Group Captain Surya Dev Pathak was commissioned in the Accounts branch of the Air Force on 1 Dec 50. During his twenty seven years of service, he has held a variety of responsible appointments and displayed tact, initiative, drive and devotion to duty, of a very high caliber.

In November, 1975, he was specially selected to take over as the first secretary of the Air Force Group Insurance Society, an entirely new field of activity for an Accountant Officer. Air Force was the pioneer in starting the scheme in the Armed Forces and in the absence of previous knowledge, experience and reliable data/statistics had to face numerous hurdles. Group Captain Pathak, however, applied himself to this new and challenging assignment with a very high sense of responsibility and dedication and in collaboration with the Life Insurance Corporation of India, got the scheme started.

Within one year of existence of this scheme, with his skilful management, he made it possible to delink the scheme form LIC thus resulting in a saving of Rs. 12 lacs to the Society, which was transferred to the members in the form of increased Survival Benefits and reduced "Flying Extra Premium". Again in early 1978, through a scheme of re-insurance with banks, he was instrumental in augmenting the yield on Society's investments by Rs. 7 lakhs per annum.

Encouraged by tangible results and the support of members, he formulated a new scheme in April 1978, which envisaged enhanced life cover, better survival benefits, cover to NCs (E) and disability insurance for rehabilitation of disabled personnel. The last mentioned benefit is another "First" on the map of Group Insurance in the Armed Forces.

The brilliance, skilful managements, zeal, hard work and dedication to service displayed by Group Captain Pathak, in bringing this major welfare measure to its present stature, have been of a very high order. Rashtrapati is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Group Captain Surya Dev Pathak.

Wing Commander Satwant Singh took over the command of one of the Forward Base Support Units on 20th December, 1976. This unit is situated at a distance of 10 Km from the nearest town. The place is secluded and far away from any habitation. It was an exacting task to give a face lift to the unit. Wing Commander Satwant Singh being an enterprising officer worked with remarkable zeal to bring up the working condition of the unit to a very high order. Besides involving himself totally in the activations form time to time, he continued to reshape the station through dogged perseverance, which was the main reason for the Squadron to achieve the flying task. The promptness with which he handled and settled the problems of personnel won him acclaim from one and all. He thus built up the morale of personnel under his command. His unit has been adjudged the best amongst the Forward Base Support Units in the Western Air Command. The signal honour which the unit has been able to achieve is mainly due to his professional involvement and competence with utter disregard to his personal comfort.

For distinguished service of a high order, Rashtrapati is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Wing Commander Satwant Singh.

Wing Commander Kunnathidathil Sanjeevan (5615) Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in November, 1958. After passing out of Air Force Technical College as a triple trophy winner, he had held appointments as Engineering officer/Flight Engineer in fighter, helicopter and transport Squadrons. Subsequently he underwent the Defence Services Staff College Course and the Senior Technical Officers' Management Course wherein he was the winner of the Harjinder Trophy for having stood first in the course. During 1970-74, he held the appointment of Staff Officer (Tech) to three successive Air Officers-in-Charge Maintenance. At present, he is serving as Deputy Director of Engineering at Air Headquarters. As Deputy Director Engineering at Air Headquarters, Wing Commander Sanjeevan has consistently displayed singular drive and professional acumen in solving numerous problems connected with the Maintenance and operation of a type of aircraft resulting in substantial improvement in reliability of engine and appreciable reduction in failure rate.

There were two incidents of runway propeller on the type. The pilot abandoned take off and managed to stop the aircraft just in time in both cases. Air Maintenance operations with the type were, therefore, immediately suspended as a precautionary measure.

A specialist from Manufacturers was called for, who carried out detailed investigations into both these incidents. However, he could not arrive at any definite conclusion with regard to the cause for these two malfunctions. Wing Commander Sanjeevan was detailed as Leader of the Team to carry out further investigation into these two incidents. As a result of his meticulous investigations based on an exhaustive analysis of all information pertaining to the incidents, it was possible to establish the cause of malfunction beyond any doubt. Quality Control Specialist of the firm agreed with the solutions arrived at and commended him for his investigating ability. As a result, the morale of the aircrew operating the type has been raised significantly and resumption of operation for air maintenance tasks has been made possible.

With his devotion to duty and complete involvement in his profession Wing Commander Kunnathidathil Sanjeevan has rendered distinguished service of a high order, for which Rashtrapati is pleased to award him Vishisht Seva Medal.

Wing Commander Dev Nath Rathore was posted as Commanding Officer of a Fighter Squadron with effect from 1 Dec 76 when the Squadron moved to another location for reequipping with a new aircraft.

