On 26th April, 1965, Flying Officer Barbara undertook a photo-reconnaissance sortie in the Biar Bet area in which the Pakistani Army had mounted an attack against one of xx Company positions. His task was to collect evidence of the presence of Pakitani armour in this area and use of foreign tanks by Pakistani forces. Such evidence was of vital importance since Pakistan had denied use of foreign tanks in the battle. The battle area was being constantly patrolled by the Pakistani forces with fighter aircraft whos performance was much superior to that of the aircraft flown by flying Officer Barbara. In addition to the danger of being intercepted by the enemy aircraft there was the danger of being caught in the cross0f9ire of the Artillery duel between the Pakistani forces and our troops. Fully aware of these risks, Flying Officer Barbara decided to fly as low as 50 feet above ground level below the trajectory of the shells. With consummate skill, he navigated t o an area which is noted for the absence of prominent land marks and having spotted 15 tanks which he recognized as M-48 “Patton”, he took photographs of the tanks as well a s of their tracks. The photographs taken by him confirmed that Pakistan had used foreign tanks in Indian territory.

In this operation, Flying Officer Utpal Barbara displayed courage, determination and professional skill of a high order in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

At about 0700 hours on the 3rd September, 1965, on receipt of a report that a formation of Pakistani fighters was circling over our army position in the Chhamb sector of Jammu & Kashmir, a formation of Gnat aircraft was ordered to intercept the intruders.

Approaching the area, Squadron Leader Trevor Keelor, who was a section leader in the Gnat formation, sighted enemy F-86 Sabre jets and engaged them in air battle. When the combat was in progress, F-104 Star fighters of the Pakistani Air Force also joined in. Unmindful of the numerical superiority of the enemy, Squadron Leader Keelor chased a Sabre Jet and pressed home his attack until the enemy aircraft caught fire and disintegrated in the air. This was the first victory of our Air Force in the air battles against the Pakistani Air Force.

In this operation, Squadron Leader Trevor Keelor displayed courage and leadership of a high order in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

Flight Lieutenant Virender Singh Pathania was one of the Gnat pilots who were sent to Pathankot to establish our air superiority in that region during the recent operations against Pakistan. He flew repeated missions seeking out Pakistani aircraft and engaging them. On the 4th September, 1965, during one such mission he came up against a formation of enemy Sabre Jets and immediately engaged them in battle. With great confidence and courage, he out-maneuvered the enemy all the time, got behind one of the enemy Sabres and shot it down.

In this encounter, Flight Lieutenant Virender Singh Pathania displayed cool courage and firm determination in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

During the recent operations against Pakistan, Squadron Leader Madhukar Shantaram Jatar was the Flight Commander in an operational Squadron which carried out 14 operational sorties. On the 7th September 1965, he led a formation of eight Mysteres on a ground strike mission on Bhagranwala airfield. The raid had to be carried out at a low altitude when visibility was poor. Squadron Leader Jatar inspired is men with courage and tenacity of purpose and the attack on the airfield was pressed home resolutely. As a result one enemy Sabre Jet was destroyed and another damaged. After carrying out the mission successfully, Squadron Leader Jatar brought his formation of eight aircraft safely back to the base.

In this operation, Squadron Leader Madhukar Shantaram Jatar displayed leadership, devotion to duty and professional skill of a high order in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

At 0945 hours on the 7th September 1965, a formation of four Mystere aircraft led by Squadron Leader Sudarshan Handa took off for an operational mission and flying at a height of only 50 to 100 feet above ground level penetrated into Pakistan territory.

Squadron Leader Handa led the formation accurately to their objective and the formation went into the attack. He dropped his bombs on the Bulk Patrol Installation and opened up with his guns at three Sabre Jets parked at the Operational Readiness Platform, one of which burst into flames. He then signaled to the remaining members of the formation to attack an enemy F-104 Star Fighter which was also on the Operational Readiness Platform. By this time the enemy antiaircraft guns had opened a heavy barrage of fire against all the four aircraft of the formation. After the successful attack Squadron Leader Handa led the formation back to base safely, all our aircraft landed with only marginal fuel.

