At about 1430 hours on the 6th October, 1951 an Indian Air Force Dakota crashed in Turkey, and resulted in the death of five aircrew, including Air Commodore Narendra. Flt. Lt. R.H. Chawdhry was one of two survivors of that accident. When the aircraft crashed, Flt. Lt. Chawdhry was thrown clear of the wreckage, and sustained serious injuries on his arm and knee. In spite of this he showed extraordinary courage and self sacrifice. His action after the crash was a noble example of conspicuous bravery and calmness in the most trying circumstances. He dragged the other survivor, Pilot Officer M.M. Dutt, who was unconscious and whose thigh bone was fractured, from the burning aircraft and thus saved the life of a comrade from certain death by fire. He then rushed to aid the other victims and succeeded in smothering the flames with his rain coat and in spite of the heat and smoke attempted to put out the entrapped persons from the wreckage. He did not stop his efforts against overwhelming odds until the main tank of the aircraft exploded and thus made further effort on his part impossible.

He improvised arrangements for the safety of the other survivor, Pilot Officer M.M. Dutt and walked 6 to 7 miles with utmost difficulty, through the great part of the night, through unknown mountainous territory to help.

As Commanding Officer of Aircraft Manufacturing Depot since its inception, Wing Commander Chawdhry has been closely associated with the production of the first Transport aircraft manufactured in India - Avro 748.

With very limited resources, inadequate tools and equipment and technical personnel untrained for manufacture of aircraft, Wing Commander Chawdhary achieved his objective by diligent planning, personal example, leadership and untiring efforts.

Under his command scrapped plant, machine tools and materials were successfully reclaimed and utilized.

The initiative shown and the great responsibility courageously shouldered, inspite of his comparatively junior rank, were of a high order.

Wing Commander Chawdhry has displayed outstanding leadership and devotion to duty and has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order in the successful production of Avro 748.