Group Captain Jagdish Chandra Sengupta (3657) General Duties (Pilot) was com missioned in the Indian Air Force was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in September, 1949. After completing a tour in operational units, he qualified as a flying instructor and carried out instructional duties with distinction for a number of years. Thereafter, he held several important flying appointments, including that of a Squadron Commander. Till recently he was in command of an important repair depot.

As Officer Commanding the depot, Wing Commander Sengupta fostered a feeling of spirit-de-corps amongst his men. Through able leadership and sustained hard work, he was able to double the annual production rate. He was also quick to realize that to sustain a substantial increase in production, it will be necessary to plan production on scientific basis. He, therefore, laid down guide-lines for controlled production and planning and introduced modern methods of programme evaluation. This achievement is all the more commendable because Wing Commander Sengupta had no previous experience in the management of large technical organization, such as the depot.

Wing Commander Leslie Desmond Chater (2468) Administrative and Special Duties was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in June 1943. During his long service career, he has held with distinction many important appointments, including those of the Senior Personnel Staff Officer of a Command Headquarters and the Senior Administrative Officer of a Group Headquarters. At present he is commanding a Ground Training School, where his work has been outstanding in every way. By his hard work, sound planning and meticulous care he has succeeded in bringing about conspicuous improvement in all facets of administration and the standard of training. He has displayed organizing ability and leadership and by his personal example has been an inspiration to his officers and men.

Wing Commander Sasidharan Nair (3669) Accounts joined the Indian Air Force as an airman on 3rd March 1945 and was commissioned as an officer on 28th August, 1949.

After early years of service as an Accounts Officer at various Stations and Wings, he became the Senior Instructor in Accounts at the Air Force Administrative College, where he was responsible for the training of new Accounts Officers for the Air Force. Thereafter, he served as the Deputy to the Command Accounts Officer at a Command Headquarters and as the Commands Accounts Officer of another Command. For his good work, he was commended by the Chief of the Air Staff in 1966.

In Wing Commander Nair's present appointments at an Air Command, there was a large number of stores transactions awaiting finalization. This backlog had accumulated in the wake of the Chinese aggression in 1962 and the Indo-Pakistan hostilities in 1965, because the units concerned had changed from peace-time accounting procedures to operational procedures and finally reverted to peace time procedures after the two conflicts. Using bold and unconventional methods, he was responsible for clearing 2400 out of 2500 cases in a period of 18 months. He has also initiated a system in the Command, whereby Station Commanders can easily watch the trend of expenditure under locally controlled heads, thereby reducing wasteful expenditure.

Wing Commander Manaklal Narayana Iyer Sunderasan (3785) Technical/Engineering was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in May 1950. On graduation from the Air Force Technical College, he filled a number of engineering appointments in various operational units with distinction. Later, he was appointed as the Deputy Director of Technical Services at Air Headquarters. At present he is serving as the Senior Maintenance Staff Officer at a Command Headquarters.

As Senior Maintenance Staff Officer, Wing Commander Sunderasan has displayed singular drive and high professional acumen. He has devised methods to improve serviceability of aircraft at all flying stations under the Command Headquarters. Further, his initiative has led to the procurement of various important maintenance items from indigenous sources. He has also streamlined the maintenance administration at all levels, thus eliminating considerable waste in manhours and material.

Wing Commander Sunderasan has also been responsible for modification of trainer aircraft to increase its reliability. He has also planned and supervised the intensive trials of a new type of aircraft in a flying training school.

Wing Commander Tapas Kumar Ukil (3911) Technical/Engineering was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in July 1950. At present he is serving in a Flying Training Wing as its Chief Technical Officer. Since taking up his appointment at the Training Wing in October, 1968, Wing Commander Ukil has done much to improve the maintenance and serviceability of aircraft, in spite of shortage of manpower and

materials. He has reorganized the technical sections of the Wing, and has applied new techniques of planning and control to speed up the inspection and servicing of aircraft. It has been largely due to his intelligent and dedicated work that the Wing has met all its flying tasks in full. He has also brought about a marked economy in the consumption of spares required for the maintenance of aircraft.

Wing Commander Ashok Ray (4210) General Duties (Navigator) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 12th January, 1952. He was employed as a Navigator in several operational units of the Air Force. All through, he had the reputation of being an accurate and purposeful Navigator. He worked with credit as a Navigator in a Night Fighter Squadron, Navigation Leaders in another operational Squadron and Assistant Director (Navigation) at Air Headquarters.

