Squadron Leader Mohinder Singh Khalsa has been a Flight Commander of one of our Transport Squadrons in J and K area since April , 1962. This is his third operational assignment in this area. During the recent Chinese hostilities, he undertook a number of reconnaissance missions in forward areas in the face of enemy fir. When our troops were retreating from Daulat Beg oldi, he was one of the pilots who successfully dropped essential winter clothing and foodstuffs to them. He has flown about 900 operational hours to which more than 500 hours were during the period April - December 1962.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Khalsa has displayed professional skill, courage and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Bernard Fernandes has been functioning as a Navigation Leader in one of our transport squadrons in J & K area since 1st April 1961. He was responsible for bringing up to operational standards all the junior navigators of the squadron. He did this in record time and it paid rich dividends in the operations in Ladakh in October November 1962.

During the period of actual hostilities he personally led many sorties to reconnoiter new advanced landing grounds and dropping zones as well as to obtain information relating to the invading Chinese forces. On one occasion after one of his own sorties for airlifting AMX tanks Squadron Leader Fernandes, guided another aircraft ot execute a safe landing on the unprepared surface of Chushul aerodrome whose runway had been damaged..

Throughout, Squadron Leader Fernandes displayed initiative, courage and professional skill in the best traditions of the Air Force.

Squadron Leader Kaup Mohandas Kamath is a very experienced transport pilot. In addition to his normal duties as a Squadron Commander, he has also acted as an instructor and an examinaer. In the former capacity he has trained almost all the pilots now posted to NO.6 Wing and in the latter he examined more than fifteen Dakota crews in one year. He cheerfully undertook the latter duty in addition to his normal assignment.

Squadron Leader Kamath has shown exceptional devotion to duty and leadership of a high order.

Squadron Leader Samuel Venkatarao was a navigator of a detachment which was detailed for famine relief operations under very adverse weather conditions in the Mizo Hills area in 1960. He contributed greatly towards successful air-drops of more than 300 tons of food at various difficult dropping zones in that area. In October 1961, he was mainly responsible for setting up a detachment at Gauhati at a very short notice. With an average of two Dakotas a day, he ensured the delivery of 500 tons of supplies to the forward post at Towang in one month. The success of the detachment was due to his ingenuity, resourcefulness and ceaseless efforts. He has so far flown over 5730 hours including about 1000 hours by night. He is also an experienced and qualified Navigation instructor and has about 2000 hours of instructional flying to his credit.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Samuel Venkatarao has shown courage, organizational ability and professional skill.

Squadron Leader Iype Kovoor was serving in a Transport Squadron operating in NEFA area in 1962. When the Chinese forces attacked one of the forward posts of the Assam Rifles, our troops had to withdraw and required food and arms urgently. The terrain was unmapped and the weather was wrought and gusty. Despite these hazards, Squadron Leader Kovoor volunteered to air drop the vital supplies to our troops and did so successfully, But for this timely help, they would have been in a difficult situation.

Squadron Leader Kovoor displayed courage and devotion to duty of a high order.

Squadron Leader Madan Mohan Dutt has been operating with a transport squadron in J & K Area since May, 1961. In October 1962, when the Chinese forces surrounded our forward post at Galwan in Ladakh, the only means of transport of supplies to tis post was by air. Squadron Leader Dutt, with his vast experience of this terrain, volunteered to navigate the first air-drop sortie. The dropping zone was in a very narrow and dangerous area. In spite of this and unfavourable weather conditions, he located the dropping zone and skillfully carried out cent percent successful drops. He undertook many such sorties and set a fine example to his aircrew.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Dutt has displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

Squadron Leader Arjan Dev Ralli has been engaged in transport support operations in J & K area since October 1961. During his operational tours he has executed nearly 950 landings at forward airfields and advanced landing grounds.

He has utilized his experience in formulating data for the safe operation of different types of aircraft and has impaired flying instruction to innumerable pilots on these machines. This has supplemented considerably the operational aircrew strength of the Air Force and contributed in large measure ot the capacity of the transport squadrons.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Ralli has displayed courage determination and professional skill of a high order.

Squadron Leader Dalip Wikram Chauhan has been engaged in air-transport operations in J & K area since 13th May 1961. During the Chinese aggression on our northern borders, he displayed great courage and devotion to duty in carrying out reconnaissance missions of areas held by the enemy. Squadron leader Chauhan was also assigned the task of airlifting AMX tanks to Chushul. The first 400 yards of the runway at Chushul had been rendered unserviceable and he would have been well justified in returning to the base. Realizing the importance of his mission, he took a calculated risk and decided to land his aircraft thus setting a fine example to other aircrews.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Chauhan has displayed courage, determination and professional, skill of a high order.

