Wing Commander Nawal Naranjan Dhir (2752) Education has been senior training Officer (Non-Technical) in addition to his duties as Command Education Officer at Headquarters Training Command since Jul 1966. During this period, he has been responsible for achieving high standards in Non-Technical Training of officers, Flight Cadets and airmen in this Command, besides proving an all round educational coverage. While handling this dual task, he has displayed a high degree of academic and professional knowledge, zeal and enthusiasm. His guidance on educational problems has always been original and of a high caliber.

Specifically, he has been responsible for introducing the latest techniques in teaching English and improving the standard of airmen recruits at various Ground Training Schools. He has also been instrumental in revising and making up-to-date the various syllabi for non-technical trades.

His sense of dedication has been beyond the normal call of duty. Despite his personal discomforts and the handicap of a restricted medical category, he has always put in sustained hard work, showing great organizing ability and high sense of responsibility.

Wing Commander Ved Prakash Misra was commissioned in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch in July, 1949. He successfully completed the Defence Services Staff College Course in 1957-58 and has held few important appointments since.

He was Assistant Judge Advocate General (Air) at Air Headquarter prior to his posting to Headquarters Training Command as the Command Judge Advocate in October 1956. As an A.J.A.G (Air) at Air Headquarters Wing Commander Misra was in the process of drafting a new set of Air Force Act Rules. Notwithstanding change of appointment, he continued applying himself to this task and completed the draft in December 1966. The draft has since been approved by the Government and is under issue. In October 1966 when Wing Commander Misra took over the duties of the Command Judge Advocate, a large number of disciplinary cases and courts of inquiry proceeding were pending finalization. He worked hard not only to clear these arrears but also ensured that the new cases received due attention. In so doing, he investigated and removed the causes for delay. He analysed disciplinary cases and traced reasons which led to the commission of avoidable offences. By delivering lectures at stations and units under Training Command he helped in promoting better knowledge of Air Force law and a feeling of greater responsibility for reducing disciplinary cases by preventive action.

Though not part of his duties as a Command Judge Advocate, Wing Commander Misra painstakingly studied civil law, and the practice and procedures of civil courts, and by timely intervention and advice ensured that the interests of Service and the Government in any civil suit or proceedings did not suffer. He also made himself fully conversant with matters of disciplinary proceedings against civil Government servant and advised the Commanding Officers on correct procedures in respect of such proceedings. He wrote and issued training pamphlets giving comprehensive information on the subject and on Air Force law for the use of officers and cadets under training.

Wing Commander Misra has all along taken great pains to keep abreast with the latest trends in legal thinking. As a result his opinions have earned him a reputation for impartiality and high standard of judgment.

Wing Commander Inder Singh Dua (3631) took over as Senor Personnel Staff Officer of Headquarters Maintenance Command, IAF on first Apr 1969. Prior to this he worked as Command Works I, in which assignment he was graded outstanding.

Immediately after taking over his new duties, Wing Commander Dua brought about radical changes in the working of his department. His organisation and professional sill resulted in the better handling of the administrative problems in the Command. He also ensured that no disciplinary cases were left unactioned and that the personal problems were attended to promptly. His devoted work contributed largely towards the betterment of administration in general and in particular the good administration of the civilian personnel, who abound in this Command.

The non-finalisation of the documents of airmen and civilians prior to their proceeding on discharge retirement, resulting in delayed finalization of their pension claims, had been one of the major problems of the Command. With ingenuity and professional zeal, Wing Commander Dua was able to formulate procedures by which the documentation is now completed in time. He has also spent long hours, beyond the call of his duty, to compile a large number of useful pamphlets and directives on administrative matters which have been of great value to the units.

Wing Commander Padam Sen Kapur (3704) Equipment has been Senor Equipment Officer at an operational wing for nearly three years. Throughout his tenure Wing Commander Kapur has shown commendable imitative in organizing and streamlining the equipment services at this wing. He has thus made a major contribution the successful accomplishment of operational and training tasks assigned to the Wing. Particularly noteworthy has been his personal contribution to the close integration of the technical and equipment service of the Wing, effective system of consumption analysis and forward provisioning to meet the critical requirements.

Apart from his achievements in the professional fields, he has consistently volunteered to undertake additional responsibilities and shown the same determination in accomplishing these difficult tasks successfully. The achievements of the Wing in the field of sports have also been largely due to his planning and untiring efforts.

He has undertaken all the tasks cheerfully in spite of a serious set back in his health soon after his arrival in the Wing and accomplished them creditably.