Since 1966 Wing Commander Ray has been working in a guided weapons complex. He formed a new Combat Squadron and set up the Guided Weapons Firing Range. He was associated with the siting and planning of the range from the very beginning and gave very valuable guidance in techniques, maintenance and practical training to Guided Weapons units visiting the Range. Later, he took over the command of another Guided Weapons Squadron where the project work was still under construction. He saw to it that the project was completed in time and that it conformed to the highest standards. At the same time, he brought up the Squadron to a very high level of operational and technical proficiency.

Wing Commander Ray has high practical ability and a large capacity for planning and organization. His Squadron secured the highest marks in Firing Exercises, both in 1969 and 1970, and showed excellent results in the exercises organized by his Command Headquarters.

Wing Commander Shyam Chander Mehra (4290) Technical/Signals was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 26th February 1952.

After training at the Air Force Technical College, he has been employed in various operational units of the Indian Air Force. He has also been Commanding Officer of the Technical Wing of a Wireless Experimental Centre. At present he is serving in a Surface to Air Guided Weapon Unit, where he has been in Command since March 1969.

During October, 1969, a major fault was detected in the auto-pilot units of the weapon with which Wing Commander Mehra's unit is equipped. He successfully analysed the problem and carried out the necessary repair and testing of this unit in respect of all weapons held. This was a precision job involving careful handling of delicate equipment. It entailed work round the clock, as any delay would have set-back the operational readiness of the units. His initiatives finally resulted in saving a large amount of foreign exchange.

Throughout his career, Wing Commander Mehra has displayed a high degree of imagination, intelligence and practical ability. He is a rare combination of an efficient Engineer and a skillful Manager. His meticulous planning and foresight have paid dividends in saving valuable foreign exchange and, at the same time, improving the technical ability of our own personnel.

Wing Commander Pemmaraju Kamaraju (4533) Technical/Armament was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in September 1953. He has since held many important appointments including those of Assistant Director of Armament at Air Headquarters and Chief Technical Instructor (Armament) at Air Force Technical College.

As Chief Technical Instructor, Wing Commander Kamaraju worked with singular devotion and high professional acumen. He reorganized the Armament Department of the College to undertake fresh training commitments and revised the syllabi to enable introduction of new equipment into the Air Force. Within meager resources, he was responsible for designing and fabricating the simulator on which loading of bombs and rockets of various types of operational aircraft could be practiced. In every way, he has contributed a great deal to the proper training of Technical Officers.

Squadron Leader Charanjit Singh (4823) General Duties (Pilot) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 6th November, 1954.

During his service career, Squadron Leader Charanjit Singh has creditably filled a number of flying appointments. In recognition of his professional ability he was selected to undergo a Pilot Attack Instructors' Course and subsequently was posted as OfficerIncharge of the Pilot Attack Instructors' Flight. Later, he became a successful bomber pilot and in that capacity was sent to Congo in 1961-62 as a member of the United Nations Peace Keeping Contingent. He also took active part in the Indo-Pakistan conflict of 1965 and was 'Mentioned in Despatches'.

Recently while serving with an operational unit, Squadron Leader Charanjit Singh carried out a large number of flights in inclement weather over very hazardous terrain to successfully complete tasks of national importance. Throughout disregarding his personal safety and comfort, he has set a standard of professional skill and devotion to duty for others to emulate.

Squadron Leader Dushyant Singh (5048) General Duties (Pilot) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 14th January, 1956.

At an early stage in his career, Squadron Leader Singh was selected for conversion on Jet Bomber aircraft. He was member of the Indian Air Force Contingent which formed the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Congo in 1960. He was actively engaged in operations during the Indo-Pakistan conflict in 1965.

Squadron Leader Singh is currently employed with an operational unit of the Air Force. During his tenure he carried out a large number of operational sorties over hazardous terrain in very bad weather conditions, fulfilling a task of national importance.

Squadron Leader Rajmani Ramamurthy (5614) Technical/Engineering was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in November, 1958. After fulfilling some important Engineering appointments in operational units, he was selected for training abroad on a new type of aircraft which was being introduced into the Service.

Currently, Squadron Leader Ramamurthy is serving in an operational Squadron as a Senior Technical Officer. He has been responsible for the initial training of technical personnel and setting up first and second line servicing facilities for the new aircraft. This was a hard task, considering the difficulties associated with the introduction of a new type of aircraft in Squadron service. Squadron Leader Ramamurthy not only succeeded in organizing the aircraft servicing on a planned basis, but was also successful in enhancing the flying effort through increased output from inspection and repair. His personal example and organizing ability have made this possible.

