The services of Wing Commander Subramanyan Chenna Keshu were loaned from the I.A.F. to H.A.L in May, 1960, as Prototype Production Engineer. When the programme for building H.F.-24 prototype production began, this officer was given the task to study the best method of production based on an examination of the drawings of this indigenous supersonic fighter. He was also to study the latest method of manufacture and to produce the parts in the shortest possible time. This officer contributed in a significant manner to the flying of the first Prototype in June 1961 and brought to bear on his task technical and organizational ability of a high order. In addition, in the past 2 ½ years of his service with the H.A.L., the officer has built up a team of engineers and technicians, which is now engaged in the preparation of quantity production of H.F.-24.

Wing Commander Chandrakant Sridhar Naik was appointed, on deputation from I.A.F. as Officer-in-Charge, Flight Test Group HF-24 Project on 1st June, 1960. The officer's task was to create facilities for flight development of the HF-24 Prototype. Such facilities did not exist in the country as this was the first time flight development of a high performance aircraft was undertaken in India. The task involved planning of flight test, working our the most optimum flight test techniques, design and installation of automatic recording equipment in the prototypes, working out the methods of analysis of results, training of raw personnel, etc. Being a completely new field of technical activity no trained personnel were readily available. The time available for creation of facilities was barely nine months. Starting with these severe handicaps, this officer executed his task in a commendable manner and managed to undertaken flight development of Supersonic aircraft. The voluminous data obtained and analysed during the flights of the prototypes have proved to be very accurate and extremely valuable. In the absence of such data the development of the HF-24 aircraft would have been a difficult task. Wing Commander Naik, in executing these tasks, has shown very high engineering skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

Squadron Leader M.S. Dandekar was operating in the Walong Sector of NEFA when the Chinese hostilities started in October, 1962. During the battle of Walong contact was lost with the forward troops. It was vital to collect the news about the battle situation and to provide the necessary assistance to our forward troops. Sqn. Ldr. Dandekar volunteered to be dropped at the forward base by the helicopter. He made contact with the Brigade Commander and brought the requisite information and essential directions for the evacuation of casualties. After this trip he kept shuttling between the forward troop and rear guard and this helped in evacuation of casualties and in supplying the urgently required supplies. In those days the forward bases were changing so quickly that it was very hazardous to land at some place. With complete disregard to his personal safety and with selfless devotion to duty, he made possible the evacuation of a large number of casualties which did not hamper the planned withdrawal of the troops. He earned both the gratitude and praise of the troops.

Squadron Leader Meghashyama Sadanand Dandekar has therefore rendered devoted and distinguished service of high order.

Squadron Leader Jagjit Singh Sandhawalia has been the Squadron Engineering Officer of one of our heavy transport squadron in J&K area since April, 1961. In spite of the shortage of manpower and limited resources this officer successfully organized the maintenance facilities for the newly acquired aircraft within a very short time. By his professional skill, devotion to duty and organizing ability he succeeded in achieving and maintaining a high rate of serviceability.

On a number of occasions when the aircraft were stranded at forward airfields, away form base and required engine changes or repairs of Airframe component, he through his leadership and determination got the aircraft airworthy in the shortest possible time. Since the outbreak of hostilities in October 1962, this officer through his untiring efforts brought the serviceability rate of aircraft to a new high figure of 90 percent. But for the commendable effort on the part of Squadron Leader Sandhawalia, it might not have been possible to keep up the schedule of all the vital airlift commitments assigned to them

Throughout the period, this officer has rendered distinguished service of a high order.

Squadron Leader Achengaden John Chacko is a qualified Navigation Instructor and was employed on navigational duties with of the Air Forces Training Institution for a period of six years without a break. Though the instructional task is monotonous and arduous he carried out his duty with zeal and determination and achieved outstanding results. In fact, pupils trained by him bear a distinct imprint of his professional skill. His devotion to hard work not only inspired his colleagues but also the trainees.

Squadron Leader Chacko has rendered distinguished service of a high order which is in keeping with the best traditions of the I.A.F.

Squadron Leader Eruch Shivax Lala has been employed at the Transport Training Wing of the Indian Air Force. He holds the highest Instructor category and the Instrument rating. He has an accident free record of over 4500 hours of flying.

Since the outbreak of emergency this officer had to undertake training of a much larger number of transport pupils. He accepted this difficult task and produced outstanding results.

