Wing Commander Parshottam Lal Pandhi was in command of a transport squadron engaged on Air Transport support operations in difficult terrain and adverse weather conditions in the North East Frontier Agency and Nagaland areas in 1960-61.

He carried out more than 1200 hours of flying on supply dropping missions in adverse conditions and showed commendable devotion to duty.

In March 1960, when airlift requirements to our northern frontiers increased considerably, a transport squadron under Wing Commander Lazaro was detailed to meet the commitment. It became necessary for Dakotas to fly beyond Leh to Chushul at greater frequency and also to newly selected dropping zones in treacherous mountain terrain. In order to ensure safety of aircrew and aircraft, new routers and t4echniques had to be devised. Wing Commander Lazaro undertook several trial flights in this area and worked out new and safe routes for his squadron to follow. Her organized and operated his squadron in a very efficient manner. Many a month, his unit flew more than 1200 operation hours.

In , 1961, as Officer in Charge Flying, Srinagar, he planned and coordinated the airlift for the entire Jammu and Kashmir area and succeeded in achieving all the tasks efficiently with limited staff.

Wing Commander Lazaro displayed leadership, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

As a Squadron Leader, Wing Commander Anthony Frank Gama commanded a Transport Squadron engaged in air transport operations over NEFA and NHTA from September 1959 to July 1962. In about a year and a half he carried out more than 1000 hours of flying on supply dropping missions and transport operations. He showed professional skill and organizing ability of a high order.

Squadron Leader Hardyal Singh Dhillon was commander of a transport flight operating from Jamnagar during the Goa Operations. He had to fly continuous ferry trips to all parts of India to bring in vitally needed spare parts required for the operations. On 18 December 1961 with a large quantity of ammunition and explosives aboard, he made a successful landing at an unfamiliar airfield with no night landing facilities. Squadron Leader Dhillon displayed commendable courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Bikram Singh Jaswal has been employed as a helicopter pilot since 1960 in the Ladakh area. He was one of the first few pilots to operate the newly acquired Mi-4 helicopters in this area. He undertook trials and carried out landings at advance landing grounds located at high altitudes with skill and courage. The series of trial flights undertaken by him, with loads and at various altitudes culminated in landing the Mi-4 for the first time at an airfield situated over 16000 feet above sea level.

While at Leh, in December 1960, he evacuated a jawan who was dangerously ill in one of our forward posts. He has carried out as many as 40 casualty evacuations. He has flown more than 1400 operational hours on helicopters over Ladakh and NEFA and displayed professional skill and courage of a high order.

Flight Lieutenant Gautam was one of the pilots operating with the Canberra Unit in the Congo during 1961. On 6 December 1961, he was ordered to attack Kolwezi airfield in Katanga. Despite extremely adverse weather conditions and heavy enemy opposition, he courageously and successfully carried out several attacks on the airfield and completely destroyed the Fouga aircraft which was harassing UN Ground forces. He also shot up three other Katangese aircraft on the field and neutralized other installations around it. Flight Lieutenant Gautam also carried out several other successful missions over Elizabethville in close support of the ground forces operating against the Katangese.

Throughout the operations Flight Lieutenant Gautam displayed commendable courage and devotion to duty in the face of the enemy.

Warrant Officer Nitendra Narayan Choudhry was engaged on air transport operations in the NEFA and NHTA areas during the period 1954-1962, and carried out more than 20000 hours of operational flying over dropping zones situated in difficult and dangerous terrain where the weather was unfavourable and flying and supply dropping operations are very hazardous. He has also taken part in relief operations and special survey flights.

His keenness and devotion to duty in the face of adverse flying conditions have been in the best traditions of the air force.

Squadron Leader Bharat Singh was in command of one of our Fighter Squadrons between June 1959 and April 1962. He was entrusted with the task of forming a Fighter Aerobatic team. He started with four aircraft in March 1960 and within a month led the team in a public display at Bombay. As a result of their impressive performance, he was authorized to start training a nine-aircraft team. The aerobatics training had to be done in addition to the normal operational and training commitment o the Squadron. The nine-aircraft team successfully staged a public display in January 1962. The standard attained by the team was due to the professional skill and training capabilities of Squadron Leader Bharat Singh.

As a Unit Commander, Squadron Leader Bharat Singh ahs all along displayed a high degree of professional skill and devotion to duty.

On 4th October 1962, one of our helicopters was stranded in Galwan outpost. In order to rescue its crew, it was essential to send a relief helicopter with a servicing party. No pilot was competent to undertake this difficult task was immediately available. Flight lieutenant Satnam Singh Sodhi, who was being trained for operations in the Ladakh area volunteered to carry out this hazardous mission though he had only 78 hour of flying experience on this type of aircraft and was not familiar with the area. Tough considerable risk was involved, Flight Lieutenant Sodhi was permitted to proceed on this mission. He landed at Galwan successfully at approximately 1630 hours in fading light. Immediately after th e servicing party had alighted, he flew out the stranded crew to a safer place.

In voluntarily undertaking this task, for which he was not fully qualified, Flight Lieutenant Satnam Singh Sodhi displayed a great sense of responsibility and a high degree of professional skill.