Squadron Leader Vaithianatha Krishnamurthy (5937) Techincal/Engineering was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 1st June 1960.

After several years spent in field appointments, Squadron Leader Krishnamurthy was selected to undergo the Flight Engineers Course. Thereafter he was employed with considerable success as a Flight Engineer in an operational unit. He was selected for training abroad on a new type of aircraft, and was adjudged by his instructors as an exceptional flight engineer. On return, he was closely associated with evolving standard operating procedures, emergency drills and training schedules for the new type of aircraft.

Squadron Leader Krishnamurthy's dedicated work and high level of knowledge have been a source of inspiration and guidance to all aircrew to his unit.

Squadron Leader Krishnamurthy has always displayed high professional skill and devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Air Force.

Squadron Leader Ram Narain Agarwal (5951) Electrical Engineering was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 1st June 1950. He has held a number of important appointments including those of Squadron Electrical Officer of an operational Squadron, instructor at Air Force Technical College and Electrical Engineer at the Institute of Aviation Medicine.

At the Institute of Aviation Medicine Squadron Leader Agarwal was responsible for the servicing of highly complex and sophisticated equipment such as the human centrifuge, low pressure chambers, climatic chamber and the hyperbaric recompression chamber. His work in this area was of a very high order and enabled the Institute of Aviation Medicine to meet all its commitments of research and clinical evaluation.

Squadron Leader Agarwal was also responsible for building up cold temperature research facilities at the Institute. The minimum temperature available with the imported deep cooling plant was only -10° C against the specification of -54° C. The manufacturers having failed to improve the efficiency of the cooling plant, Squadron Leader Agarwal took the initiative to modify certain electrical and other circuits, thereby bringing down the temperature to -50° C. This was done without any assistance or expenditure of foreign exchange. Simultaneously, he equipped a room to obtain a controlled temperature from 15° C to 0° C. These facilities have enabled the Institute to meet many of its commitments in the field of operational research.

Recently the Institute was required to resolve a thermal problem associated with a new type of aircraft. This called for a hot and humid room capable of simulating tropical conditions. The engineer's estimated for the cost of work was Rs. 75,000. Squadron Leader Agarwal was able to design and construct the room from salvage material obtained locally. The room has been an unqualified success and has enabled various combinations of heat and humidity to be obtained as required by the Research Team.

The human centrifuge installed by a foreign firm had an inherent defect of creeping and jerking suddenly on starting. This was accepted by the Manufacturers as being incapable of rectification. On his initiative, Squadron Leader Agarwal modified the electrical circuit and servo-mechanism which not only removed the defect but will also serve in prolonging the life of the equipment.

Squadron Leader Perungavur Balasubramaniam Harikishnan Technical/Engineering (6226) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in July 1961. He has held many important Engineering posts both in operational units and in the staff at Command Headquarters.

In his recent assignment as the Officer incharge Aircraft Repair Section at a Base Repair Dept, Squadron Leader Harikishnan has displayed inspiring leadership, drive and extreme devotion to duty. In a year's time, his section completed 57 major inspections and two Cat 'B' repairs on seven different types of aircraft. In effecting this high rate of production, he had to overcome a large number of seemingly insurmountable problems.

Squadron Leader Harikishnan has also been responsible for the setting up of a servicing line for a new type of aircraft. Besides, using a great deal of initiative and technical ingenuity, he has completed major servicing of a large number of these aircraft despite non-availability of certain ground equipment and shortage of spares.

Flight Lieutenant Perminder Singh Chahil (7059) Technical/Engineering was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in January 1963. He was, subsequently, trained in the specialist task of maintenance of helicopters. At present he is serving at a helicopter unit as its Engineering Officer. During his tenure with the Squadron, Flight Lieutenant Chahil has displayed exceptional devotion to duty, initiative and leadership, and, by his personal example, inspired his men to give their best under most adverse conditions.

On one occasion, a detachment of two helicopter aircraft had to be based at a forward landing ground to carry out search operations for two missing aircraft. For successful operations, it was imperative to maintain a very high state of serviceability. The difficult terrain also necessitated that the two search aircraft operate in a pair. Flight Lieutenant Chahil volunteered to go on this detachment and through his zeal, determination and professional ability, he managed to keep both helicopters serviceable in spite of the limitations of manpower, spares and ground equipment.

