Flight Lieutenant (Now Wing Commander) Purshotam Lal Dhawan (2351) carried out 144 sorties as a Dakota Captain in Kashmir Operations. He was one of the pioneers from his Squadron in the Kashmir Operations. Despite heavy enemy fire he carried out a number of supply dropping sorties over our besieged and hard pressed garrisons at NOWHERA, JHANGAR, MIRPUR, KOTLI, POONCH and BARAMULA. His aircraft was damaged many a time by enemy fire but he carried on through sheer determination and will to defy the enemy.

He was also one of the Captains who took part in Night Bombing (in Dakota aircraft) of enemy positions with great success. Being bold, loyal and courageous, this officer always exhibited, during operation, a high sense of duty, morale and fighting spirit in spite of heavy odds he had to meet with.
For the outstanding services rendered by him during the Kashmir Operations, he has been awarded the Vir Chakra.

Wing Commander Purshotam Lal Dhawan was in command of one of the Transport Squadrons in the J &K Area – his third operational assignment in this area. After active hostilities commenced in Ladakh, information was received that Chandni post was under fire and no clear picture was available regarding our posts in the Daulat Beg Oldi area. Wing Commander Dhawan, knowing that he would encounter enemy fire, successfully carried out a complete reconnaissance over the area before landing at Daulat Beg Oldi and obtained information about the latest situation in the forward posts in that area. When our troops were retreating from Daulat Beg Oldi, Wing Commander Dhawan located them and dropped essential winter clothing and food without which they could not have survived.

Wing Commander Purshotam Lal Dhawan , displayed courage and devotion to duty of a high order.