Details : | Wing Commander Ramachandra Venkateswara Prakash (23523) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force as a helicopter pilot in the flying branch on 17 Jun 95. He is the Commanding Officer of an operational Mi-17 unit since 28 May 12. He is a Cat 'A pilot and has a total flying experience of 3500 h. He is a graduate of the Defense Services Staff College, a Qualified Flying Instructor and a Helicopter Combat Leader. Under his command the unit has been employed for Anti Naxal Operations as a part of `Op Triveni'. The unit faced the daunting challenge of maintaining six helicopters at three geographically separated detachments. With exemplary leadership, he has routinely overcome challenges of manpower constraints and aircraft serviceability to ensure that the unit is always ready to take on its allotted tasks. He has been instrumental in evolving new tactical procedures, which in turn have enabled the execution of a large number of missions in a high risk environment safely. He has on many occasions personally flown a number of high risk missions in the most challenging circumstances. He constantly spurs his personnel towards professionalism and successful mission accomplishment. His extraordinary courage and leadership qualities were displayed during the recovery of one of his unit helicopter which had to carry out a force landing due to hostile fire on 18 Jan 13 in the Naxal infested Sukhma district. In the face of grave naxal threat, he personally led a rectification team to the force landing site. Due to the continued naxal threat to the helicopter and the recovery team, it was decided that the aircraft be flown to Jagdalpur Detachment after only patch repair at site. As befitting the ethos of service, as the Commanding Officer of the unit he rose to the occasion. Disregarding personal safety he volunteered to fly the helicopter to Jagdalpur from the site of force landing after only patch repair at site. The entire recovery was carried out directly under his supervision in a record time of under 96 hours highlighting his professional aptitude, courage and conviction of the highest order in line with the finest traditions of the Indian Air Force. For exceptional devotion to duty, Hon'ble President is pleased to award Vayu Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty) to Wing Commander Ramachandra Venkateswara Prakash. |