Squadron Leader Pradeep Kumar Tayal has been engaged in test flying duties at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited since October, 1977. On the 21st April, 1983, he was faced with hydraulic failure in Ajeet aircraft, which prevented his nose undercarriage from lowering. During his attempts to lower the undercarriage, his engine also got switched off. He displayed great courage and skill in handling this emergency and was able to restart the engine successfully and lower the undercarriage after considerable struggle. This resulted in a safe landing and saving of an aircraft.

Squadron Leader Pradeep Kumar Tayal thus displayed exceptional courage, coolness and presence of mind, expert professionalism and devotion to duty of a high order.

Wing Commander Viswanathan Natarajan was one of the four Mi-8 pilots in the IAF contingent of the IIIrd Indian Arctic Expeditions. On the 28th December, 1983, he was assigned to transfer heavy construction and other material from the ship to the base camp. The terrain was unknown and forbidding. The unpredictable adverse weather with extremely strong surface winds and persistent low visibility, made the helicopter operation extremely difficult. All these hazards and the non-availability of other helicopters did not deter Wing Commander Natarajan. He met all the flying commitments by flying 61:30 hours in 212 sorties. It was due to his persistent efforts that the availability of heavy construction material was ensured and the Army engineers were able to complete the construction of protp station in time.

Wing Commander Viswanathan Natarajan displayed indomitable courage, determination and devotion to duty of a high order.

Sergeant Shyam Behari Gupta was a technical member of the Air Force team of the Third Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica. The success of the mission to a large extent was dependent upon the logistics support provided by the only Mi-8 helicopter available, as the other Mi-8 helicopter was not available for operation. Being the senior most technical tradesman Sergeant Gupta, besides undertaking his own task of supervising the maintenance activities, worked relentlessly with other fellow technician and also assisted the aircrew in loading/unloading of the helicopter. On the 27th December 1983, the Mi-8 helicopter, in which he was traveling met with an accident and crashed into cold Antarctica waters. The helicopter was sinking fast and the entire crew of the helicopter, including Sergeant Gupta were trapped inside. Faced with a catastrophic situation, Sergeant Gupta displaying great presence of mind and courage, continued to find a way out of helicopter in order to save the lives of the crew members. With the help of Flt. Lt. Rai, he managed to break open a passage through the cockpit wall and was instrumental in saving the lives of the crew members.

Sergeant Shyam Behari Gupta thus displayed undaunted courage, initiative and devotion to duty of a high order.

On the 29th February 1984, Wing Commander Gajanan Damodar Shintre was detailed for general handling sortie with Flt. Lt. PV Choudhari. On being informed that the aircraft had developed some serious trouble, Wg Cdr Shintre promptly took over the controls as the Captain of the aircraft. Assessing the situation he noticed that he was at a height of 3700 ft. He was left with two options to abandon the aircraft or to attempt a force landing. He gallantly elected to force land rather than abandon the aircraft, even though his decision might have led to grave injuries to himself and his crew. Thereafter he executed a perfect forced landing mustering all his experience and skill at a very critical juncture and causing minimum damage to the aircraft. Wing Commander Gajanan Damodar Shintre thus displayed conspicuous courage, professional skill and devotion to duty of high order.

Squadron Leader Suresh Haribhav Apte has been engaged in test flying duties at HAL Bangalore complex since November, 1976. On the 18th May, 1984, Sqn Ldr Apte experienced an engine failure on his HPT-32 prototype aircraft due to fuel supply problems. He was at a height of 1000 feet which was barely sufficient to make a forced landing at the airfield. However, with great skill and cool courage he made a 90 degree turn at 50 ft. altitude and made a perfect landing on the runway.

Squadron Leader Suresh Haribhav Apte thus displayed undaunted courage, determination and devotion to duty of a high order.

Group Captain Krishan Kumar Sangar, Flying (Pilot), is Commanding a Helicopter Unit since October, 1981. He was appointed Mi-8 Task Force Commander during an operational exercise somewhere in the Northern Sector. A variety of loads some of which had never been airlifted before, had to be dropped by Helicopters. The operations had to be carried out in an extremely hostile, snow bound terrain under marginal weather conditions. During this Operation, Group Captain Sangar achieved many firsts to his credit and was able to drop rations and stores at places located at elevation higher than 17,000 ft. On the 3rd June, 1984, while dropping an Arctic Hut at a dropping Zone, he had to fly his aircraft to its absolute limits to avoid any damage to the hut. This was possible due to his professional skill and sound understanding of the aircraft.

Group Captain Krishan Kumar Sangar thus displayed courage, professional competence, determination and devotion to duty of a high order.

Wing Commander Tajinder Pal Singh Chhatwal was selected to undertake an important task of air maintaining troops at very high altitude. In view of the ever changing scenario of the exercise and great urgency of supplies, Wing Commander T. S. Chhatwal commenced the mission immediately. The precision drops carried out by him speak of his professional competence. Later due to subsequent developments, the camp had to be shifted to a steep slope where the stock of supplies turned out to be very critical. Wing Commander Chhatwal had to fly 5-10 metres above the ground. Undeterred, on 25th July 1984, he continued his mission and in all 17 tons of load was free dropped at the new Camp. In another remarkable feat, Wing Commander Chhatwal flew the helicopter at altitudes higher than 5.7 kms for over an hour, while carrying out the task of filming. He flew 42 sorties in one single day airlifting more than 23 tons of load to the forward posts.

Wing Commander Tajinder Pal Singh Chhatwal thus exhibited professional competence, acumen, courage and devotion to duty of high order.

Corporal Charivukalalyil Govindan Soman, Airframe Fitter volunteered to be a member of a Technical Team required to retrieve two Cheetah Helicopters which has force landed at an elevation of 18000 feet during an air maintenance mission. The operation involved imaginative planning and clock work like precision in dismantling, peeking and hooking of loads under the helicopters. When the retrieval operations were launched Corporal Soman was only Airframe Fitter left in the team to carry out dismantling of complete helicopters at the locations. Fully aware of the heavy responsibility he worked for hours unmindful of the personal discomfort and the health hazard. He finally achieved four days task in only one and a half days. At the base camp also he was instrumental in timely rectification of snags on a number of helicopters and displayed exemplary zeal and enthusiasm throughout the period.

On the 31st July, 1984, he was redeployed to retrieve the second helicopter. However, due to an incident the party was left at very high altitude, without the shelter or food. Corporal Soman took initiative to walk to the nearest Army Camp which involved three hours of walking in the face of great danger of slipping into a crevace. When one of the colleagues fell into a crevace he stepped ahead and saved his life.

Corporal Charivukalalyil Govindan Soman thus displayed dedication, courage, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.