Wing Commander Shymal Kumar (3818) has been the Command Electrical Officer since November 1966. In this capacity he has been responsible for variety of complex tasks such as third and fourth line servicing of aircraft electrical components, instruments, engineering system and overhauling of a number of electrical ground equipment. Besides these responsibilities, he was entrusted with the job of designing and setting up a modern and elaborate electroplating shop in Repair Depot on "turn key" basis - a new concept, and the preparation of the design and technical specifications of a centralized compressed Air Supply system for the Repair Depot. The work in both these projects involved detailed market survey of the indigenous resources and a thorough understanding of the technical set up of various workshop a the Depot. By perseverance he completed the assigned task successfully, thereby displaying an admirable depth of knowledge, ability for sustained hard work and high degree of initiative and devotion to duty.

While in Command of Signal Unit, Wing Commander Kirpal Singh Sufi was entrusted with the responsibility of training technical personnel on a new type of equipment. In spite of the meager staff at his disposal, he got down to this task with devotion and was successful in training a large number of officers and men within a short period of eight months. During this period, the mobility of his unit was also tested, without any adverse reflection. Wing Commander Sufi was solely responsible for this good all round performance.

As Officer Commanding of another signals Unit, Wing Commander Sufi has been responsible for improving the administrative efficiency of the unit and its operation alertness. By good example and tact he has been able to knit the unit personnel into a highly trained and efficient team. He has also been able to establish very effective liaison with local civil agencies to make the Air Defence reporting system of the area a success.

Wing Commander Narayanan Krishnan Nair (4075) Technical Electrical during his long service career has held a wide variety of important assignments. Presently, he is serving as Deputy Director, Maintenance Plans at Air Headquarters.

Throughout his service career this officer has conscientiously and consistently discharged the duties entrusted to his in an exemplary manner. Whilst serving on the staff of Headquarters Maintenance Command, he was responsible for the high standard of maintenance of instrument and electrical systems at Depots under the Command. The professional skill displayed by this officer in the discharge of his duties proved an asset to the units and formations. When the Directorate of Maintenance plans was formed this officer did all the spade work to get the Directorate functioning effectively. As a result of his personal conduct, initiative and drive, he has set an example worthy of emulation by others.

Wing Commander Gursharan Singh has been the Chief Technical officer of an operational Wing since May, 1968. From the day of his arrival, this officer has shouldered his responsibility with commendable degree of self confidence and applied himself with exemplary energy, enthusiasm and devotion to duty to the complex task of maintaining a variety of aircraft with limited manpower and material.

By setting up the maintenance control room. Wing Commander Gursharan Singh has been able to improve the utilization of the technical resources and achieve a commendable co-ordination of the technical equipment services of the Wing. These achievements have contributed substantially towards the successful accomplishment of operational and training tasks assigned to the Wing, through enhanced aircraft serviceability.

Wing Commander Harbhajan Singh Bhatia was commissioned in Technical/Electrical Branch in February 1952. During his long service he has had a wide and varied experience at all levels.

While on the staff of D.T.D & P (Air), Wing Commander Bhatia has been responsible for the indigenous production of a variety of Air Force stores such as Battery Charging equipment, Rectifiers, Power supply Units, Aircraft Cables and Ground Equipment. He has also been associated with the development of Visual Approach, Slope Indicators, Isolation transformers, Constant Current Regulators and Air field cables, manufactured in the country for the first time. Thus, he has been instrumental in the considerable saving of the foreign exchange. His work in the field of Air Defence Equipment has also been very creditable. With his commendable initiative and drive, he was able to repair/service some imported items, which were difficult to replace. His contribution towards the indigenous production of a Lighting Equipment has also been substantial.

Throughout his long service, he has exhibited qualities of original thinking and sustained hard work.

Wing Commander Rajinder was commissioned in the Electrical Branch of the Air Force in 1951. He has also successfully completed a Course in Flight test instrumentation abroad. During his service career, Wing Commander Rajinder has been closely associated with the design and flight testing aspects of prototype aircraft manufactured in the country.

During his 6 year tenure in Aircraft and Armament Testing Unit, he worked untiringly and raised a team of airmen in flight test instrumentation. On his own initiative, he commissioned a number of complicated and specialized equipment and undertook elaborate instrumentation programme on a number of pre-production models of aircraft. Throughout he displayed an aptitude for original work and devoted service. Then in 1968, when posted at Headquarters Western Air Command, he developed a modification which not only resolved the baffling problem of transport operations in the Command due to the non-availability of vital material, but in so doing enhanced the operational capability of the aircraft also.

Squadron Leader Mahinder Singh (4191) took over as Command Judge Advocate of Headquarters Maintenance Command in May, 1968. Prior to this, he was Command Judge Advocate at Central Air command where he was commended for his good work by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

As Command Judge Advocate at Headquarters Maintenance Command, he has displayed great understanding and fore-sight in effective and speedy finalization of disciplinary cases through sustained hard work. He possesses a thorough knowledge of Air Force law and applies it with great confidence. It has been the result of his efforts solely that there are no arrears of courts martial in the Command. He has also been responsible for instilling a sense of urgency in the handling and disposal of disciplinary cases at all levels. Beyond the call of his duty almost single handed this officer has been responsible for issuing a number of pamphlets on legal matters which have been of immense help to the units, thus making a tremendous contribution towards good discipline and better administration.