On another occasion, one of the unit aircraft had force-landed at a forward landing ground necessitating an engine change. It was the month of January, which is the coldest month in the region and is associated with spells of heavy snow-fall and blizzards. Realising fully the difficulties and personal discomforts to which any servicing party would be exposed at the high altitude in subzero temperature, Flight Lieutenant Chahil volunteered for this task. By his dedicated work and personal example, Flight Lieutenant Chahil succeeded in repairing the helicopter within a short period of time.

Flight Lieutenant Balasubramanian Chandran (7307) Technical/Engineering was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in April 1963. During his brief service career, he has displayed able leadership and high professional acumen. He has been serving as Engineering Officer in a Helicopter Unit in one of the forward areas on the Northern Border since 1967.

At the Helicopter Unit, Flight Lieutenant Chandran organised winter maintenance of the aircraft and brought winter serviceability at par with that in summer. On more than one occasion he was responsible for retrieving helicopter aircraft from situations which were considered almost impossible.

On one occasion, a helicopter had accidentally flown into the cables of an aerial ropeway, forcelanding in a small field on the slopes of a hill overlooking a deep gorge. There was continuous torrential rain in the area which made the approach extremely slippery. Nevertheless, Flight Lieutenant Chandran reached the spot and assessed the aircraft as repairable at site. He then retraced his steps, organised the repair party returned to the site, where under his personal supervision saw to it that the aircraft was flown out to the base successfully within 48 hours.

On another occasion, a helicopter was stranded with a defective engine at a helipad 14,500 feet AMSL. The minimum temperature was - 26° C. Despite the bitter cold and the difficulties of working in rarefied atmosphere at that height, Flight lieutenant Chandran successfully carried

out the engine change of the aircraft in record time with the help of two technicians.

On yet another occasion Flight Lieutenant Chandran relied on his experience of repairing a defective helicopter which was stranded at a forward helipad during the winter months. In this case too, the extreme cold and the height of the helipad made repairs difficult. Even so the aircraft was fown out to base successfully within two days.

Flight Lieutenant Govind Chandra Singh Rajwar (8103) General Duties (Navigator) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in December 1963. For his accuracy and precision work, he was selected to join an important operational unit of the Air Force which carried out very special tasks.

During his stay at the unit, he has undertaken a number operational sorties both by day and night over inhospitable terrain at high altitudes which require a high degree of navigational skill and presence of mind. In all these flights he contributed significantly to the accomplishment of the tasks were assigned to the unit.

Flight Lieutenant Rajwar's devoted services and high professional skill has been a source of inspiration to other officers in the unit.

Flight Lieutenant Baljinder Singh Sidhu (8107) General Duties (Navigator) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in December 1963. During his short service career, Flight Lieutenant Sidhu has shown high professional skill and initiative. At present he is serving in an operational Squadron whose personnel are handpicked.

During his tenure at the Squadron, he has undertaken a large number of operational sorties which involved flying over difficult terrain and at times through inhospitable weather. Undeterred, he volunteered for these flights. Throughout, by his devotion to duty he has been a great help to his Squadron Commander in the planning and execution of the special tasks assigned to the Unit.

201358 Master Flight Engineer Surat Singh Yadav, VM, Flight/Engineer was enrolled in the Indian Air Force as a technician in January 1948. He has been continuously employed on the duties of a Flight Engineer in the Eastern and Northern sectors since 1957. He was a member of the Indian Air Force contingent in Congo. He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal during the Chinese aggression in 1962 and was 'Mentioned in Despatches' during the Indo-Pakistan conflict in 1965 for his outstanding services.

Throughout his career, Master Flight Engineer Yadav has worked with devotion and zeal. In 1963, when the categorisation scheme for flight engineers was introduced in the Service, he was entrusted with the task of formulating yardsticks for the categorisation scheme. He was also associated with the actual categorisation work, which in due course, became voluminous because of the rapid expansion of the air transport role of the Service. By his initiative and thorough professional knowledge, he has successfully carried out these exacting duties of testing and standardisation, almost single handed, on eight different types of aircraft.

400352 Master Flight Engineer Gurdial Singh Samra Flight Engineer was enrolled in the Indian Air Force as a technician in June 1950. After working for some years on a variety of aircraft, he was appointed as Officerin-charge of the Daily Servicing Section of an operational Unit. He held this appointment creditably. Thereafter, he qualified as a Flight Engineer, in which role he has flown to-date 2500 hours, including 1000 hours on operational missions.

