, Base Repair Depot and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore and Nasik Divisions, and has served in a wide variety of assignments in test flying. In addition to aircraft evaluation, he has also participated in important development trials and user trials on various armament and avionics to ascertain the suitability of such hardware against the Air Force requirements. His flying standard has been consistently above the average and he has shown great depth of professional knowledge, maturity and balanced judgment in his assessment of various aircraft and systems tested by him. During his tenure at Aircraft and Armament Testing Unit he has actively associated with the development and flight evaluation of the Marut aircraft. During an incident, involving serious systems malfunction, he showed great presence of mind and devotion to duty. In order to save the aircraft and obtain vital information on the type of malfunctioning he stayed with the aircraft and tried to control it beyond the call of duty, sustaining injuries in the process. He abandoned the aircraft only when he had tried all available means to save it and has obtained information on the fault which later enabled remedial action. In his tenure at a Base Repair Depot, he tested wide variety of aircraft and brought to bear his excellent professional capabilities on improving the performance standards of the aircraft being delivered from the depot. During this tenure, he flew 400 hours in testing a wide variety of aircraft. He was posted to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore, from January, 1971 to April, 1972. During this tenure he participated in development as well as production of all aircraft designed and produced at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. He flew a total of 327 test flying hours during this short period. He was then posted to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Nasik Division from May, 1972 to May 1974. During this time he was one of the only two pilots who carried out all production and testing requirements. Throughout, Wing Commander Inderjit Singh Sandhu has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.