Air Commodore Harcharan Singh Bakshi was commissioned in the Administrative Branch of the Air Force in October, 1942. He saw active service during the Second World War in Ceylon and Burma and has held with distinction many Staff appointments connected with personnel as well as general administration. During the recent conflict with Pakistan he was Director of Air Force Works at Air Headquarters in which capacity he was responsible for providing adequate defence works for protection of aircraft and vital installations, for ensuring uninterrupted power supply for operational installations and for setting up of emergency repair organisations at forward airfields. A number of second tier airfields had also to be developed for operational use at short notice, which necessitated provision of works services such as power supply, blast pens and bulk petrol installations. By his timely rearrangement of priorities in the Works Plan, it was possible for all these operational tasks to be accomplished in time. The organisation set up for the emergency repair of airfields functioned smoothly at all forward Wings and the airfields remained operational throughput the hostilities despite persistent attacks on them by the enemy. He kept himself informed of the damage done by enemy attacks to airfields and ensured timely augmentation of resources, wherever necessary.

Throughout the operations, Air Commodore Harcharan Singh Bakshi rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.