The cool courage, devotion to duty and determination displayed by Squadron Leader Sudarshan Handa throughout the operation, were in the finest traditions of the Indian Air Force.

During the recent operational against Pakistan, Flight Lieutenant Trilochan Singh who was Deputy Flight Commander in an Operational Squadron, flew 14 operational sorties. He carried out his mission with great determination and courage in the face of heavy enemy ground fire and air opposition and succeeded in destroying a considerable number of camouflaged tanks and heavy guns. He gave effective air support to our ground forces and carried out successful air strikes on enemy armour, troops concentrations and convoys.

Throughout the operations, Flight Lieutenant Trilochan Singh displayed courage, determination and professional skill of a high order.

Squadron Leader Amarjit Singh Sandhu was the Flight Commander of an Operational Squadron, which was assigned the task of establishing our air superiority over the Pathankot region during the recent operations against Pakistan. He flew repeated missions in the Chhamb sector and over the Pasrur and Lahore areas, all the time seeking out enemy aircraft and engaging them. On the 18th September 1965, in a thrilling encounter against enemy aircraft, he was able to outmanoeuvre the enemy with admirable skill, courage and judgment and shot down a Sabre jet.

The courage and devotion to duty displayed by Squadron Leader Amarjit Singh Sandhu were in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

On the 19th September 1965, Squadron Leader Denzil Keelor was providing fighter escort to Mystere aircraft during a strike mission in the operations against Pakistan. His section of four Gnat aircraft was engaged by four enemy Sabre jet aircraft and the battle was fought at a height of less than 2000 feet from the ground where enemy anti-aircraft guns were also active. Under his guidance, his sub-section leader shot down a Sabre jet aircraft. Thereafter Squadron Leader Keelor himself engaged another Sabre jet and crippled it.

Throughout the operations Squadron Leader Denzil Keelor was a source of inspiration to his pilots and ground personnel. His courage and devotion to duty were in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

On the 20th September 1965, as leader of a section of two Gnat aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Ajoy Kumar Majumdar was ordered to “scramble” along with two Hunter aircraft, for patrol duty over the Lahore sector. The section was surprised by four enemy Sabre jet aircraft. Acting with great presence of mind Flight Lieutenant Majumdar ordered the Hunters into a defensive turn and at the same time engaged the Sabres in an attempt to ward them off. In the ensuing battle he shot down one of the enemy aircraft.

In this combat, Flight Lieutenant Ajoy Kumar Majumdar displayed great skill and initiative in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

During the recent operations against Pakistan, Flight Lieutenant Hamir Singh Mangat, a Navigator in an Operational Bomber Squadron, successfully navigated by day and night a number of leader and marker aircraft on hazardous offensive and tactical close support missions deep into enemy territory. Despite intense enemy fire and grave danger to his personal safety, he struck to his post with cool courage and firm determination and accurately navigated the aircraft to their targets to carry out their vital missions.

Throughout the operations Flight Lieutenant Hamir Singh Mangat displayed courage and devotion to duty of a high order.

On the 19th September 1965, as sub-section leader in a four Gnat aircraft formation, Flight Lieutenant Viney Kapila gave valuable assistance to his leader during an aerial battle against four Pakistani Sabre jet aircraft. The battle was fought at a height of less than 2000 feet from the ground where enemy antiaircraft guns were active. He shot down one of the enemy aircraft and then helped his leader to cripple another.

In this action Flight Lieutenant Kapila displayed courage and devotion to duty of a high order.

On the 16th September 1965, Flying Officer Prakash Pingale led a section of two aircraft on a “scramble” mission. His section engaged a Pakistani F-86 aircraft, which was also under its own radar control. With great skill, Flying Officer Pingale manoeuvred his section behind the enemy aircraft when he noticed another Sabre jet coming in to attack. He immediately changed his position and shot down the enemy aircraft, which he had engaged earlier. Then he turned to the other enemy aircraft and flying with great skill and accuracy, engaged it and shot it down also.

The skill and leadership displayed by Flying Officer Pingale in this air combat were in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.