On the 15th September, 1970, a fire broke out in the stores section of a Helicopter Unit. Sergeant Kailash Chander Sharma, the unit Warrant Officer, immediately raised alarm and rushed to the scene of fire carrying two fire extinguishers. He found that the fire was spreading and that it could endanger the aircraft store rooms and the hangar in which the aircraft were parked. He fought the fire single handed, until reinforcement arrived. The flames were fierce and he suffered severe burns on his body. Though not a trained fire fighter, he continued fighting the fire with complete disregard to his personal safety, until overcome by heat, smoke and fumes, he collapsed. He was rescued by 229133 Corporal Tilak Raj Sharma. Sergeant Kailash Chander Sharma's efforts succeeded in localizing the fire to only two rooms and enabled the two aircraft in the hangar and other valuable stores to be shifted to a place of safety.

On the 15th September, 1970 a fire broke out in the stores section of a Helicopter Unit. On hearing this Corporal Tilak Raj Sharma immediately ran to the scene of the fire. After rescuing Sergeant Kailash Chander Sharma, who had collapsed due to heat, smoke and fumes, he started fighting the fire. Corporal Sharma, though not a trained fire fighter, continued fighting the fire in complete disregard of his personal safety. He suffered severe burns on his body and finally collapsed, where upon he was rescued by other personnel engaged in fighting the fire. Corporal Tilak Raj Sharma's efforts helped in localizing the fire to only two rooms. Two aircraft and other valuable stores were saved.

In this action, Corporal Tilak Raj Sharma displayed courage, determination and initiative of a high order.

On the 15th September, 1970, a fire broke out in the stores section of a helicopter unit. On hearing that the unit stores were on fire, NC (E) Yamapalla Papa Rao, Cook immediately rushed to the scene of the fire carrying two fire extinguishers. He found that the fire had spread and was endangering the safety of the adjacent store rooms and the hangar in which the two aircrafts were parked. He immediately started fighting with the fire. Though the flames were fierce and he suffered sever burns on his body, NC (E) Yamapalla Papa Rao continued fighting the fire with complete disregard to his personal safety until the regular fighting party took over. NC (E) Yamapalla Papa Rao's efforts help to localize the fire to only two rooms and enabled two aircrafts and other valuable stores to be shifted to a place of safety.

In this section, NC (E) Yamapalla Papa Rao displayed courage, initiative and determination.

During the conflict with Pakistan in December, 1971, Squadron Leader Gopal Krishan Arora was attached to a surface to Air Guided Weapons Squadron, for duties as a controller for guiding the Squadron to engage enemy aircraft. He set up the guided weapons Command Post in one day and fully interacted it with the local Air Defense system. He remained at his post throughout and efficiently guided the Squadron to engage any intruding enemy aircraft. His efforts culminated in the successful engagement of and enemy bomber aircraft while it was raiding the airfield. While still on duty he inadvertently stepped on a hidden explosive which had been dropped during an enemy raid and was killed.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Gopal Krishan Arora displayed courage and devotion to duty of a high order.

On the night of 8th/9th December, 1971, one of our forward airfields was subjected to heavy bombing and straffing by enemy aircraft, resulting in the fire in the explosive storage. The fire spread at a fast rate and the whole dispersal area was lit. The pens and the buildings also became visible and were exposed to danger of enemy air attacks. In the meantime, the second air raid siren was also sounded. Unmindful of the risk involved Corporal Sarmukh Singh immediately volunteered to assist in putting out the fire. The task was accomplished successfully and the ammunition dump and dispersal were saved from the next enemy air raid.

In this action, Corporal Sarmukh Singh displayed commendable courage and devotion to duty.

On the night of 8th /9th December, 1971, one of our forward airfields was subjected to heavy bombing and staffing by enemy aircraft, resulting in the fire in the Rocket Dump. The fire spread at a fast rate and the whole dispersal area was lit. The pens and the buildings also became visible and were exposed to danger of enemy air attacks. In the meantime, the second air raid siren was also sounded. Unmindful of the risk involved, Leading Aircraftsman Omkar Singh immediately volunteered to assist in putting out the fire. The task was accomplished successfully and the ammunition dump and dispersal were saved from the next enemy air raid.

In this action, Leading Aircraftsman Omkar Singh displayed commendable courage and devotion to duty.

During the Indo-Pak Conflict of December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Virsa Singh Mall was employed as Technical Officer of a Fighter Bomber Squadron at one of our forward airfields. With his sustained hard work he ensured maximum serviceability and quick turn around of aircraft for operational requirements.

During the nights of the 9th and 10th December, 1971, the airfield was attacked by enemy aircraft thrice in quick succession and the bombs fell in the dispersal area; setting fire to the armament stores lying in a bunker and lighting up of the entire dispersal area. Though the air raid siren for the next attack was on, he with the help of few airmen extinguished the fire by pulling out the burning boxes and throwing loose earth over them thus saved the armament dump from destruction, in complete disregard to his personal safety.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Virsa Singh Mall displayed courage, leadership and devotion to duty of a high order.

Shri Apar Singh Cheema was Assistant Station Master at Gurdaspur Railway Station during Indo-Pak conflict of December, 1971. He was made responsible to coordinate low level reporting system in the area. Under his able guidance, 110 observation reports were sent between 3rd and 17th December, 1971. 90% of these reports were passed to the Control Centre within thirty seconds, twenty one of these were made at night and twelve out of these twenty one materialized into actual air raid over Pathankot. It was because of his alertness and dedication that Pathankot got timely warning of air raids.

On 12th December, 1971, Gurdaspur Railway Station was heavily bombed by five Sabre aircraft. Despite the bombing, Shri Apar Singh Cheema remained at his post and kept relaying the information to the Control Center.

On the 13th December, 1971, at about 1410 hours, he informed the Control Center that four enemy aircraft had been seen passing by. Immediately two aircraft were sent for interception and thus the enemy aircraft were prevented from continuing their attack on Gurdaspur.

Throughout, Shri Apar Singh Cheema displayed courage and devotion to duty of a high order.