Squadron Leader Minoo Vania has been a Parachute Jump Instructor since 1959. He is the first Indian to complete 500 live descents. He has jumped at places ranging from the mountains of Ladakh to the breaches of the South and from jungles of NEFA to the deserts of Rajasthan. Over the last 12 years, he has been associated with series of paratrooping trials. As the Chief Instructor at the Paratroopers Training School, he has rendered commendable service.

Master Warrant Officer Kollengode Narayana Venkatachalam has been a Parachute Jump Instructor since 1946. He has a record of over 400 descents. He has jumped from different types of aircraft, and his efforts include pioneering jumps, demonstrations, experimental and trial jumps with indigenous parachutes and airborne equipment, high altitude jumps and sea and survival jumps. His keenness and skill as a Parachute Jump Instructor are a source of Inspiration to younger instructors. The present standards in the Paratroopers Training School are a testimony to his missionary, zeal and pioneering work in this specialised field.

Squadron Leader Shreekant Harishchandra Pednekar has been serving as the Flight Commander of Training Flight at Paratroopers Training School since April, 1970. He has a total of 7525 flying hours, which include 2750 hours of instructional flying to his credit. He was entrusted with the task of Operational Training of Pilots of certain Squadrons and tactical drops for some Army Battalions. He undertook the task of training with great zeal and enthusiasm and completed it ahead of schedule. During this period, he had to fly by day and night without any proper rest. He has greatly improved the standard of training of new pilots and set an example worthy of emulation by his colleagues and juniors alike.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Shreekant Harishchandra Pednekar displayed professional skill and devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Air Force.

Squadron Leader Mohinder Kumar Anand qualified as a Parachute Jump Instructor in July, 1959. In imparting parachute jump training, he has been a source of determination, inspiration and courage to his pupils. He has completed over 375 parachute descents. In accumulating data for parachute descents at altitudes from 10 to 15,000 ft, he has played a pioneering role. He has not only shown great courage in initiating the first ever jumps at such altitudes but was also instrumental in collecting and compiling data which has proved of immense value in evaluating the various types of parachutes for use at these unexplored altitudes. In undertaking these trials and in obtaining useful data, he has exposed himself to hazardous circumstances disregarding his personal safety. In May, 1968, on his own initiative, he carried out free fall descents for the first time in the country. In December 1971, he carried out free fall descents for the first time from AN-12 aircraft, thus inspiring his subordinates to undertake sky diving. His pioneering spirit and capacity for innovation is largely responsible for the testing and final acceptance of a new type of parachute with indigenous modifications which has res ulted in the saving of foreign exchange. He is also responsible in proving the suitability and final acceptance of 28 feet diameter parachutes.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Mohinder Kumar Anand displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Air Force.

Flight Lieutenant Vishan Kumar Saxena has been performing the duties of Parachute Jump Instructor since 1965. During this period he has made nearly 700 live descents which is second highest amongst the Parachute Jump Instructors. He has also completed the highest number of night descents. He has jumped from seven types of transport aircraft and has taken part in almost all the trial jumps carried out to test new parachutes and airborne equipment. During the operations in December, 1971, he was detailed as a Detachment Commander at an Air Force base for certain forces earmarked for Airborne Operations in the Eastern Sector. With ingenuity, he carried out the task efficiently in spite of many handicaps and flew as a Despatcher in the lead aircraft.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Vishan Kumar Saxena has displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Air Force.

Master Warrant Officer Pran Krishna Ghose has the unique distinction of being the first Indian Parachute Jump Instructor who was trained at Chaklala in 1946. Being the senior most Parachute Jump Instructor in the Indian Air Force, he was entrusted with the job of organising and conducting paratrooping training in India after Independence. It was due to his initiative, hard work, ingenuity and devotion to duty that the training of Army paratroopers started at Agra within a short period. As a Parachute Jump Instructor, Master Warrant Officer Ghose has carried out 430 descents. He has always volunteered for the most difficult assignments and has carried out para descents at high altitude, over sea and desert. He has created a record by jumping from eight different types of aircraft. He has always been associated with all the trials of new parachutes and airborne equipment. Though he is over fifty-one years of age he is still an active parachute Jump Instructor. His knowledge and keenness on parachuting is an example worthy of emulation both by seniors and juniors. His hard work, professional skill and devotion to duty have not only been a source of inspiration for the Parachute Jump Instructors under him but also for Army paratroopers.

