Air Commodore Hari Vinayak Phatak was commissioned in the Administrative Branch of the Air Force in 1942. After distinguishing himself in varied assignments in administrative fields, he was given the command of an Equipment Depot in August, 1974, where he excelled in all aspects of command and control. At the time of his assuming command of the Depot, the market conditions in the country were very unstable as a result of which normal supply of many items through the DGS&D was greatly dislocated. In particular, the procurement of clothing items was of major importance for that Equipment Dept. He launched a major programme of large scale local purchases of essential items. During his tenure, the purchases which were barely Rs. 7 lakhs in 1973-74 reached and all time record of Rs. 36 lakhs in 1975 -76. As a result, the supply position improved radically. This achievement was commended by the Chief of the Air Staff and the Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief of the various Commands at the Commanders Conference held in December, 1976. Reduction in the number of Discrepancy Reports concerning clothing items was another major task which he implemented. By formulating and introducing a series of new measures and personally monitoring their implementation, the number of incoming Discrepancy Report dropped from 243 in 1974-75 to 82 in 1976. In Command of Air Force Station, Avadi, the production at one of its lodger units under his supervision and guidance, improved radically and for the first time the unit was able to fully accomplish its allotted task. In the process, nearly Rs. 4 lakhs worth of spares lying idle and considered obsolete, were also utilised. During his tenure as Station Commander, he achieved a remarkable degree of improvement in prac­tically all spheres of the Depot's activities. The standard of discipline amongst both service and civilians personnel was also exemplary and it was largely as a result of his efforts that the Station won the award of the Best Administered formation in Maintenance Command.

Air Commodore Hari Vinayak Phatak has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.