He has carried out an analysis of the disciplinary cases to find out the causes of the various offences and made valuable suggestions towards the preventive aspect. Consequently, offences like absence without leave and rash and negligent driving accidents have been curbed to a greater extent.

The number of civil suits in the Command are the maximum, because of the large number of civilians working in its stations/ units. By his high professional skill, meticulous planning and liaison with Government Law Officers and counsels, he has ensured that the cases are properly contested. His mature advice and tactful handling of the arbitration cases, which came up before the Air officer Commanding-in-Chief, has led to amicable settlement of disputes, saying large amounts to the State.

His equipment background has been an asset in his professional assignments. He has also taken pains to improve his knowledge of law and other subjects. His contribution in all fields of work has been exceptionally high throughout.

Squadron Leader Viswanath Venkataramani (4970) General Duties (Pilot) has been the flight commander of a transport squadron since May 1967. During this period the squadron carried out nearly 18,000 hours of flying which was possible only because of his foresight planning and timely procurement of the required spares. He was also able to get the devoted co-operation of the repair and servicing personnel with his tactful ways.

Besides his operational commitments, being the only Q.F.I, he was also responsible for the flying training of a large number of raw pilots. He has worked with devotion, undeterred by aircraft un-serviceability and lack of other instructional staff, and has been able to prepare 20 pilots or categorization/ upgrading in a period of two years. In so doing, he has put in nearly 3,000 hours of instructional flying without an incident.

Squadron Leader Madhavakrish Khashav (5119) General Duties (Pilot) has been a senior instructor at the Flying Instructors' School since November 1966. He has flown a total of 3500 hours inclusive of 2000 hours of accident free instructional flying. He also holds an A-2 instructor category. Through his preserving effort and inspiration, many unpromising pilot have qualified as Q.F.Is and are doing well in their instructional duties. In addition to training commitments, Squadron Leader Khashav has also successfully organized various flight safety programmes with remarkable results.

Squadron Leader Khashav has rendered valuable service of considerable significance to the Air Force.

Squadron Leader Bansidar Srinivas Hatangadi has been the Senor technical Officer at a Signals Units since August, 1967. Through hard work and initiative he has evolved and organised a speedy and precise system of overhauling the sets. His methods will be a valuable asset for future overhauls of the set at other locations also. He has also been responsible for the successful deployment of the Signals equipment at distant alternate sites during the conduct of various operational exercises. The lessons leant in this regard will be of immense value to the service.

He has always applied himself with zeal to overcome any problem. Seized of serious limitation on the operational capability of a set when deployed in hilly areas, he devised a simple modification to overcome these drawbacks. The modification has greatly enhanced the operational potential of the set besides enlarging the areas of its deployment. He has also been responsible for evolving a trainable pattern, based on analysis and practical experience, which has since been recognized in the Service.

Flight Lieutenant Amarjeet Singh Kullar (5854) VrC General Duties (Pilot) has flown over 2,200 hours during his service of about nine years. He also holds the highest Q.F.I category 'A-1'. He was posted to the Aircrew Examining Board in 1966. During this tenure he has been employed on the categorization of Q.F.Is. Standardization and instrument rating of A.O.P. pilots, standardization of pupil pilots training and the testing of the jet pilots for instrument rating. By his dedication, enthusiasm for flying and hard work beyond the call of duty he has contributed greatly in enhancing the number of A2/A1 Q.F.Is. and in initiating and finalizing the categorization scheme for helicopter pilots.

Flight Lieutenant Kullar has had a brilliant career in the service all along. He stood first at the N.D.A winning the Gliding Trophy. Later, during the flying training period he won the President's plaque and the Air Chief's Medal. He kept up this high performance during his Squadron service and at the Flying Instructor's School by winning a number of competitive awards. He proved his mettle again by winning the Vir Chakra in the Pakistan conflict of 1965.

A Helicopter while landing crashed on an inaccessible helipad on 4th August, 1968 and suffered very sever damages. The aircraft was initially surveyed and was found to be beyond recovery due top the lack of communication facilities in the area. In spite of this, Flight Lieutenant Varghese took up this challenging task with practically no servicing experience or training on the type. He finally led a party of men to the crash site on 23rd April, 1969 and had the aircraft flown out on 12th May, 1969 after carrying out patch-repairs.