Throughout, Master Warrant Officer Pran Krishna Ghose displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Air Force.

Flight Sergeant Surjit Singh qualified as a Parachute Jump Instructor in 1963. He was the first Senior Non-Commissioned Officer to complete 500 Para descents including 100 night descents, within a short period of nine years. He further undertook live-jump trials of indigenous and indigenously modified parachutes. In December, 1968, he became the first Senior Non-Commissioned Officer to do free-fall parachuting in the country. In 1969, while accompanying a team to carry out high altitude descents at a Dropping Zone located at 15, 200 ft, he proved to be a great asset in completing the trials by carrying out live jumps inspite of the hazards, such as very high rate of descent, rarified atmosphere, extreme cold and hard rocky surface. Having carried out the jumps in complete disregard to his personal safety, he volunteered for the difficult and arduous task of despatching and performing the duties of Drop Zone Safety Officer.

Flight Sergeant Surjit Singh thus displayed professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Air Force.

Wing Commander Suresh Chand was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in October, 1953. He attended the Flying Instructors Course in 1962 and the Defence Services Staff College Course in 1967. He has flown over 1300 hours of instructional flying out of a total of 5350 accident-free flying hours. He assumed Command of the Paratroopers School in March 1971 and within a few months brought up the Operational preparedness of the Unit. In addition, he organized and successfully completed the paratroop training of a number of Transport Squadrons and of Transport Training Wing. This went a long way towards the success of airborne assault during Indo-Pak Conflict, 1971. Wing Commander Suresh Chand contributed towards the operational efficiency of the Transport Fleet and the Army Airborne Forces by developing fresh techniques in paratrooping and undertaking trials of new airborne equipment. He was responsible for setting up of an all time record of paratrooping by his unit.

Throughout, Wing Commander Suresh Chand displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Shashi Dharan Panicker has been with the Paratroopers Training School as a Staff Instructor since June. 1971. He is presently holding a Master Green category on Packet aircraft with a Command examiners ticket. His professional competence is evident from the manner in which he has handled flight emergencies. On one such occasion on 31st December, 1974, while on a mission to airlift 20 passengers and 2000 Kgs of service load, he encountered a perilous situation of a runaway propeller during the crucial stages of the take off, which caused the aircraft to swerve violently, a few feet above the ground. Maintaining his composure and with his skill Squadron Leader Panicker brought the aircraft under control and warded off what might have been a serious accident. Squadron Leader Panicker is an instructor of considerable experience. He has flown 1450 instructional hours out of total flying record of 5350 hours.

Squadron Lender Shashi Dharan Panicker has displayed courage, professional competence and devotion to duty of a high order.

Master Warrant Officer Korampeth Narayanan Nair has been a Flight Engineer since 1961 and has a total of 5650 flying hours to his credit. Out of this more than 1000 hours were done on operational areas. He has flown AN-12, Super Constellation and Packet aircraft and is holding Category 'A' since 1980.

Master Warrant Officer Nair is one of the officers who initially set up the infrastructure for training Flight Engineers at Paratroopers Training School. He is an experienced flight engineer of exceptional tact and ability for which he was entrusted the important task of training flight engineers for the Indian Navy. He completed the training in record time thereby further strengthening inter-service bonds and brotherhood.

Master Warrant Officer Korampeth Narayanan Nair has thus displayed professional competence, leadership capabilities and devotion to duty of an exceptional order.

Wing Commander Hardish Singh Sodhi has been posted strength of Paratrooper Training School since Jul 83 and he has been working as Flight Commander ever since. The officer has flown over 4600 accident-free hours on various types of aircraft. He holds the highest professional qualification and is an examiner on Packet aircraft. Being a qualified flying instructor with A-2 instructional category, he has also been responsible for conducting the operational training of his pilots. He has devoted himself wholeheartedly to bringing up and maintaining the unit at a very high state of operational readiness. He has ensured a high standard of performance by the flight in all flying tasks assigned to it.

Under his leadership and guidance, the performance of his unit, especially in inter-services exercises has been constantly commendable with all the pilots categorized and the unit winning the coveted Best Categorization Trophy of Central Air Command.

During the recent "Operation Meghdoot", the officer bore the heavy responsibility for the functional support to the detachment. At the same time, the success of the mission was due in large measures to his foresight and organizing ability. In addition, he personally undertook most of the trial flights over most difficult terrain of the exercise area. He also compiled the operating procedures which made subsequent operations in the area both productive and safe. He was also instrumental in training and clearing the pilots for dropping missions over mountain ranges which are amongst the highest in the world.

