Air Commodore John Dunbar Aquino (1777) was commissioned as a Pilot in the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force in December, 1941. In 1945, he was commended for his valuable services in the Air Force and later Mentioned­in­Despatches for his gallantry during the Indo- Pakistan conflict of 1947.

During his long and distinguished career he had the distinction of commanding five stations in addition to having served as Senior Officer-in-charge Administration of an Operational Command. In March, 1970, Air Commodore Aquino took over as the first Commandant of the Air Force Academy which was then in its early stages of formation. He displayed great perseverance and determination in ensuring the successful launching of this prestigious project despite heavy odds. It was because of his indefatigable efforts and tenacity of purpose that the Academy was able to start Flying Training In January, 1971.

Throughout his career, Air Commodore John Dunbar Aquino has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Virendra Mohan Bhatnagar (3067) wag commissioned as a Pilot in the flying branch of the Indian Air Force in January, 1945. He has attended a number of important courses abroad and at the Defence Services Staff College, where he has also completed a tenure as the Chief Instructor. During his career he has hold a variety of important administrative and instructional appointments.

For the last two years, he has held the important assignment of Director of Plans a and Programmes, He has always applied himself with extraordinary energy and determination to all tasks entrusted to him. He displayed initiative of the highest order, in formulating AVSM 1972-73 the Long Term Re­equipment Plans of the Air Force as also the Roll­on Plans. The procedures and systems evolved by him have been of great assistance in implementing this new concept in planning.

Throughout, Air Commodore Virendra Mohan Bhatnagar has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Saroj Jena (3157) was commissioned In the Flying (Pilot) Branch of the Indian Air Force in June, 1945. He has served in a number of squadrons and has commanded an operational squadron and two operational wings. A qualified Flying Instructor, he successfully completed light Bomber Conversion Training on Canberra aircraft in the U.K. He commanded the I.A.F. Canberra detachment in the Congo in 1962. For his outstanding achievements in flying assignments, he was awarded the Vayu Seva Medal in 1969.

He was appointed Joint director of Transport and Maritime Operations at Air Headquarters in June, 1970, and Director of Joint Operations (Planning) in July, 1971. In April, 1971 he was detailed to assist the Government of Ceylon in their operations against anti­national forces. He proceeded to Ceylon on 10th April 1971 for a study of on the spot situation and worked out details of the I.A.F. aid plan. Thereafter, an I.A.F. Helicopter Detachment landed in Colombo on 12th April, 1971 for operations. From 21st April, 1971 to 25th May, 1971 his services were placed at the disposal of the Indian High Commissioner in Ceylon. He made a major contribution towards the success of the operations in Ceylon. With his devotion to duty and exemplary behaviour and conduct, he earned goodwill for our country and the I.A.F in particular.

Air Commodore Jena has also had the task of revising the Air Headquarters War Book, which he accomplished quickly and thoroughly. He has also made a significant contribution towards the preparation of a history of the achievements of the Air Force during the Indo­Pakistan operations in December, 1971.

Air Commodore Saroj Jena VM has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore MOORAT SINGH AULAKH (1660) Flying (Pilot) Citaiton Not Available.

Group Captain Charuvassery Ittirarichan Nedungadi (2017) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in October, 1942. During his long service career, he had held a variety of appointments dealing with administrative, organisational and personnel matters. In all these appointments, he had left the imprint of his personal discipline, efficiency and devotion to service.

Group Captain Nedungadi took over the duties of the Officer Commanding, Air Force Record Office, on 30th December, 1970. At the time of taking­over these duties, there was a largo backlog of pension and gratuity cases, and numerous representations from retired airmen concerning settlement of their dues being received. By establishing personal contact and close liaison with the staff of the Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Allahabad, interviewing airmen retiring from the service, Group Captain Nedungadi was able to clear all arrears. The procedures have now been so laid down that no new arrears are allowed to accumulate.

Group Captain Nedungadi, within a few weeks of taking over command of the Unit, had an 'Airmen Discharge Booklet' printed which enabled retiring airmen to know all benefits due to them and the procedure to obtain these benefits, thereby eliminating most of their grievances.

By his personal example, and. single minded devotion the ideals of the service, Group Captain Nedungadi has forged a closely knit and efficient organisation capable of reacting and producing results in the quickest possible time.

Throughout, Group Captain Charuvassery Ittirarichan Nedungadi has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain KOYITHODYIL RAVINDRAN NAIR (3475) Flying (Navigator) Citaiton Not Available.

