Group Captain Lakshman Madhav Katre was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1945. He has held various staff and command appointments with distinction. He attended the Flying Instructors Course in the United Kingdom. He also attended Junior Com manders' Course, Defence Services Staff Col lege Course and Armament Training Course. While commanding an operational flying Station during the period 1966-68, he displayed outstanding qualities of leadership and man­management and brought the station to operational readiness in a very short time. With his initiative and local improvisation he also developed an effective system for protecting his station and this system was adopted by other operational stations also. During the unprecedented floods in North Bengal, Sikkim and Bhutan area in October 1968, Group Captain Katre was appointed the local commander for Air Force Flood Relief work, and in this capacity he discharged his duties most creditably.

Air Commodore Lakshman Madhav Katre, AVSM (3117) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1945. He has commanded many operational squadrons with distinction during his service career and has also held important staff and training appointments both abroad and in India.

While commanding an operational flying station during the period 1966-68, he displayed outstanding qualities of leadership and manmanagement. By sheer drive and determination he was able to bring his station to operational readiness in a very short time. Through initiative, he developed effective “hide-outs" by local improvisations for his station aircraft. This ingenuity stood the test of stimulated air actions so well that the system was soon adopted by all other operational stations in the area as a regular feature. During the unprecedented floods In North Bengal, Sikkim and Bhutan area in October, 1968, Air Commodore Katre was appointed the local commander for Air Force Flood Relief Work. In directing the relief operations, particularly in Bhutan and Goalpara areas, he earned the gratitude of hundreds of refugees, thus setting a high standard for others to emulate. In 1970, for his services he was awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.

Air Commodore Katre has been in-charge of the Air Force Academy as Commandant from 16th November, 1972. At this stage the major portion of the construction work in the Academy was yet to be completed. Air Commodore Katre, through his stimulated and invigorating direction, penchant for thoroughness and Imaginative planning, proceeded, with the task of not, only continuing with the remaining construction programme for Air Force Academy, but re-organising the entire function of the Academy on a highly rational basis. Inspired by his personal example and undiluted devotion to the task of establishing the Air Force Academy as an institution worthy its name, his officers and men voluntarily and cheerfully worked beyond the call of duty to assist in meeting the challenge. It is due to Air Commodore Katre's single minded efforts that the Academy has emerged as an institution not only of national but of international repute.

During the tenure of Air Commodore Katre as Commandant, the flying training programme was required to undergo radical change, with the withdrawal of the old aircraft and Introduction of jet trainer as a all through training aircraft. But for Air Commodore Katre's thorough planning and deep knowledge of training problems, the new training system may not have made such a successful beginning as it has made. With the introduction of new training pattern for pilots there was also requirement for formulation of new syllabus and adoption procedures and systems particularly in training methodology. On his insistence, innovations were introduced in the training pattern which has become an example for other units to follow. In October, 1975, the Air Force Academy was awarded the President's colour for meritorious service.

Air Commodore Lakshman Madhav Katre by his high organisational and managerial ability, outstanding qualities of leadership, un swerving devotion to duty and personal example has rendered service of the exceptional order.

Air Marshal Lakshman Madhav Katre AVSM and Bar (3117) Flying (Pilot), was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1945. He successfully completed a course from Royal College of Defence Studies in England.

During his long service career, he has commanded operational squadrons and stations and has held with distinction various important assignments including those of Commandant of the Air Force Academy at Dundigal, Senior Air Staff Officer and AOC-in-C of important Air Commands. By his outstanding qualities of leadership and administrative and organising ability, he has immensely contributed towards reorientation and rationalisation of training programmes and has considerably improved the operational effectiveness of the formations through effective maintenance and constant serviceability of aircraft fleet. It was also the result of his personal initiative and involvement in improving the reliability of the ageing Hunter aircraft, available with the Operational Conversion Unit, that a number of pilots awaiting operational conversion, have been successfully trained on these aircraft. In 1978, when floods affected large areas of West Bengal and Assam, he personally supervised the relief operation wherein thousands of marooned people were evacuated and rescued and huge quantities of food

supplies were airdropped.

Air Marshal Lakshman Madhav Katre has thus rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.