For the outstanding professional acumen, leadership, devotion to duty and organizing capability in keeping with the highest traditions of the Indian Air Force, the President is pleased to award Vayu Sena Medal to Wing Commander Hardish Singh Sodhi.

Sergeant Puran Singh has been working as the non-commissioned officer in charge Daily Servicing Section of a Paratroopers Training School during the recent hostilities with Pakistan the aircraft of this unit were utilized for transport duties. Sergeant Singh worked with utmost devotion and relentless vigor to achieve cent per cent serviceability of the transport aircraft of his unit. The unit carried out all its allotted tasks which was possible due to high serviceability state of aircraft.

Sergeant Puran Singh's willingness to work cheerfully at all time was a source of inspiration to all airmen to work hard under very adverse conditions.

300177 Flight Sergeant Bhagat Singh Ground Training Instructor/Parachute Jump Instructor was enrolled in the Indian Air Force in March, 1947. He is one of the pioneers of paratrooping in India. Prior to 1947, Flight Sergeant Bhagat Singh was in 152 Parachute Regiment and has the distinction of having taken part in the airborne operation at Elephant Point in Burma in 1944.

During his tenure as Parachute Jump Instructor, Flight Sergeant Bhagat Singh has trained a large number of Army paratroopers. He has himself carried out over 350 descents and has been associated with trials of new parachutes and airborne equipment. As a dispatcher he has flown more than a thousand hours. He took part in the airborne assault operation over Bangla Desh on 11th December, 1971.

Flight Sergeant Bhagat Singh has displayed excellent professional skill, courage, determination and devotion to duty. He has consistently rendered distinguished service of a high order. He is awarded Vishisht Seva Medal.

Sqn Ldr Om Prakash has been on the posted strength of Aviation Research Center from 26 Jun 84 and has been carrying out the duties of para Despatch Officer. He is responsible for para Training of personal of paramilitary forces.

He is a very highly experienced Parachute Jumping Instructor with more than 1000 jumps, with total safety, to his credit. He is a qualified sky diving Instructor as well as diving. He has also put together a team of troops for demonstration sky diving jumps.

He was responsible for opening Thoise Valley for paratrooping in Nov 87. He is the first paratrooper in the history of Indian Armed Forces to have jumped in the Thoise Valley that too with an old an conventional parachute. The task was accomplished with complete safety in the worst possible environment in sub-zero temperatures. Besides this, he has been responsible for planning and execution of High Altitude para jumps in the Leh Valley on two occasions.

For his professional skill, devotion to duty and achievement in the field of Para trooping and free all training, the President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Sqn Leader Om Prakash.

616153 Master Warrant Officer (MWO) Raghubir Singh Paul MTD/PJI has been on the posted strength of Paratroopers Training School, Air Force since 13 Oct 78 and has been performing duties of Parachute Jump and Free Fall instructor.

The MWO is one of the pioneers who have earned the distinction of carrying out 1640 parachute jumps. This is a rare achievement particularly when it is without an incident or injury. This is indeed a landmark in para safety. His jumps include 1400 free fall and 240 static line jumps. He has jumped from 10

types of different aircraft using 12 types of parachutes. He is also a qualified Combat Free Fall Instructor and had undergone training with US Army Team during the joint Exercise "Badge Iroquois" held at PTS in Feb 1992.

The MWO was one of the team members who has jumped from 30,000 feet AGL. It should not be out of place to mention that jump from such a high altitude demands extreme physical fitness and very high morale as individual is exposed to hostile environment where in, temperature goes as low as minus 30 degree Celsius.

MWO is also the founder member of IAF Skydiving Team "Akashganga". The team has completed nineteen years of its glorious existence since its inception in 1987. He has participated in innumerable demonstrations put up by the team at various places to mark important national events. He is an expert in the discipline of canopy formations, which includes making the Tricolour stack and landing them inside stadiums and restricted drop zones.

He has been part of pioneer team member who for the first time in the history of Indian Parachuting History made Relative Work and Canopy Relative Work formation during the Night Free Fall. Due to his immense experience and skill he has participated in Malaysian Armed Forces Open Parachuting Championship held in Malaysia in May 1995.

For his distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Master Warrant Officer Raghubir Singh Paul.