Wing Commander Hrushikesh Moolgavkar commanded No.1 Operational Wing of the IAF in Kashmir from September 1948 to May 1949. Inspite of having to plan out as well as conduct operations from both Jammu and Srinagar, this officer made time to take the air whenver the more difficult and dangerous commitments had to be carried out.

In these tasks, he showed great leadership, by his selfless devotion to duty and fearless readiness for offensive action against the enemy. This leaer inspried great confidence in his Squadron commanders and pilots.

The air attack on the well defended Domel Bridge and the Uri and Saadabad sectors was led and directed by Wing Commander Moolgavkar personally. When the defences around Uri presented severe obstacles in the way of operational flight on that area, he evolved a plan and attacked the Uri guns in conjuction with one of his Squadron Commanders. This attack not only exposed them to the fire of the anti-aircraft guns but also brought him within the dangerous probability of their aircraft entering the 'Compressibility Zones' with a risky load of bombs at high altitudes.

The final link-ups with Poonch, Kargil and Leh were established during the period he was in command of No.1 Operational Wing. The effective support that the IAF was able to render the Army during these operations was in no small measure due to his determination, initiative and drive in planning and coordinating the offensive to success.