With just a handful of officer and technicians, the Squadron started re-equipping under the personal supervision of Wing Commander Rathore and also commenced training of the staff pilots who had very limited experience on type. Although the tempo of flying had to be kept down due to a number of problems which were being faced in operating these aircraft. It was ensured by the Commanding Officer that sufficient training was imparted to all the pilots undertaking conversion of other pilots who were earmarked to man other similar Squadrons in the re-equipment plan. During his tenure of just over one year, the Squadron has been able to convert a large number of pilots both from supersonic and transonic blocks without any accident or incident.

Wing Commander Rathore showed keen interest an leadership during these conversions and whilst the training was being conducted, he also ensured that the pilots were on the posted strength of his Squadron simultaneously carried out their own Squadron syllabus and were declared fully operational during this period. It was under his command that the Squadron operated three detachments to carry out armament exercises.

Wing Commander Rathore's interest was not limited to training of pilots. The technicians were also given very thorough job training so that various inspections that were falling due were handled in the most professional manner. Although the Squadron was supposed to retain a part of foreign trained technicians in the Squadron in actual fact this did not happen. In due course almost all the foreign trained technicians were posted out to various other Squadrons which had been re-equipped with the new aircraft.

During the period of his command, the Squadron has flown more that two thousand accident free hours by day and night. This was made possible by personal example, professional outlook and matured thinking of the Commanding Officer and absolute supervision at all times. For achieving such excellent results Wing Commander Rathore set an example which is in the best traditions of the service. His professional outlook and selfless devotion to duty were an abject lesson and a morale booster for the personnel under his command. He has thus rendered distinguished service of a high order for which Rashtrapati is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Wing Commander Dev Nath Rathore.

Squadron Leader Yadavendra Singh was commissioned on 1 Dec 61. He was employed as an Engineering Officer at the Pilot Training Establishment/Elementary Flying School from 1965-68, where he was awarded Commendation by AOC-in-C, Training Command in Jan 68.

While employed on a staff appointment at Air Headquarters between1970-75, he worked very hard and made significant contribution to improve aircraft serviceability in fighter squadrons especially during 1971. He was specially selected for training abroad on first and second line servicing of the latest front line supersonic aircraft. During the first five months of 1975, he worked purely as the Squadron Technical Officer of a Squadron on its re-equipment after which he concurrently assumed the responsibilities of Chief Engineering Officer of a Wing. In that capacity he had been responsible for streamlining and optimizing the working of maintenance organization and raising it to a high level of efficiency and performance to the greater advantage of the fighter squadrons. Being extremely methodical, thorough and meticulous in his work and his dynamic drive have combined to make him a pace setter of very high standards of performance.

Squadron Leader Yadavendra Singh has displayed an outstanding ability in the supervisory role and a deep personal involvement in all spheres of maintenance activities. He has always worked hard with a result oriented practical approach. It is a tribute to his maturity, professional ability and devotion to service that his subordinates cheerfully obey him, his colleagues willingly follow his guidance and those senior to him listen with respect to his advice.

Squadron Leader Yadavendra Singh has been responsible, not only for establishing and functioning an efficient maintenance organization but also for imparting technical knowledge to technical officers and airmen. Due to full personal involvement his Wing had no accident in the year 1977 due to technical mal-practices. During the same year the Wing also had nil MT accident rate. He always placed service before self in the highest traditions of the Indian Air Force. The Station had undertaken the stupendous task of conducting the Fire Power Demonstration with a large number of personnel and diverse aircraft based on the Station. From the technical aspect the entire exercise was without any accident/incident and for this the credit goes to Squadron Leader Yadavendra Singh.

Throughout Squadron Leader Yadavendra Singh has consistently displayed professional ability, dynamic drive, organizing ability and dedication to duty of the highest order for which Rashtrapati is pleased to award him Vishisht Seva Medal.

Squadron Leader Shishir Kumar Chaturvedi was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in December 1959. He held a number of important appointments including those of Senior Logistics Officer of No. 36 Equipment Depot. In addition, he also commanded an Equipment Depot during its formative stages. He as commended by AOC-in-C Maintenance Command in 1972 and by Chief of Air Staff in 1974 for his outstanding professional skill.

Squadron Leader Shishir Kumar Chaturvedi is presently commanding an Air Store Park. As commanding Officer Squadron Leader Chaturvedi displayed singular drive and high professional acumen in improving the administrative and functional efficiency of the unit. By his persistent endeavour, he was able to start a full fledged Kendriya Vidyalaya from 1 Apr 76 and also got sanction for a permanent Kendriya Vidyalaya in Sep 77. The Unit had practically no facilities for sports. In 1975, a football ground was prepared with the help of local PWD and "Shramdan". This gave a big fillip to the sports activities specially in football. The unit has been annexing the District Football Championship for the last three consecutive years.

