Group Captain Agia Kar Singh Bakshi joined the Indian Air Force in 1942. He has held a variety of appointments where he has performed his duties very creditably. He saw active service during World War II. He attended the Administrative Course and Air Traffic Control Course. He also attended Joint Air Traffic Officer (Advanced) Course in the United Kingdom. In 1966, as Senior Officer 1/c Administration, Headquarters Training Command Group, he rendered commendable service. He took keen interest in the welfare of all personnel in the matter of accommodation, messing, sports and other facilities. He displayed professional skill in planning the shifting of a Transport Training Wing, Navigation and Signals School and an Air Force Hospital to their new locations without interruption in their training and other commitments. He has recently taken over the command of the Air Force Administrative College.

Group Captain Randhir Singh was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1942. He saw active service during World War II. He has held various staff and command appointments. He attended Fighter Controllers Course and Ground Attack Course on Canberra in the U.K. He also attended the Indoctrination Course in Aviation Medicine. He has commanded many operational Squadrons and an operational station with distinction. He has flown a variety of modern aircraft. In 1951, he did creditable work by bringing a Squadron from number plate basis to fully operational status in a short time. Again, in 1959, he took over the command of another important flying Squadron and developed it into an effective unit within a brief spell. He himself flew numerous sorties with commendable results until the end of the Chinese aggression. During the 1965 conflict with Pakistan, with complete disregard to personal comforts, he successfully directed the air defence operations within his area of responsibility.

Air Commodore Brian Keith Stidston was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1944. He saw active service during World War II. He has held various command and staff appointments with distinction. He attended All Purposes Flying Instructors Course in the U.K., the Armament Training Course and the Indoctrination Course of Aviation Medicine. He has been commanding an operational flying station for over two years. Earlier, he commanded a Tactical Air Centre in an operational area. In both these assignments, he ensured a high standard of operational readiness and has creditably fulfilled all commitments assigned to him despite difficult terrain and weather conditions. His contribution in evaluation trials of various types of aircraft has been significant. He has brought about vital improvements in various airfield aids and facilities which have led to higher operational efficiency of the stations and units.

Group Captain Lakshman Madhav Katre was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1945. He has held various staff and command appointments with distinction. He attended the Flying Instructors Course in the United Kingdom. He also attended Junior Com manders' Course, Defence Services Staff Col lege Course and Armament Training Course. While commanding an operational flying Station during the period 1966-68, he displayed outstanding qualities of leadership and man­management and brought the station to operational readiness in a very short time. With his initiative and local improvisation he also developed an effective system for protecting his station and this system was adopted by other operational stations also. During the unprecedented floods in North Bengal, Sikkim and Bhutan area in October 1968, Group Captain Katre was appointed the local commander for Air Force Flood Relief work, and in this capacity he discharged his duties most creditably.

Group Captain Nittript Lal Badhwar was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1950. He has held various staff and command appointments with distinction. He attended the Defence Services Staff College Course in 1963. He commanded a heavy transport squadron with distinction and in that capacity was largely responsible for establishing suitable procedures for the operation of such aircraft over high mountain ranges. He has served as Air Adviser to the High Commissioner of India in Pakistan. In this assignment, he rendered distinguished service as Air Adviser to the High Commission, he rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order in that he helped the Indian Air Force to sort out a number of problems.

Air Commodore Satpal Singh was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1944. He has held various appointments such as Deputy Air Adviser (Technical) in U.K. Deputy Director of Guided Weapons at Air Headquarters and Secretary, Nanda Committee on Trade Structure. He attended Signal Officer Course and Special Communication Course in the United Kingdom. He also attended the Defence Services Staff College Course and the National Defence College Course. He was posted as the Command Signals Officer at Headquarters, Western Air Command, in January 1965, where he helped to improve the operational preparedness of the command in the fields of signals and electronics. With his organising ability and professional skill, he has been able to meet the demands of operational communication in the Western Air Command.