Master Flight Engineer Samra has amply demonstrated his qualities of courage and leadership. On one occasion, he extricated and saved a passenger, who was trapped in a burning aircraft which had been loaded with inflammable material. The danger to his own life did not, in any way, deter him from performing his duty.

Master Flight Engineer Samra has secured the unbounded loyalty and admiration of the airmen working under him through his personal example of hard and devoted work.

12183 Master Warrant Officer Viswanath Dattatraya Walwadikar, Fitter 1, was posted to the Gas Turbine Research Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation in August 1965. Soon after arrival, after familiarising himself with the Orpheus Reheat Project work being carried out in GTRE, he was given the task of looking after the GTRE flight development detachment set up at the HAL Aircraft Division. He was associated with the flight development of the HF-24 Aircraft with Orpheus Reheat Engines installed in it. During the early stages, various development problems connected with the aircraft installation arose, which could only be sorted out by hard and long hours of concentrated effort. In view of the urgency of the priority allotted to the project, the need to overcome problems expeditiously, as they arose was very pressing and this MWO took upon himself more than his share of the work involved.

His example was an inspiration to others working with him. The type of work involved in the Reheat project had not been attempted before in the country and it is very creditable that this MWO without any prior training adapted himself to the requirements of the task.

The MWO always put Service before self and has made a significant contribution to the Orpheus Reheat Project. Master Warrant Officer Viswanath Dattatraya Walwadikar apart from showing professional skill of a high order has also displayed exceptional devotion, to duty and work in the best traditions the Indian Air Force.

23223 Warrant Officer Piara Singh, Fitter I was enrolled in the Indian Air Force as a technician in June 1943. At present he is serving in an operational Squadron.

During his four years' service with the Squadron, he has been responsible for looking after the repair and serving Section, which has to carry the main responsibility of preparing aircraft for meeting flying tasks. Warrant Officer Singh has shown limitless energy, determination, high organizing ability and leadership and ensured maximum serviceability of aircraft despite many handicaps. His professional ability has been of the highest order and he has always been an inspiration to his men.

39556 Warrant Officer Raghbir Singh, Fitter I was enrolled in the Indian Air Force as a technician in July 1944. Recently, he was selected for training abroad on the maintenance of engines of a particular type of aircraft. At present he is serving in a Base Repair Depot which repairs these engines.

During his tenure at the Depot, Warrant Officer Singh been personally responsible for the development and manufacture of a variety of handling and cleaning equipment which is needed during the engine overhaul. He designed a jet nozzle which can be used for pressure cleaning of parts with kerosene and petrol. It is a simple item in design, capable of manufacture even at a unit workshop, which can reduce hours considerably.

Warrant Officer Singh has also commissioned and serviced a large number of complex machines, often without guidance of publications, and by substituting indigenous parts.

Warrant Officer Singh's personal example of dedicated service and high professional ability has been a constant source inspiration to his men. He has made a significant contribution to the operational efficiency of the Service.

39919 Warrant Officer Daljit Singh, Instrument Repairer 1 was enrolled in the Indian Air Force as a technician on 29th July 1944. In the early years of his service, he was employed as an instrument repairer in operational units and Static organisations.

Warrant Officer Singh has an inventive bent of mind. He has turned this quality to great use in the Units in which he has served. Some of his innovations include a tester for zero-the fuel content gauge of an operational aircraft, a tester for the time-delay switches on another operational aircraft, a simplified technique for testing altimeters with the Null reading micromanometer, and a compact temperature gauge tester capable of testing temperature gauges of instruments manufactured in several different countries. His most recent achievement is the manufacture of a device for testing accuracy of the liquidometer fitted in the fuel tanks of an operational type of aircraft.

Warrant Officer Daljit Singh has displayed inventive ability of a very high order. For some of his inventions he has been awarded cash prizes by the Government of India. He has worked with a spirit of complete dedication to the Service spending almost all his leisure time on his inventions, which have had direct and immediate utility of high value to the Service. His drive, perseverance and devotion to duty have been remarkable.

207283 Flight Sergeant Bakshish Singh, Radar Mechanic was enrolled in the Indian Air Force in February 1951. Since 1964, he has been serving in a Guided Weapon Squadron as a senior cabin mechanic.