Squadron Leader Rishi Prakash Vasisht was in NEFA and J & K areas for a period of seven years. On 14th March, 1963, he was detailed for a supply dropping mission in an An-12 transport aircraft in Ladakh area. While flying, he experienced tremendous strain on the flying controls, owing, as was discovered later, to the snapping of the elevator train cable. The aircraft nosed up violently and started to climb with a dangerous drop in airspeed. At this moment, Squadron Leader Vasisht displayed a commendable sense of airmanship and presence of mind in assessing the cause accurately and taking necessary corrective measures, saving the aircraft and bringing its crew to safety.

Squadron Leader Vasisht displayed courage, devotion to duty and professional skill of a high order.

Flight Lieutenant Sudesh Kumar Dahar has been employed on Flying Instructor's duties at one of our Jet Training Wings for the past five y ears. Since June 1961, he is serving in that Unit as Flight Commander. Out of a total of nearly 3000 hours of flying, he has flown about 1200 hours as an instructor on Jet aircraft. All through his stay at the Jet Training Wing, this officer has set an excellent personal example which is a source of inspiration to his fellow instructors in the performance of their duties. Time and again he had been entrusted with difficult trainees, with all of whom he succeeded in achieving remarkable results.

Flight Lieutenant Dahar has displayed devotion to duty and professional skill of a high order.

Flight Lieutenant John Philipose has been operating in J & K area with transport units since 1956. He is one of the first few pilots to fly Packet aircraft over Ladakh area in hazardous conditions over difficult hilly terrain. He undertook the task of airlifting heavy and cumbersome engineer stores to our forward airfields and carried out a total of 43 such missions. As these loads were not cable of ejection in the air, each of the sorties was fraught with grave danger. He has flown about 800 operational flying hours.

Flight Lieutenant Philipose was associated with the evaluation and trials of Packet aircraft fitted wit the newly acquired Jet engine, and contributed considerably to the successful landing and take-off at Daulat Beg Oldi.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Philipose has displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

Flight Lieutenant Kambiranda Muthanna Ponnappa has been operating with transport units in J & K area since 1955, and has flown a total of about 700 operational hours in this area. He was one of the pilots who flew out heavy and cumbersome engineer stores and vehicles to the forward areas. He carried out 25 such missions successfully. As these loads were not capable of ejection in the air, each landing sortie was fraught with grave danger. He also carried out about 250 supply dropping sorties in that area.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Ponnappa has displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

Flight Lieutenant John Albert Ratnam Balraj was operating in a Fighter Reconnaissance Squadron in NEFA and NHTA area during 1961/62. He established a highly commendable fighter reconnaissance and ground attack record in operation "Raji" in spite of LMG fire from Naga hostiles. He also spotted two hostile Naga camps in that area and acted as the pathfinder aircraft.

Besides his 45 sorties in operation "Raji", he did 28 sorties in NEFA sector on reconnaissance missions. In another operation he carried out two vital reconnaissance missions around Dhola post.

Flight Lieutenant Balraj displayed courage, leadership and determination in the discharge of his duties.

Flight Lieutenant Martins was serving with a transport squadron operating in NEFA. During the different phases of the battle of Walong, the vital supplies required by the piquets and retreating columns had to be supplied by airdrops. Flight Lieutenant Martins carried out numerous sorties over hazardous and unmapped areas for this purpose. In spite of the danger of anti-aircraft fire from the encircling Chinese troops, he always volunteered to undertake these missions, in complete disregard of his personal safety.

Flight Lieutenant Martins displayed courage and devotion to duty of a high order.

Flight Lieutenant Austin Lester Mendanha has been operating with a transport squadron in Jammu & Kashmir area since July 1959. He has carried out about 1400 hours of operational flying on supply-dropping and transport operations. He has also carried out proving flights to our most difficult and advance landing grounds in this area.

On the 28th October, 1962, when the weather was very bad and it was snowing all around Saserbarangazer area, Flt Lt Mendanha in complete disregard of his personal safety, successfully carried out airdrops of vital supplies to our forward posts. Flying as many as 100 hours in a month.,

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Mendanha has displayed courage, devotion to duty and professional skill of a high order.