Group Captain Abhijit Kumar Gupta (3505) was commissioned in the Logistics Branch of the Indian Air Force in August, 1948. During his career, he has held a variety of important appointments both at Units and at operational Commands and is at present in Command of an Equipment Depot. He was commended by the Chief of the Air Staff in January, 1971.

During his tenure as Commander of an Equipment Depot, Group Captain Gupta ensured successful completion of inspection, preservation and packing of a vast quantity of items received from another Equipment Depot which was closing down. He streamlined the internal procedures, achieving speedy and prompt supply of items required by the units, thus significantly enhancing the functional efficiency of the depot. In addition, he dedicated himself to the task of effecting economy in the use of stores. With untiring zeal and ingenuity he effected large savings of recurring expenditure. He geared up the supply organization which enabled the depot to maintain timely supply of stores to the units during the Indo-Pakistan conflict of December, 1971. In the field of administration, Group Captain Gupta has shown similar zest and acumen. The morale of officers and men under his command has been high.

Throughout his career, Group Captain Abhijit Kumar Gupta has worked with determination, tact and untiring energy and has achieved outstanding success in the discharge of his responsibilities. He has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain George Verghis joined the Indian Air Force in 1941 as a Wireless Operator and was commissioned in the Technical Branch in 1948. As an Air Signaller and subsequently as the Signals Leader in a Transport Squadron, he has done over 3000 hours of flying, most of which were on operational duties in the difficult terrain of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh areas. During his long service, he has held a variety of appointments and has earned a name for himself as an unassuming, tireless and efficient Technical Officer.

In 1968, when it was decided to establish a Medium Repair Facility in the Indian Air Force for Guided Weapons and Ground Radars, Group Captain Verghis was selected for the key post of Project Officer to implement this scheme. Planning and executing this project costing crores of rupees within a tight time schedule, was a formidable and challenging task. Group Captain Verghis tackled the task successfully with characteristic thoroughness and devotion to duty. By his personal example and leadership he built up a team of efficient and dedicated officers and airmen to implement the Project. By adopting modern management techniques, he has been continuously monitoring the progress to ensure that the Project is implemented as scheduled. When the Project is completed, the Air Force would have attained self-sufficiency in the overhaul of Guided Weapons and Ground Radar. The fact that this will be achieved within the stipulated time is due entirely to the meticulous planning and progressive leadership provided by Group Captain George Verghis.

Throughout his career, Group Captain George Verghis has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Prabhakar Shanker Dere (3883) was commissioned in the Flying (Pilot) Branch of the Indian Air Force in April, 1950. He has acquitted himself most creditably in a variety of operational, instructional and staff appointments.

Early in his career, Group Captain Dere qualified as a Flying Instructor and served in that capacity at the Air Force Academy. Later, as the Chief Flying Instructor of the Transport Training Wing, he was responsible for conversion training of a large number of pilots. He rendered commendable service as Deputy Director Personnel (Officers) at Air Headquarters, and served with distinction as Commander of a Tactical Air Centre.

In October, 1971, Group Captain Dere was appointed Group Captain Air II at Headquarters Eastern Air Command and was responsible for planning and execution of Air Operations of the Transport Force in the Eastern Sector. With his vast training experience and dynamic approach to his task, he soon organised and conducted intensive night flying training for all aircrew of various transport aircraft and helicopter. During the Indo-Pakistan operations in December, 1971, with his sound planning and direction, the Transport Force achieved most outstanding results in numerous missions undertaken by it in support of the Army and our own Fighter Force. At all stages of the operations, speedy deployment of our forces and vital logistic support in terms of spares, ammunition, explosives and other supplies were carried out effectively by air. Evacuation of casualties by air were also carried out promptly. Inspite of very heavy demands on the limited resources of Transport Force, Group Captain Dere utilized the aircraft and helicopters with maximum flexibility and achieved concentration wherever it was needed,

Group Captain Dere organised the para operations which were the biggest airborne operation in the history of the Indian Air Force. The outstanding success of the airborne operation earned laurels for the Indian Air Force. He also organised with great success the tactical airlift by helicopters of troops by day and night in the Brahmanbaria, Narsingdi, Daudkhandi and Bairab Sectors. This airlift enabled our ground forces to race against time in their advance to Dacca and renewed their confidence in the Air Force to provide them unprecedented mobility. The effective bombing raids over Dacca and Kurmitola were also organized by Group Captain Dere.

