On the 6th December, 1977, Corporal Vishwanath Sharma, who was returning to his unit after expiry of his Casual Leave, had to break his journey at Delhi Railway Station to catch a connecting train to Jodhpur. At about 1430 hours on that day, Sergeant Mange Ram of Air Force Station, Jodhpur, was passing through Company Bagh, opposite Delhi Railway Station, happened to notice two persons trying to pick the pocket of a person sleeping in the Company Bagh. On being challenged, both of them attacked Sergeant Mange Ram and pushed him into the hedge. Corporal Sharma, who happened to be there, rushed to his help. The Criminals, who tried to run away, were given hot chase by Corporal Sharma and Sergeant Mange Ram. One of the culprits named Gurdeep, whipped out a dagger and stabbed Corporal Sharma in the stomach. Corporal Sharma was immediately rushed to Jayaprakash Narayan Hospital by Sergeant Mange Ram and later to Military Hospital, Delhi Cantonment for intensive care on 17th December, 1977, where he succumbed to his injuries, the next day. The criminals were later nabbed by the police.

In this action, Corporal Vishwanath Sharma displayed exemplary courage, high sense of comradeship and undaunted determination.

An aircraft was lost in October, 1967 in Kulkila Glacier area of Lahul-Spiti at the height of 15,000 and 18,000 feet. In October, 1978, Squadron Leader Puran Chandra Singh Rautela, VSM, volunteered to undertake the expedition to locate the wreckage and the body of the pilot. Despite adverse weather conditions, he undertook the journey as snow would have obliterated the traces of wreckage. On the way he saved the life of a Japanese tourist suffering from acute pulmonary edema at a height of 13,000 feet by offering him the limited oxygen available to the team. Though deserted by the majority of porters, he continued to lead the expedition under dangerous weather conditions with temperature at -30°C and wind speed of 50 knots. During the course of operation, on one occasion, he was buried to the neck-deep in loose snow. Inspite of this, he inspired confidence in the members of his team through personal example and carried on the expedition and ultimately discovered the wreckage of the aircraft lost nearly 11 years ago and carried the wreckage back to the base.

In this action, Squadron Leader Puran Chandra Singh Rautela displayed exemplary courage, determination and devotion to duty of a high order.

On 25th October, 78, a labourer Shri Mithoo Lal was buried alive approximately at a depth of 30 feet in a well of the Sewage Disposal System, under construction in the New Project Area of Air Force Station, Agra. No one was willing to undertake rescue operation for fear of being trapped as well. At about 1430 hours when Squadron Leader Jagat Narain Shukla learnt about the disaster, he rushed to the scene of the accident and informed Police and Fire Brigade. These agencies arrived promptly, but as the cave in was about 20' and the exact position where the labourer was buried, was not known, none was prepared to enter the well.

Realising the situation, Squadron Leader Shukla himself jumped into the pit and commenced rescue operations. On seeing his example some other labourers joined the rescue and Shri Mithoo Lal was rescued after four hours' effort.

The selfless act of courageous at the peril of his own life and hard struggle in hostile environment was at display at its finest and resulted saving of a human life, the life of a poor civil laborer, Shri Mithoo Lal.

In this action, Squadron Leader Jagat Narain Shukla displayed initiative, courage and determination of a very high order.

On the 24th January, 1979, Squadron Leader David Joseph Achates Defigueiredo was participating in a seven aircraft Republic Day Fly-past rehearsal formation. On completion of the rehearsal he rejoined circuit. As he commenced a descending turn to the left, a hydraulic malfunction occurred in the control circuit to the ailerons. The rate of roll to the left suddenly increased and Squadron Leader David Defigueiredo found that the control stick had jammed and could not be centralized. As the aircraft rolled on to its back the nose dropped into a spiraling descent. In such an uncontrollable situation, so close to the ground, the immediate, and entirely correct, reaction of most pilots would be to abandon the aircraft while adequate height was available. However, without losing his presence of mind, he continued to apply various corrective measures in order to save the precious aircraft. Finally, he could pull the aircraft out of its dive barely 600 ft. above ground level and brought it safely back to the base.

In this action, Squadron Leader David Defigueiredo displayed courage and determination, professional competence and devotion to duty of a high order.

During March, 1979, Lahul and Spiti valley in Himachal Pradesh were subjected to heavy snowfall and avalanches which had disrupted all traffic to and from the valley and had considerable loss to life and property of the inhabitants. Squadron Leader Gulzarinder Singh Braich was detailed to undertake relief supply missions in the area. Undeterred by the adverse weather conditions and the consequent flying hazards, he flew eight sorties with 6,700 kilograms of supplies for the affected people.

Squadron Leader Gulzarinder Singh Braich thus displayed courage, determination and devotion to duty of a high order.

On 26th March 1979, Squadron Leader Narinder Singh was engaged in Ladakh. The dropping zone was located in a narrow valley surrounded by high ranging hills. The operation involved constant manoeuvring of the aircraft every close to the hills. During a critical turn at an altitude of about 13,000 feet, his aircraft developed an engine failure and started losing height and power rapidly. Squadron Leader Narinder Singh skillfully manoeuvred his aircraft and diverted it to advance landing ground at a distance of about 45 kilometers from the dropping zone and effected a safe landing with the help of only one engine. Squadron Leader Narinder Singh not only saved a valuable aircraft but ensured delivery of urgently required rations at the destination.

In this action, Squadron Leader Narinder Singh displayed professional skill, courage, determination and devotion to duty of a very high order.

On 01 May 79, Squadron Leader Manohar Pandurang Rane was detailed to fly the Chief of the Staff from Halwara to Barnala and back. On completion of task, when he was flying the helicopter back to base, the rotor blade spacing cables broke and severed two of the three controls rods to the rotor head. This left him with no control over the attitude or descent path of the helicopter. He assessed the performance what little control remained and gradually managed to coax the aircraft into a slightly nose-up descent path. Realizing that he would not be able to slow down the descent rate, he shut down the engine as there was no other alternative. Unfortunately the helicopter crashed and caught fire and Squadron Leader Rane lost his life.

Squadron Leader Manohar Pandurang Rane thus displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

Flying Officer Trivedi handled multiple emergency situations with exemplary professional competence, returned to base without a radio telephonic system, carried out a flapless approach and landing at a speed of 200 knots and brought the aircraft to a halt without any further damage. Flying Officer Trivedi thus not only saved a valuable aircraft under circumstances of grave risk to his own life but also made it available for more valuable purpose of post accident investigation.

In this action, Flying Officer Atul Trivedi displayed exemplary courage, professional competence, undaunted determination and devotion to duty of exceptional order.