Air Vice Marshal Yeshwant Vinayak Malse was commissioned in the Air Force in 1940. He has held important appointments in Air Headquarters as well as in the Command of various Air Force units. He attended the Staff College Course at Quetta in 1947; Senior Air Support Course at Land/ Air Warfare School, Old Sarum (U.K.) in 1951 and the National Defence College Course in 1962-63. He also served as Senior Directing Staff at National Defence College. He was appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command on 1st October, 1964. During his tenure, the Command undertook a number of important operations and consolidated operational bases to face threat from China and Pakistan. The Command also undertook airlift tasks to support the Army located in the border areas. The extensive air support given after the insurrection in the Mizo Hills was handled by him with promptness and precision. Under his able guidance, the Command assisted the Assam Government in airlift and other tasks. He personally supervised these operations and, at times, participated in them himself.

Air Vice Marshal Kanianthra Alexander Joseph was commissioned in the Air Force in 1944. He has held important appointments in Air Headquarters as well as in the Command of various Air Force Units. He attended many administrative and technical courses in the U.K. and also a Radar Course at Bangalore. He also attended Defence Service Staff College Course at Wellington. He took over the appointment of Director of Signals at Air Headquarters in March, 1966. The Air Force has had serious handicaps to overcome in the matter of radar coverage and airborne and ground communications. Despite many difficulties, Air Vice Marshal Joseph took great initiative and with the help of his own men, improved the radar coverage and communication links.

Air Commodore Gurbachan Singh was commissioned in the Air Force in 1941. He has held important appointments in Air Headquarters and in the Command of various Air Force Units. He attended the Defence Services Staff College Course, at Wellington in 1952-53. He took over the appointment of Director of Equipment at Air Headquarters in December, 1962. Under his able guidance, the equipment staff ensured even flow of equipment and fuel to the operational units in the forward areas during September, 1965 operations on our borders. With the procurement of new types of aircraft and equipment, it became necessary to assess our requirement for spares and this task has been performed by him creditably.