The outstanding success achieved by the Transport Force in the Eastern Sector was largely due to the sound planning and efficient direction of the Air Operations by Group Captain Prabhakar Shanker Dere.

Wing Commander Kyatnahally Najapa Ramaswamy (3771) was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) Branch of the Indian Air Force in January, 1950. During his career in the Air Force he has held a variety of important technical appointments and has left the imprint of his personal discipline, professional efficiency and devotion to service.

Wing Commander Ramaswamy joined the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on 31st March, 1964. He has been associated with the Project relating to the manufacture of MiG engines right form the inception of the Factory. He has done exceedingly good work during the stages of planning and execution of the Project.

After retirement from the Air Force he was absorbed permanently in the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in the post of Chief Production Engineer. In this sphere Wing Commander Ramaswamy exhibited qualities of leadership and technical perfection of a high order. He was also responsible for drawing up a coordinated plan for the establishment of production of the new engines required for fitment on MiG-21 aircraft.

Wing Commander Ramaswamy was largely responsible for the delivery of engines according to the fixed targets year after year, by exhibiting an extraordinary sense of devotion to duty and dedication. The degree of success which has been achieved by the Engine Factory at Koraput is a tribute to his acumen, leadership and professional ability.

Throughout his service, both in the Indian Air Force and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Wing Commander Kyatnahally Najapa Ramaswamy has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Wing Commander Kuldip Singh Bhatia was commissioned in the Technical Branch of the Indian Air Force in August, 1951. He attended Post Graduate Course abroad and also the Defence Services Staff College Course in India. After holding a variety of appointments at units, he was posted to a staff appointment at Air Headquarters. When Air Headquarters took up planning of a modern Air Defence Ground Environment System for India, he was selected to lead a team of officers to undertake this commitment. In this challenging task, he brought into play his varied experience and deep technical knowledge.

Under his able leadership and guidance, this planning team formulated the technical specifications of the Radar and Communication System required to meet the operational req­ AVSM 1973 uirements. On more than one occasion, he was deputed as Member of technical teams visiting factories abroad for the purpose of evaluating and selecting equipment required by the Air Force.

Throughout, Wing Commander Kuldip Singh Bhatia has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Wing Commander Ranjit Dhawan (4572) was commissioned as a Pilot in the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force in October, 1953. During his career, he has held a variety of appointments and is at present in command of an operational Squadron. He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for his exemplary action in the Indo-Pakistan conflict of the 1965.

During the December, 1971 war, Squadron Leader Dhawan was in command of a fighterbomber squadron. He carried out 12 operational missions deep inside enemy territory including strikes on Hyderabad and Nawabshah airfields. He was also responsible for the destruction of an enemy troop train at Mirpurkhas Railway Station and non­directional beacon at Chor. All these achievements resulted in a major setback to the enemy. He always displayed high, organising ability and skill in ensuring that aircraft serviceability remained high throughout operations.

In the field of administration, Wing Commander Dhawan has displayed equal imagination and foresight. Under his command, the morale of his officers and men was always high,

Throughout, Wing Commander Ranjit Dhawan has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

The late Squadron Leader Arun Keshav Sapre (4981) was commissioned as a Pilot in the Flying Brach of the Indian Air Force in October, 1955. In the earlier part of his AVSM 1974 career, he served as a Pilot in Operational Squadrons. After successfully completing the Test Pilot's Course in the United Kingdom, he was employed as a Test Pilot. He made valuable contributions toward flight testing and also carried out important development trials on a variety of fighter aircraft. He was responsible for successful trials of an aircraft designed and built in India by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

In March, 1971, Squadron Leader Sapre was detailed to carry out gun firing trials on a fighter aircraft. Despite the fact that he encountered a dangerous control problem at a crucial stage, while firing the guns, he skillfully dealt with the situation and brought the aircraft under control averting a major disaster. On the basis of these trials, he made useful suggestions for improvement in the control system of the aircraft.

In November, 1971, he again carried out 3 successful sorties for the purpose of testing the gun firing system of the aircraft. However, during the fourth sortie, the aircraft went out of control. Squadron Leader Sapre, at great risk to his life, tried to bring the aircraft under control but could not succeed. The aircraft crashed in the sea and he was killed.

Throughout his career, Squadron Leader Arun Keshav Sapre rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.