Flight Lieutenant Priya Dev Kaura was on his second operational tour in Ladakh are,a after having completed the first one in NEFA. Out of a total of about 1400 hours on air transport operations, he had flown about 1200 hours in Ladakh area. In spite of the hazards of flying over difficult and mountainous terrain, and the fact that the aircraft were being operated to the maximum limits, he always volunteered for these difficult operational missions allotted to his Squadron. During the recent Chinese attack on our northern borders, he flew more than 110 hours in one month.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Kaura set a fine example of courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Umesh Kumar Ahuja has been on his fourth operational tour since April 1961, in Jammu and Kahsmir area. In addition to about 70 hours of flying in NEFA area, he has flown about 1300 hours on air transport operations in Ladakh area. During the recent Chinese attack on our northern borders, he flew more than 100 hours in a month. By hard work and skilful handling of his aircraft, he has inspired his colleagues and thus contributed to the high standard of operational efficiency of his unit.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Ahula displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

Flight Lieutenant Verinder Puri has been serving in Jammu and Kashmir area since March, 1960, and has so far carried out more than 1000 hours of operational flying in Ladakh including more than 100 hours of operational flying in one month. On 20th October 1962, in the face of extremely bad and turbulent weather conditions near Saserbarangazer, he successfully airdropped essential stores over one of the most difficult dropping zones in this area.

Flight Lieutenant Puri has displayed determination, courage and professional skill of a high order.

Flight Lieutenant Nanakkal Narayanan Amrithalingam has been operating as Signals Leader in one of our transport squadrons in J & K area since 1959. He has flown a total of about 1300 operational hours in this area. Undeterred by the hazards involved in the mountainous terrain, he has always volunteered for any difficult mission assigned to his squadron. With his professional ability and enthusiasm, he succeeded in raising the standard of communication in his Squadron to a high degree of efficiency.

On 26th October, 1962, while on a vital supply-dropping mission. The wireless sets in his aircraft became faulty and communications with the control center became impossible. Realizing the importance of his mission, he got down to the rectification of the defects and succeeded in re-establishing communication with the base. But for his presence of mind, the mission might have had to be abandoned and the airlift of the vital supplies to the forward dropping zone would have been delayed.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Amrithalingam displayed professional skill, courage and devotion to duty of a high order.

Flying Officer Harpal Singh Bedi has been operating with a transport Squadron in Jammu and Kashmir area since 1959. Though relatively junior in service, he has to his credit about 1100 hours of operational flying. During the operations occasioned by the recent Chinese aggression on our northern borders, he flew as many as 100 hours in one month on air transport operations.

Flying Officer Bedi carried out all tasks assigned to him efficiently and displayed professional skill, courage and devotion to duty of a high order.

Warrant Officer Kaur Singh Gill [Signaller (Air)] has been operating as a senior Signaller (Air) in a heavy transport squadron since 1955 in NEFA and Jammu and Kashmir areas. During the Chinese invasion of Ladakh, he carried out sustained and regular operational flying of seven to eight hours a day and undertook many difficult missions to forward landing grounds and dropping zones in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. In complete disregard of his personal safety, he always volunteered for difficult and dangerous missions.

Throughout, Warrant Officer Gill ahs displayed courage and professional skill of a high order.

Warrant Officer Rachpal Singh [Flt Gunner] has served in Jammu and Kashmir area with a transport Squadron as a Flight Engineer Leader. He has managed his section so commendably that in spite of shortage of manpower, no aircraft has had to be grounded. He always volunteered to fly whenever a flight engineer was needed. During the operations occasioned by the Chinese aggression on our northern border, he flew seven to eight hours a day in aircraft engaged in supply - dropping operations over difficult advanced landing grounds and dropping zones. He was a source of inspiration to other aircrew.

Warrant Officer Rachpal Singh showed professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

Warrant Officer Surat Singh Yadav [Flt Engineer] has been operating as a Flight Engineer Leader of a heavy transport Squadron in Jammu and Kashmir area. After the declaration of the emergency, he sometimes flew as many as seven hours a day and completed ten landing sorties at Daulet Beg Oldi, in addition to several other missions which carried him over dropping zones in areas under enemy attack. Being a very experienced fitter in the Jet modified Packet aircraft, he was always in great demand for such assignments. On more than one occasion, with his exceptional professional knowledge, he was able to rectify defects while in the air.

Warrant Officer Surat Singh Yadav always volunteered for difficult missions nad thus set a fine example of dedication to duty, courage and enthusiasm to his men.

Warrant Officer Jagannath Banerjee [Signaller (Air)] has been operating in NEFA, NHTA and Jammu and Kashmir areas for a long period. During the Chinese invasion of Ladakh, he worked fourteen hours a day, including six to eight hours of flying. He undertook several missions to forward landing grounds under enemy attack. In complete disregard of his personal safety, he always volunteered for hazardous missions and set a fine example to his colleagues and was source of inspiration ot them. Throughout, Warrant Officer Jagannath Banerjee displayed courage and devotion to duty.