Wing Commander Chandra has been serving as Senior Training Officer of a Technical Training School since April 1960. After the outbreak of hostilities in October, 1961, the training flow had increased manifold while there was no corresponding increase in training aids and instructors. This called for great resourcefulness, ingenuity on the part of the staff and more so on the shoulders of Senior Training Officers.

Wg. Cdr. Chandra who was given this momentous task of increased training commitment set down his assignment with single minded devotion and formulated a comprehensive training programme to meet the increased commitment. During this period he introduced a number of new training aids which made the imparting of technical training easy and simpler.

Wg. Cdr. Chandra has rendered distinguished service of a high order.

Flight Lieutenant Jagmohan Singh Virk is a qualified Flying Instructor and holds the highest transport category and instrument rating. During the past one year, through his persistent efforts he has accelerated the output of transport pupils. In addition to the training commitments, this officer at the peak of emergency, transported troops and equipment to N.E.F.A. area.

His cheerful devotion to this arduous duty under great physical and mental stress was a source of inspiration to his colleagues and pupils and an all round fine example on a flying station. He has, therefore, rendered a distinguished service of a high order.

Flight Lieutenant Tapishwar Dutt Vasisht is a qualified flying instructor and has obtained the highest transport category and instrument rating.

This officer was employed in one of the I.A.F. pilot training institutions where he carried out instructional duties with zeal and determination. His sustained efforts resulted in doubling the training output of pilots during the Emergency. To achieve this distinction Flt. Lt. Vasisht flew over 100 instructional hours per month.

In addition to his training commitment, this officer undertook the work of flying troops and equipment to Assam area during the Chinese aggression; a task which he accomplished with great success. The officer displayed a high sense of duty and sincere devotion to his allotted tasks.

Master Warrant Officer Harbhajan Singh Rattan has been on the posted strength of Heavy Transport Squadron operating in J & K area as Deputy Signals Leader. He is on his 4th operational tour and during the current tenure has flown 1200 hours on operations. On 21st February, 1964, while 3 aircraft were being loaded for supply dropping missions, Master Warrant Officer Rattan noticed smoke emanating from the cockpit of the aircraft parked in the middle. Realizing the danger to the other aircraft in case the fire was not controlled, he immediately with the help of some other airmen pushed one aircraft to safe distance while the other aircraft was taxied away by a pilot. After ensuring the safety of the two aircraft Master Warrant Officer Rattan took charge of the fire fighting operations. With complete disregard to his personal safety he entered the aircraft, located the fire and attempted to smother it, but was nearly overpowered by suffocating smoke. He came out and undeterred entered the aircraft again and found the situation fraught with serious possibilities of the fire spreading to the cargo load which consisted of logs of wood. When his attempts to open the cargo doors were not successful, he on his own initiative, ordered the cargo doors to be hacked open.

Subsequently, he supervised the discharge of cargo from the aircraft and simultaneously directed fire fighting operations and carried on until he fell unconscious due to fumes, suffocation and exhaustion. His correct assessment of the situation and prompt action prevented the possible spread of the fire and saved valuable aircraft.

Throughout these operations, Master Warrant Officer Harbhajan Singh Rattan displayed complete disregard to his personal safety, remarkable courage and selfless devotion to duty, which is in keeping with best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

Master Warrant Officer Winfred Samuel is posted to one of the Heavy Transport Squadrons operating in J&K area since March, 1961. From the very inception of the unit he has been incharge of the Daily Servicing Section. Inspite of the low manning level and limited servicing facilities, this officer, through his professional skill, high organizing ability and grim determination inspired his men to work to the maximum capacity and successfully maintained a very high standard of serviceability. But for his sustained efforts and capacity for hard work it may not have been possible to maintain the vital airlift of supplies to the required schedule, particularly during the emergency.

One of the aircraft belonging to his unit was stranded at Leh with a damaged undercarriage. Master Warrant Officer Samuel with a handful of men and spares proceeded to Leh to repair the aircraft. He, along with his men worked round the clock for over 15 hours and made the aircraft serviceable for it to be flown before the setting in of bad weather. Had this aircraft not been retrieved, it would have remained stuck at Leh for a considerable period.

Master Warrant Officer Winfred Samuel, by his leadership, courage and devotion to duty and capacity for hard work has thus rendered distinguished service of a very high order.

Late Warrant Officer Krishna Vittal Rao was incharge of the Photo Section of No 106 Strategic Reconnaissance Squadrons since 6th March, 1961. During his tenure, the Squadron was assigned such important photographic tasks as covering operation VIJAY, vitally important survey of the border areas and tasks in connection with the Chinese aggression in October/November, 1962.

Throughout all these operations, the photographic missions undertaken by this Squadron necessarily demanded a tremendous mental, physical and organizational effort from this Warrant Officer. Though afflicted by coronal insufficiency coupled with diabetes - a disease which would have ordinarily hospitalized any individual for a prolonged period - he kept on performing his duties with a keen sense of dedication to the extent that the strain undergone by him aggravated his disease and was a contributory factor in his early demise. The speed and efficiency with this Warrant Officer carried out the maintenance of the cine cameras can be judged by the fact that there was not a single camera mechanical failure throughout the above operation.

The late Warrant Officer, with his determination, exemplary leadership and selfless devotion to duty in the face of such a physical handicap, had set an inspiring example which is in the highest traditions of the Air Force.