As the Commanding Officer of Signals Unit, located near Amritsar, Wing Commander Krishna Dandapani found himself in the thick of the fight from the moment the original infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir escalated into full-fledged war with the onrush of Pak armour into Chhamb. The only installation which could monitor air activity over Pakistan and the battle area, it became Wg Cdr Dandapani's task to muster the meager resources of men and spares which he had at the time and keep the unit working day and night without any break.

He organised his unit to work as a closely knit team and gave timely warnings of Pakistani air intrusions into Indian air space. The Pakistan Air Force, which was fully aware of the immense value of this unit to our Air Force, sent over wave after wave of bombers and fighters by day and by night to bomb and strafe the installation and put it our of commission. Whatever damage was caused to it was immediately repaired and the unit went on the air in a matter of hours. When the original site became known to the enemy and became untenable owing to his raids, Wg Cdr Dandapani and his men moved it under cover of darkness to an alternative site and resumed their work of monitoring the enemy air activities and warning our aircraft of the presence of enemy aircraft in the battle area and their likely intention. Short of competent Controllers, he himself directed our aircraft most of the time to intercept the enemy before he reached our front line positions and warned our fighters of his reinforcements in the air so that they could disengage themselves from the enemy before they were outnumbered.

Wing Commander Dandapani's unremitting efforts at keeping the unit serviceable at all times despite the enemy's ceaseless bombing and strafing inspired his colleagues and subordinates to a high pitch of selflessness and efficiency.

By his ceaseless efforts, his undiminished enthusiasm and tough moral fibre, he ensured the uninterrupted functioning of the unit which was one of the most valuable parts in our air defence system.

During the Pakistani aggression in September, 1965, a Signals unit commanded by Squadron Leader Bawa Pritpal Singh had been instrumental in giving early warning of enemy air raids in the Jammu region. Despite threats of shelling and many air raids, this signals unit had been functioning round the clock with commendable efficiency. On many occasions this unit alerted Amritsar, Pathankot and Ambala about the approach of enemy aircraft from this area towards them. The unit also alerted the air defence systems when slow moving enemy aircraft were detected flying in this sector. Such enemy aircraft could be expected to drop paratroops in our territory near the vital positions.

Through perseverance and personal supervision and guidance Sqn Ldr Singh made it possible to work the old radar equipment of the S.U. for more than 19 hours a day. The vigilance was without any breakdown during the entire period of the operations. The leadership, technical skill and devotion to duty displayed by Sqn Ldr Singh has been of very high order and is in keeping with highest traditions of the Indian Air Force.

Squadron Leader Lakhmir Singh the Signals officer of one of our radar stations near the Indo­Pak border was charged with the responsibility of maintaining the radar unit at a high state of serviceability. His tasks during the period of operations between 5th August and 23rd September required not only a high degree of technical knowledge but a good deal of resourcefulness and skill at improvisation. His stock of spares was meager; the unit was under constant bombing and strafing attacks by Pakistani bombers and fighters. In one such attack the aerial system was put out of commission. To get another aerial to replace the damaged one would have involved a delay of days, so Sqn Ldr Lakhmir Singh set about repairing the system on the spot which he was able to do in day. The location of the unit having become known, the enemy efforts to destroy it and thus deprive us of our ability to keep track of his activity, increased. To prevent the unit from being permanently put out, Sqn Ldr Lakhmir Singh had to survey another site to which the unit could be moved. The move had to begin and complete at night so that the enemy would be ignorant about its new location and the unit would go on the air again by the morning. This was accomplished and the unit continued to give efficient cover in its new location until cease fire.

Throughout the period of operations, Sqn Ldr Lakhmir Singh displayed a high sense of duty, resourcefulness and skill. His ceaseless effort to keep the unit functioning at full efficiency was an example which his subordinate emulated.

Air Commodore Keki Nadirshah Gocal has been Senior Air Staff, Officer of Headquarters Western Air Command since 30th December 1963. A competent pilot, who is at home in almost all the type of aircraft in that Command, be they fighters, bombers, transport or helicopters, he has applied his knowledge of the aircraft and their performance to good effect in the preparation of operational plans.

When hostilities between India and Pakistan broke out, the task of preparing operational plans based on the general directive of Air Headquarters fell on Air Commodore Gocal. Allocation of targets to the fighters, fighter bombers involved a thorough study of the radius of action, take off distance with different war loads in the sharply varying temperatures, the type of weapon appropriate for the destruction of the target, the amount of fuel to be carried with the particular configuration and the sortie profile in respect of the different types of aircraft employed. His duties also involved the coordination of the effort of the technical and armament staff in working out the deployment of squadrons to bases to achieve the best results. Short of hand, Gocal had to work long hours without any rest and be available for advice to the Unit Commanders. He took on all the tasks cheerfully. By making frequent and unscheduled visits to the frontline units during the operations he ensured the smooth functioning and efficient performance of the squadrons.

Air Commodore Gocal has set a very good example of selfless dedication to duty and rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Commodore Victor Srihari as the Commandant of the Air force Flying College, Jodhpur was personally responsible for all air operations undertaken from this airfield during the fighting against Pakistan in September, 1965. The Flying College is primarily meant for imparting elementary flying training to various categories of aircrew. The sudden outbreak of hostilities and the enemy air activities in the Rajasthan-Sindh sector posed an unprecedented problem for this Air Officer as his Station had neither the personnel nor the aircraft and equipment to undertake any effective air operations, particularly against aircraft of superior performance of the Pakistani Air Force. In spite of these problems, Air Commodore Srihari rose to the occasion and through constant processes of improvisation and ingenuity organised the basic nucleus of an air defence force to counter the menacing threat from the raiding Pakistani aircraft. Through personal example he encouraged the pilot instructors of the College to readjust themselves to the operational conditions in a very short time and take to the air both by day and night.