During his long service with the Squadron, Flight Sergeant Singh has displayed high initiative and singular devotion to duty. He is currently rated the best mechanic in his category in all the Guided Weapons Squadrons in Service.

In 1965, soon after he had just joined the Squadron, he was associated with its move from its temporary location to the permanent site. He volunteered to take over many other duties, besides ensuring the satisfactory completion of his own assignments. During Indo-Pakistan conflicts of 1965, he maintained a combat vigil round the clock to ensure full serviceability of equipment, disregarding all personal comforts. Subsequently when the Squadron equipment was damaged in a rail accident, he showed considerable initiative in repairing the equipment. It was a difficult task which he accomplished with credit.

209191 Flight Sergeant Kuttikattu Mathai Verghese, Inst. Rep. 1 was posted to the Gas Turbine Research Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation in November, 1962. From the very beginning he was intimately associated with the Orpheus Reheat Project of the GTRE. He was detailed to work in the Test Bed, where the static bench development trials of the Reheat systems commenced early in 1963. He made valuable contributions towards develop ment of the electrical and instrumentation systems for Reheat operation as well as for development testing. He accepted all task allotted to him very cheerfully and carried them out with efficiency and most effectively under all conditions of stress and strain which were inevitable in an equipment oriented projected like the Orpheus Reheat develop ment and which was required on high priority for the HF-24. He was also associated with the task of installation of engines in the prototype aircraft and the development of the Reheat electrical system in the aircraft. He made significant contributions to the various certification tests successfully carried out on the Reheat system over the last few years, such as 24 hrs flight clearance test with limited reheat, 24 hrs flight clearance test with design reheat and the 150 hrs development test conducted to a schedule similar to that required for production clearance of the system. In all the work that he undertook, he showed exemplary devotion to duty and technical competence of an exceptional order. The type of work involved in the Reheat project had not been attempted before in the country and it very creditable that this Senior NCO without any prior training adapted himself to the requirement of the task.

Apart from acquiring and utilizing a thorough knowledge of his trade aspect of the task, he also built up a knowledge of other systems of the Reheat engine outside the requirement of the trade. On many occasions, because of his deep insight into problem, he was able to help the development programme in its entirety.

Flight Sergeant Kuttikattu Mathai Verghese contributed significantly to the Orpheus Reheat Project and his devotion to duty and efficiency with which he carried out his technical assignments were in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

During his earlier tenure in an operational area he was on two occasions responsible for repairing badly damaged aircraft at the site of their crash landings, in difficult and inaccessible areas in the Eastern borders. Despite the handicaps of manpower and repair facilities, he accomplished the assigned task expeditiously disregarding all personal comforts.

At his present unit, Flight Sergeant Choubey has been working with great resourcefulness. With his ingenuity and professional skill he has fabricated a number of time saving devices and tools needed for engine overhaul. He has thus made a significant contribution to the operational efficiency of the I.A.F. and his personal example of dedicated service has been a constant source of inspiration to his colleagues and subordinates.

48282 Sergeant Leonard Roberts, Aircraft Hand and General Duties was enrolled in the Indian Air Force in 1944. At present he is serving in an Air Force Station as Assistant Station Warrant Officer.

On 16th May 1969 his Station was hit be a cyclonic storm which caused extensive damage to life and property in the area. When the storm was at its height and the tented accommodation was being blown away, Sergeant Roberts, who was officiating as the Station Warrant Officer, mobilized airmen and civilians and took effective steps to prevent loss of life and further damage to Service property. Later when the storm had abated, he supervised recovery of Service equipment and repairs of the damaged tents and their speedy erection to ensure that a temporary shelter was available to all personnel. All through this period of distress, Sergeant Roberts was a shining example to his men and a source of inspiration to others who had suffered because of the storm.

203575 Sergeant Vannalil Devasia Joseph, Fitter 1 was enrolled in the Indian Air Force in December, 1948. At present he is serving in an operational training unit.

During his four years' stay in the Unit, Sergeant Joseph has displayed resourcefulness and initiative of a high order. Disregarding his personal comfort, he has worked long hours to maintain a high serviceability state of aircraft at all times. By his personal example of dedicated work and cheerful disposition, he has been able to obtain the utmost cooperation from his men, thereby enabling the unit to complete is flying task on schedule.

Despite heavy load of work, Sergeant Joseph has also been able to take active part in the unit functions and sports. By his tactful handling, he has been able to ensure excellent morale amongst his airmen.