In April, 1966, Squadron Leader Chittilemcherry Pathiyil Karunakaran Menon (5350) Technical/Signals took over charge of the Project Team entrusted with the responsibility of planning, installation, flight testing and commissioning of radar approach control system for an advance airfield. One of the components of the systems was the Precision Approach Radar of foreign manufacture received at this airfield in 1966. Without any familiarization training on the equipment imported in the country for the first time, Squadron Leader Menon had to plan and organise the inspection of the equipment, the engineering aspects of the radar installation including buildings, power supplies and remote presentation facilities prior to the arrival of the foreign experts. Squadron Leader Menon had also to plan and execute the installation of the equipment with meager resources available at the airfield in the least possible time to ensure a maximum warranty period for the equipment.

The Installation of the P.A.R. equipment commenced at this air field in the last week of April, 1967 and was finished in the first week of July, 1967. With his remarkable leadership, initiative, confidence, inventive genius and tactful liaison with the foreign experts Squadron Leader Menon was able to complete the entire installation utilizing only 312 Engineer days as against 399 projected for, thus leading to a saving of Rs. 21,000/- at pre-devaluation rates.

Squadron Leader Menon was also responsible to install a stand-by generator with very complex automatic circuits without any outside help. In this he has shown a technical skill, application and initiative of a very high order resulting in a further saving to the public funds. He was also instrumental in re-oriented the training programme and syllabi for training of controllers and Signals tradesmen under the supervision of the foreign experts which resulted in curtailing their stay in India and an additional saving of about Rs 22, 000/- also at pre-devaluation rates.

Throughout the installation Squadron Leader Menon has shown initiative, determination, sense of responsibility, devotion to duty, technical skill and professional leadership of a very superior caliber.