Wing Commander Suares was the Commanding Officer of the Canberra Unit operating with UN Forces in the Congo. On 6th December 1961, he and his navigator Squadron Leader (then Flight Lieutenant) Takle were on an air-to-ground operational strafing sortie against an enemy airfield and other installations in Katanga. These officers carried out the attack despite intense enemy fire from the ground and destroyed the target thus enabling the ground forces to achieve their objective. A number of bullets hit the aircraft. One of them hit the navigator in the thigh and he began to bleed profusely. Disregarding his own safety, Wing Commander Suares set the aircraft on auto-pilot and rendered first aid to the navigator and thus helped save his life.

In doing this Wing Commander Suares showed courage in keeping with the highest traditions of the Air Force.

Squadron Leader (then Flight Lieutenant) Takle was the navigator of a Canberra aircraft which was on an air-to-ground strafing sortie against an enemy airfield and other installations in Katanga. The aircraft was hit at several places by enemy fire. One of the bullets wounded Squadron Leader Takle and he was bleeding profusely. Despite this he continued to direct the aircraft into attacks until the target was effectively destroyed and did not inform the pilot of his condition until he had calculated and set the course for home. In doing so, Squadron Leader Takle displayed devotion to duty and gallantry of a high order.

On 20th October, 1962, Squadron Leader A S Williams was ordered to find out the position prevailing at one of our Army posts in NEFA which had been subjected to heavy attacks by Chinese invaders. To carry out the task, he flew in a helicopter but it was damaged by heavy anti-aircraft fire by the Chinese. In order to save the aircraft from further damage, he skillfully maneuvered it towards the nearest helipad at another post. Unfortunately, the helicopter developed engine troubles as a result of the damage caused by enemy fire and he was forced to crash land it two miles from the helipad. He then trekked to the nearest Army post and was eventually evacuated to his own unit.

Earlier, on 12th October 1962, Squadron Leader Williams had flown several sorties in a helicopter by day and night to evacuate casualties from forward posts in the same area.

The courage and devotion to duty displayed by Squadron Leader Williams in difficult conditions were of a high order.

One of our Army posts in Ladakh have been surrounded by Chinese invaders, had to depend solely on air support. Our troops who had endured the siege had to be relieved and this could be done only by helicopter. On 4th October 1062, Squadron Leader Badhwar and Flight Lieutenant Narayanan flew several sorties to carry out this task. During one of the sorties, they experienced loss of engine power and eventually force-landed in a river-bed after avoiding a few Chinese posts. In order to obtain relief, they walked towards one of our posts, but after some time they observed a large number of armed Chinese troops. They then returned to the helicopter and decided to chance a flight. Meanwhile, about 150 Chinese had taken up positions on the hill tops near the helicopter and were beckoning to them to surrender. With great presence of mind, they managed to get to the helicopter and piloted it safely to one of our posts and thus saved valuable lives and equipment.

The cool courage displayed by Squadron Leader Badhwar and Flight Lieutenant Narayanan in a difficult situation was of a high order.

One of our Army posts in Ladakh have been surrounded by Chinese invaders, had to depend solely on air support. Our troops who had endured the siege had to be relieved and this could be done only by helicopter. On 4th October 1062, Squadron Leader Badhwar and Flight Lieutenant Narayanan flew several sorties to carry out this task. During one of the sorties, they experienced loss of engine power and eventually force-landed in a river-bed after avoiding a few Chinese posts. In order to obtain relief, they walked towards one of our posts, but after some time they observed a large number of armed Chinese troops. They then returned to the helicopter and decided to chance a flight. Meanwhile, about 150 Chinese had taken up positions on the hill tops near the helicopter and were beckoning to them to surrender. With great presence of mind, they managed to get to the helicopter and piloted it safely to one of our posts and thus saved valuable lives and equipment.

The cool courage displayed by Squadron Leader Badhwar and Flight Lieutenant Narayanan in a difficult situation was of a high order.