By his devotion to duty and singlemindedness Sqn. Ldr. Lala set a fine example to his colleagues and motivated other instructors to achieve similar results. He has, therefore, rendered distinguished service of a high order which is in keeping with the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

Squadron Leader NIJRAM SATRAMDAS BHAGWANANI (4509) Medical During the recent operations in the NEFA, No. 5 Air Force Hospital was flooded with the battle casualties which had poured in from Walong sector. Squadron Leader Nijram Satramdas Bhagwanani was the only surgical specialist available in this hospital, and had to bear the major brunt of this large influx. Some of the casualties had suffered serious gun-shot wounds involving thoracic (Chest) and abdominal regions which required skilful surgery. The magnitude and the complexity of the task would have baffled any exper ienced surgeon. However, Squadron Leader Bhagwanani faced the situation with courage and untiring zeal and great devotion. He worked round the clock on his operation table, in complete disregard to his personal comfort and physical requirement. But for his perseverance, organizational ability and devotion, many of our soldiers who were brought to the hospital in a precarious condition would not have survived. Squadron Leader Nijram Satramdas Bhagwanani in performing this praise-worthy task has shown professional skill and devotion of a very high order.

Flight Lieutenant Mangatil Karakad Chandrasekhar is qualified flying instructor employed at one of the Transport Training Wings for the past three years. This young officer has a brilliant record of flying hours in short service career and holds the highest transport category and instrument rating.

During the emergency this officer undertook the additional training commitment and displayed sense of dedication, responsibility and preserved for long hours to achieve outstanding results. In addition, he flew on many missions to ALGs airlifting urgently required troops and material both by day and night to forward area.

Throughout this period, Flt. Lt. Chandrasekhar unmindful of his personal safety and physical strain, rendered valuable service which was in keeping with the best traditions of the Air Force.

Pilot Officer Clement Martin has been operating in J&K since 1952. He has been the Squadron Engineering Officer since 1961. In spite of limited resources and shortage of manpower, this officer successfully organized the maintenance of Packet aircraft. The perseverance and high standard of professional skill he achieved a high rate of serviceability throughout. Recently when 24 Packet aircraft were allotted to the squadron, Plt. Offr Martin with the technicians under his control worked over 14 hours a day with single-minded devotion to bring the aircraft under the I.A.F. schedule servicing with minimum of delay. The speed with the task was completed is a tribute of his able guidance, man-management and inspiring leadership.

Throughout the period, this officer has rendered distinguished service of a high order by his exemplary devotion to duty.

Master Warrant Officer Bhanwar Lal Arora is on his third tenure operational tour in J & K area.

During the outbreak of hostilities in October, 1962, this Warrant Officer was faced with the difficult problem of maintaining high rate of serviceability, without which it would have not been possible for the unit to keep up the heavy schedule of airlift allotted to it. In spite of depleted manpower and shortage of spares, he set about his task with determination and through his untiring efforts, exceptional management and personal example he maintained a high rate of serviceability which enabled the squadron to conduct sustain operations over a critical period.

Master Warrant Officer Arora has thus rendered distinguished service of a high order, in the face of heavy odds.

Flight Sergeant Kanai Chandra Ghosh F.II.A. has served in the NEFA and J&K area for the last 8 years. During the recent intensity of the transport operations in J&K area, the senior N.C.O. though responsible for only first line servicing, had to undertake the task of frequent engine changes and replacement of power recovery turbines and carburetors tasks which demanded a high degree of professional skill and supervision. In spite of the fact that he belonged to the trade of Fitter Air-Frames, he skillfully completed the above demands and maintained a high rate of serviceability with a relatively low manning level.

Apart from his hard and arduous daily routine at the base, Flt. Sgt. Ghosh had to keep moving frequently to forward landing grounds such as Chushul and Leh. He skillfully carried out 28 engine changes at the forward airfields where due to intense climate conditions normal working routine is very difficult. Some of these assignments were beyond the call of his normal duty and were cheerfully accepted by this Senior N.C.O. The fact that there was not a single take-off reject at these forward airfields is ample testimony to the high standard of technical efficiency of this Senior N.C.O.

By his devotion to duty in utter disregard to his personal comforts, he set such a fine example to his men that they put in work for 12 to 14 hours a day under extremely difficult conditions. His example was an inspiration to his ground crews. This Senior N.C.O. apart from showing great professional skill has also displayed devotion to duty and work of a very high order.

Flight Sergeant Kuppuswamy Krishnamachari was incharge of servicing section of a Helicopter detachment serving in NEFA area. At the outbreak of the Chinese hostilities the detachment was faced with heavy commitment of evacuation of casualties and reinforcing our forward troops with the urgently required arms and ammunition. To meet this commitment it was essential that a high rate of serviceability of these aircraft is maintained.

Flight Sergeant Krishnamachari worked more than 18 hours a day during that critical period and ensured that all aircraft were kept serviceable. His zeal, determination and single minded devotion to duty were a source of inspiration to other airmen. But for his effort the heavy commitment that the detachment was called upon to undertake would not have been possible.