Since there was no Senior Admin Officer established at the Unit, all works services had to be planned, processed and progressed by the Commanding Officer himself. During the last two and a half years, works services costing 14 lakhs have been planned and progressed personally by this officer. Considerable quantity of explosive stores had to be moved during the year 1977-78 from and to operating Units. Squadron Leader Chaturvedi accomplished the task of moving huge quantities of explosives with meticulous plan ning without disrupting the normal function of the unit. By his personal endeavour the number of audit objections has been reduced by more than half-from 77 in 1975-76 to 31 in 1977-78. Here again he displayed outstanding professional ability, drive and devotion to duty. In recognition of the good administrative performance of the Unit, his unit was awarded the Trophy for the `Best Administered Unit' for the year 1977.

Shishir Kumar Chaturvedi has rendered distinguished service of a high order for which Rashtrapati is pleased to award his Vishisht Seva Medal.

Warrant Officer Krishna Iyer Narayanan Instrument Fitter has been serving at an operational unit since 18 Mar 74. During this period, he has been employed in both the Daily Servicing Section and Repair and Servicing Section as W.O. in-charge. Though from Instrument Fitter trade and being new to this type of aircraft, his keenness to learn and uncommon zeal at once singled him out for the most responsible supervisory duties. During the formation stages of the Squadron, the technicians were unfamiliar with the equipment while flying activities were extensive. W.O. Narayanan displayed exceptional capacity for hard work and went through the difficult phase most cheerfully. His enthusiasm for work and tenacity of purpose were instrumental in spreading the spirit of dedication amongst rest of the Squadron Senior Non-Commissioned Officers and men. He commended the men placed under him as one team towards common purpose and achievement. During his tenure, he has been on many squadron detachments where the working conditions were far from ideal. Yet, he always exhibited his organizational ability in setting up the Daily Servicing Section and cater at once to the flying commitments without hampering flight safety. During the year 1977, the Squadron was operating at a Forward Base Supply Unit for well over 10 months with the full complement of Daily Servicing Section equipment and personnel. W.O. Narayanan initially proceeded with the detachment and set up the Daily Servicing Section in proper manner. His personal example, professionalism and ability to carry the men along with him have made him an asset to the Squadron. Throughout his tenure, he had been totally dependable, responsible and willing worker. For his services in the Squadron, he was commended by the Chief of the Air Staff during Aug 77.

His selfless dedication to service, total disregard of self and ability to inspire those placed under his command and his colleagues are in keeping with the highest traditions of the service.

Rashtrapati is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Warrant Officer Krishna Iyer Narayanan Posthumously.

Junior Warrant Officer Gopi Chand Chhabra has been posted to a Signal Unit for the last one year. He has always applied himself, with zeal to overcome any problem. With his initiative, enthusiasm and professional skill, he has ensured a very high rate of radar serviceability. His ingenuity and high professional competence have accelerated the repair and snag rectification of the Radar System.

During his stay in the unit, once he was called upon to undertake major repairs to the main radar, a job which is normally undertaken by RMU party. This contingency necessitated the complete dismantling and assembling after the rectification of the snag. With limited manpower this JWO was able to accomplish this task in the record time of three days by putting in long hours of arduous work beyond the call of his duty. He has taken active part in organising the Unit Radar Stores with great foresight so that the continuous flow of spares is always maintained and there is no breakdown due to nonavailability of spares.

He was successfully implemented a new system of preventive maintenance whereby the technical breakdowns have been reduced to almost zero. Furthermore he has been responsible for supervising the training of Radar Fitters to form a nucleus of expert manpower to tend to various components of Radar Systems and he has organized this complex work admirably. As a result of his hard work this Unit has successfully completed the task despite shortage of spares, distance from repair/supply depot and manpower constraints. Apart from showing the professional skill of high order he has also displayed exceptional sense of devotion to duty and cheerful obedience in the best traditions of the IAF. He has always been a source of inspiration to those working under him.

For his distinguished service of as high order Rashtrapati is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Junior Warrant Officer Gopi Chand Chhabra.

Corporal Chandra Mohan Pillai worked as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the Special Project Section of a repair depot from January 1972 to August 1977. During this period he was employed as one of the few key personnel engaged in the development of an important Armament Store.

Corporal Chandra Mohan Pillai with his keen devotion to duty and inborn tenacity for hard work developed a vital internal assembly of the armament store. He had also fabricated a panel which facilitated time setting of Delay Arming Device to its exacting precision.

Corporal Chandra Mohan Pillai with his innovative ideas, high degree of professional skill and unmatched dedication to duty was rendered distinguished service of a high order for which Rashtrapati is pleased to award him Vishisht Seva Medal.