As the operations progressed, the newly established operational force at Jodhpur under the command of Air Commodore Srihari started flying on missions of a diverse nature. Armed reconnaissance sorties were flown over the battle areas and into the enemy territories for provding vital information so badly required for the operations by the Army in Western Rajasthan. These armed reconnaissance missions were personally planned, controlled and managed by this Air Officer to ensure their utmost effectiveness in the face of superior enemy air potential. Fully aware of the limitation of his force he planned these operations in such manner that the frequent patrols by superior enemy aircraft could not do any effective damage to any our reconnaissance aircraft in this sector.

To counter the enemy air raids over Jodhpur and the surrounding areas a fine air defence team was organized by the Air officer and this force contributed to a large extent towards reducing the effectiveness, intensity and accuracy of Pakistani bombing at Jodhpur and the surrounding areas where our army units were operating. This fighter force operated by both day and night although they had very little training for night operations. In the offensive role also, the operational team under this gallant officer inflicted damage on enemy ground targets including some helicopters in spite of very stiff opposition from the enemy.

The overall contribution of Air Commodore Victor Srihari towards the air operation in Rajasthan-Sindh sector has been very commendable.

Group Captain Bal Bhagwan Marathe has been in command of one of the major flying Air Force Stations unique for the number, variety and complexity of its lodger units. As the Station Commander, he was faced with enormous problems of timely completion of operation training of the jet bomber crews and transport crews of the Indian Air Force and the ab­initio and refresher training of the paratroops of the Indian Army.

Group Captain Marathe spared neither himself nor those placed under his command in a determined round­the­clock effort to raise the flying standard of the Wing to an exemplary level of operational efficiency in providing assistance to the units engaged in the logistic support in the J&K area including Ladakh. Faced with enormous problems of acute shortage of trained personnel and equipment, Group Captain Marathe with determination, and able leadership, brought up the operational readiness of the Wing and accomplished the difficult task of training operational aircrew to a high standard of efficiency.

Group Captain Marathe's skill and effort as a pilot, his leadership, administrative ability, energy, drive and devotion to duty have inspired his officers and men to an excellent professional standard, by which he has rendered services of an exceptional order.

In December, 1962, Group Captain Trilok Nath Ghadiok assumed command of a transport wing mainly responsible for the air supply of J&K area including Leh. He set to work with commendable energy and perseverance in the face of numerous difficulties and soon brought the Wing to a high standard of efficiency in the air and on the ground. A pilot of outstanding ability, he has led a number of supply missions to forward areas, setting a very fine example to the experienced aircrew while training juniors. By energizing his men with unremitting care to the utmost effect, he ensured a high rate of aircraft serviceability. By infusing enthusiasm among his officers and men for operational efficiency, he brought the Wing to a high level of cohesive unit and combat-effectiveness. His unflagging zeal, helpful sprit, understanding and integrity have earned him excellent interservice support and co­operation and so this Wing has accomplished its large and varying task with unqualified success. The tonnage of supplies and equipment airlifted by this Wing between December, 1962 and May 1965 reached the admirable figure of over 73,000 tonnes.

By his devotion to duty and outstanding, effort, Group Captain Ghadiok has rendered service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain David Eugene Bouche assumed command of the Air Force Station, Ambala at the end of January 1965. His Station was responsible for forming and training Gnat Squadrons. All the Gnat units which participated in the recent operations belonged to this station.

Within a very short time of the assumption of command, he brought the Squadrons based at his Station to a high pitch of combat effectiveness despite shortages of trained personnel and equipment. An outstanding pilot himself, he imbued his pilots with and offensive spirit.

During the recent Indo-Pakistan conflict, when our forward airfields were subjected enemy air attack, Group Captain Bouche organized both day and night air defense properly and used the Gnat aircraft offensively, obtaining good results. He flew many sorties, both during day and night, and himself led a quite a few formations on offensive operations.

Group Captain Bouche's outstanding skill as pilot and his leadership in flying, administration and technical preparations produced a very high level of operational effectiveness of the Squadrons based on his station. He has thereby rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order during the recent operations.

Group Captain Bouche's outstanding skill as a pilot and his leadership in flying, administration and technical preparations produced a very high level of operational effectiveness of the Squadrons based on his station. He has thereby rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order during the recent operations.

Group Captain Surinder Singh has been a staff officer in-charge of air operations at Headquarters Western Air Command since 17th July, 1964. A very experienced Canberra pilot and a former Canberra Squadron Commander, he was made responsible for planning bomber operations during the recent campaign. Planning of even training sorties in peace is very time consuming and complex process; planning of bomber operations in war is even more so when factors like enemy anti aircraft and fighter defences, entry into and exit from the enemy area, low level night navigational problems and war load, which are normally not come across in peace, have to be worked out in the minutest detail to ensure successful execution. Throughout the period of operations, Group Captain Surinder Singh worked hard with serious purpose; he not only planned the sorties but briefed the squadron and Flight Commanders personally. The excellent work he turned in is reflected in the unqualified success of our bomber operations.

Group Captain Surinder Singh has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.