Air Commodore Manmohan Singh Vasudeva was detailed to take over the Air Force Cell at the Indian Peace Keeping Force HQ, Madras. Air Cmde Vasudeva did a commendable job in setting up and organising the Air Force Cell within a short period and making it fully operational, inspite of shortage of manpower and insufficient support services available to him.

With considerable diligence and initiative, he successfully created the requisite infrastructure and support services at Jaffna, Trincomalee, Vavuniya and Batticaloa, for operation of transport aircraft, Pratap helicopters and Akbar armed helicopters in support of the IPKF in Sri Lanka. These timely arrangements greatly facilitated the massive induction of troops, tanks and associated fighting equipment of the Indian Army into Sri Lanka.

Air Cmde Vasudeva was responsible for planning and co-ordination of offensive missions by Akbar and missile carrying helicopter and special heliborne missions by Pratap helicopters in support of the IPKF fighting in inhospitable and difficult terrain in Sri Lanka. The success of all the cordon and search operations conducted by the IPKF can be attributed to the timely heli-lift support by Pratap helicopter and the fire cover provided by Akbars and missile carrying helicopters missions, which were personally planned and coordinated by Air Cmde Vasudeva. The battle tested operating procedures worked out by him for offensive missions of helicopter have contributed in achieving maximum mission success, without losing any helicopter or aircraft to the militants' action.

Air Commodore Manmohan Singh Vasudeva, VM thus, rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order during IPKF operation in Sri Lanka.