For carrying out this task, Flight Lieutenant Varghese had to improvise on the spot repair schemes. He showed the same ingenuity and resource fullness for air lifting a serviceable engine to the site, in a Helicopter. Besides tackling these complex technical problems, he also sustained the morale of his men in the face of extremely adverse conditions like lack of communication, medical attention and at time proper food. He thus displayed outstanding qualities of professional skill, leadership and devotion to duty. His devoted efforts also resulted in the saving of approximately Rupees twenty lakhs.

Warrant Officer Saroj Ranjan Chandra is one of the oldest members the engine repair section of Base Repair Depot and is currently employed as Warrant Officer-in-Charge Engine Test Bench. He has also received training abroad on jet engine testing and Universal Test Bench. In all his assignments he has consistently worked with devotion and has shown qualities of leadership.

Warrant officer Chandra has displayed originality in adapting old engine test bed for testing new engines and has also installed ACRE cold air units and turbine cooler testing unit without any outside help. Another notable achievement of this Warrant Officer is the manufacture of test bench for testing engines of particular type of helicopter from indigenous resources. This test bench is now in service use. Again by ingenuity and high professional skill he speedily repaired an engine test bed which was damaged seriously due to an engine explosion in the depot.

Flight Sergeant Churackamanill Mathew Abraham has been on the posted strength of Signals Unit, since July, 1967. He was associated with the installation of sophisticated radar Equipment from the very beginning. Prior to the installation work, he was responsible for positioning and arranging of the equipment at the site. Flight Sergeant Abraham played a significant part in the installation of this massive equipment and was primarily responsible for its final alignment, and subsequent checks.

Due to the remote location of the unit and lack of technical facilities nearby, a number of technical problems arise during this time. Some items of test equipment which came along with the main equipment were also found to be unserviceable. Besides, the literature relating to the equipment itself was not complete. Undaunted, he made the defective equipment serviceable and resolved the other technical problems competently with drive and initiative. He also helped in building up a nucleus of maintenance technicians.

In spite of this heavy working routine, Flight Sergeant Abraham has taken an active interest in sports and cultural activities of the unit. He has thus set an exemplary standard both in his professional and non professional activities.

201852 Flight sergeant Jotindra Nath, Fitter 1 has been the senior non-commissioned officer-in-charge Daily servicing Section in an operation Squadron since May, 1967. The squadron carries out flying both by day and night. Consequently, the Daily servicing Section has to plan and carry out its work on round the clock basis. Flight Sergeant Kaul has organized this complex work with credit. As a result, the squadron has successfully completed its allotted tasks, despite shortage of spares and limitations of manpower.

In addition to his primary duties in the Daily Servicing Section Flight Sergeant Jotindra Nath Kaul has been responsible for supervising the training of technicians to form the nucleus of trained manpower for other squadrons re-equipping with the same type of aircraft. Further, on many occasions he had to share the work of the central repair and servicing section also to enable the station to meet the heavy demands of operational and training flying. In all these tasks, Flight Sergeant Kaul has been a source of inspiration to others.

Flight Sergeant Kaul is brilliant example of an airman displaying a high professional skill.

206773 Flight Sergeant Mannamkunnath Goplan has been in an operational Squadron since May 1966. As SNCO i/c Electrical Section - a key section for the operation of a modern aircraft with their complex electrical circuits and instruments, he has discharged his duties with zeal, perseverance and efficiency. With his initiative, enthusiasm and professional skill he has ensured high rate of aircraft serviceability even though these aircraft were newly introduced in service and there was general shortage of trained personnel.

He has been responsible for fabricating a number of test equipment for electrical components which were not readily available. On his own initiative he also fabricated from indigenous resources, within a matter of 15 days, facilities for inhibiting an aero-engine. The rig has proved most reliable and simple and has saved considerable man hours.

The professional skill and devotion to duty of this SNCO has been a source of inspiration to all those working under him.

219257 Sergeant Prana Krishan Misra, F.II.A has been on the posted strength of an operational squadron since March, 1961. Throughout his stay in the squadron he has worked with zeal and vigor. His skilful diagnosis of faults and their rectification has saved innumerable man-hours and avoided unnecessary replacement of expensive spares. His ever-readiness and known capacity for sustained hard work has earned him immense respect and admiration from all men.

During his stay in the squadron he has been called upon to perform many difficult tasks under trying conditions. Once, during the Chinese aggression in 1962, he was the only tradesman in the entire servicing party to look after the servicing of six aircraft detachment. Through only a Corporal then, he worked with initiative and ensured 100% serviceability of all the aircraft despite lack of spares and manpower. On another occasion, he had to service an aircraft, after the failure of complete hydraulic system, without the requisite ground equipment.

Throughout his service career Sergeant Misra has displayed high professional skill and singular devotion to duty. He has accomplished many difficult tasks though his initiative and organizing ability.