Air Marshal Pirthi Singh was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1953. During his distinguished service of 35 years, he has held important command and staff appointments such as Command of the Aircraft and System Testing Establishment, Director Offensive Operations, Director Training, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Operations) and Deputy Chief of Air Staff at Air Headquarters. He is a graduate of National Defence College.

Air Marshal P Singh is a test pilot who has evaluated advanced supersonic aircraft of widely varying design. As a test pilot he holds the rare distinct having carried out evaluation trials of all combat aircraft presently held in the Air Force Inventory. In 1979, he was appointed Commandant Aircraft System and Testing Establishment where he organised and participated in the testing and development of new equipment. He carried out these tasks successfully and without incurring a single incident involving loss or damage to any aircraft or equipment under development. As Commandant, he had shown extreme devotion and made outstanding contributions to aeronautical development in the country. Due to his initiative, dedication, hard work and foresight, the Test Pilot School at ASTE is rated very high.

As Deputy Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Singh continued to display qualities if extreme dedication and professional excellence. His acumen for planning and dear perception of the long term operational requirements of the Air Force was a strong contributory factor to finalisation of some long term plans.

Air Marshal Pirthi Singh, AVSM, VM & Bar has, thus, rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Marshal Mohinder Singh Bawa was commissioned in the Air Force in April 1953. During his long service career, he has held a variety of command and staff appointments which include the command of one frontline fighter squadron and two major operational bases where he accomplished high rates of aircraft serviceability, enhanced operational preparedness and all round efficiency. He ha also held the assignment of Air Adviser in the Indian High Commission in London, Senior Directing Staff at Defence Services Staff College and Senior Air Staff Officer at one of the operational commands.

In 1979, when in command of a major fighter base in the Western Sector, he created the infrastructure to operate newly acquired fighter bomber aircraft an made the squadron fully operational in the shortest possible time. Air Marshal Bawa's planning skills and dynamism became apparent once again when he was appointed Senior Air Staff Officer of an Operational command.

In his present appointment as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of a operational command, his dynamism, dedication and managerial skills have directly influenced the command's functioning. He has instilled a sense of purpose, pride and dedication in the personnel serving under him.

Air Marshal Mohinder Singh Bawa, AVSM, VM, has, thus, rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Marshal Gursharan Singh was commissioned in the Air Force on 26 February 1952. Since then he has held a wide variety of command and staff appointments. During his long and distinguished service, he excelled himself not only by professional competence but also outstanding administrative ability. For his outstanding professional abilities, he was selected to undergo the prestigious Cranfield Course in United Kingdom in Aeronautical Science, which he complete with distinction.

During the Indo-Pak Conflict of 1971, his sustained hard work under adverse conditions, resulted in high rate of serviceability of the squadron where he served.

He served as Maintenance Staff Officer of two commands, where he achieved substantial qualitative improvements in maintenance standards. As the Director of Maintenance Plans & Inspection, his methodical, systematic an incisive approach contributed greatly in formulating efficient maintenance planning procedures and servicing schedules for the newly inducted and existing weapon systems. Under his able guidance, an awareness grew in the maintenance organisation of the urgent need to improve the quality of maintenance support while at the same time reducing costs through innovation.

As Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Engineering), despite the immense problems involved, he ensured the smooth induction of new heavy and medium transport aircraft. With his experience in the diverse field of maintenance management, he has streamlined maintenance disciplines and guided his personnel in overcoming the teething troubles associated with the introduction of new weapons systems into the Indian Air Force. Air Marshal Singh has served as Director General of Radar and Communication Project Organisation and has achieved rare distinctions in planning, installation and commissioning of tropo, microwave and radar facilities for the Air Defence Ground Environment System. Through his dedication and untiring effort, he achieved a high state of induction and operationalisation of installations, including those located in far flung areas and inaccessible mountainous terrain.

Air Marshal Gursharan Singh, AVSM VM, VSM has, thus, rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Denzil Keelor was commissioned in the Air Force on November 1954 and has held important command and staff appointment including command of a Fighter Squadron, Tactical Air Combat Development Establishment, Air Attaché France and Air Officer Commanding of a fighter base. An outstanding fighter pilot, Air Vice Marshal Keelor qualified as a Pilot Attack Instructor and Fighter Combat Leader and has over 3500 hours of accident-free flying to his credit. He was awarded the Vir Chakra for conspicuous gallantry Indo-Pak Conflict in 1965. In 1978, he was also awarded the Kirti Chakra saving two MiG aircraft under conditions of emergency involving fire in the air. He has commanded the Tactical Air Combat Development Establishment for over four years and helped in developing air combat tactics which are in current use in Indian Air Force.

Air Vice Marshal Keelor whilst functioning as Air Attaché in France, not only projected the image of the Air Force in a superlative manner but also worked great dedication in the acquisition process of the Mirage 2000 aircraft and a equipment. Based on his performance there, he was specially selected for appointment of Air Officer Commanding of the Wing where the Mirage 2000s were based on induction. His achievement and dedication of a high order in completing this project earned him the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

As Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations) at Air Headquarters, he brought his drive and professional acumen to bear in sharpening the operational capability of the Air Force. His deep understanding of all facets of Air Operations was apparent during the Sri Lanka operations. At very short notice, he was able to plan and effect the massive air induction of IPKF men and their equipment into Sri Lanka, in addition to organising helicopter operations and accomplishing in time the reconnaissance tasks. The success of Air Force operations and the swiftness with which these were carried out clearly indicated a high degree of dynamism, planning and dedication on the part of Air Vice Marshal Keelor. Air Vice Marshal Denzil Keelor, KC, AVSM, VrC has, thus, rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.