Squadron Leader Subbiah Murugan was posted to one of the Base Repair Depots which is responsible for repair and overhaul of signals and radar equipment.

On his own initiative he set up the overhaul line for a newly acquired type of radar equipment and within a short time the turn round period for overhaul was reduced considerably. Since the equipment acquired was new and our technical personnel lacked the requisite experience on it, Sqn. Ldr. Subbiah Murugan had to prepare lists of spares and components required for overhauling the sets. Pending arrival of the spares, he met the requirements from improvised equipment which were manufactured under his personal supervision and guidance at the Repair Depot. It was under his personal leadership and guidance that manufacture of new components was undertaken at his Repair Depot thereby saving an amount of about Rs. 5 Lakhs in foreign exchange. The range of production of components included those made of rubber, bakelite non-ferrous metals and ceramics.

Several foreign made transformers were required to be purchased at a cost of about Rs 5 Lakhs. Sqn. Ldr. Subbiah Murugan, on coming to know about the requirement, was confident that these transformers could be made at the Base Repair Depot by the Air Force technicians. He opened an unserviceable transformer to obtain the necessary technical data. His next requirement was a heavy coilwinding machine. Since this machine is an expensive item of equipment, Sqn Ldr Subbiah Murugan designed and made it himself at the Repair Depot. Thereafter he set about manufacturing the transformers which were badly required by the Air Force units. The total saving of foreign exchange effected was, therefore, more than about Rs. 5 Lakhs. The officer's achievement has also opened an avenue for the Air Force to manufacture these items without dependence on foreign supplies.

In collaboration with a foreign firm, Sqn Ldr. Subbiah Murugan has evolved the technique of potting a transformer. As a result the transformers used in some of our blind bombing equipment can now be made at this Repair Depot, if raw-material is made available.

Sqn. Ldr. Subbiah Murugan also developed a technique to make card board boxes of correct design for scientific and safe packing electronic equipment. Waste paper which used to be burnt in the past is now converted into pulp and used for packing electronic equipment and to cocoon them for long storage.

The initiative, devotion to duty and superb technical knowledge displayed by Sqn. Ldr. Subbiah Murugan have been of a remarkably high order.