Flight Lieutenant Inder Puri has been engaged in operational flying since July 1962. He took part in operations against the Chinese and the Pakistani forces and in Nagaland. He has flown over 1100 hours on logistic support operational duties in a single engined aircraft. During the operations in the Rann of Kutch, he flew a large number of sorties for casualty evacuation from the battle area. On one occasion, he successfully landed at an unsurveyed area. He carried out the sorties in the battle area in an unarmed single engined aircraft in the face of intense ground fire and regular enemy fighter reconnaissance activity.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Inder Puri displayed courage and devotion to duty,

Wing Commander Inder Puri was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in May, 1962. Right from his initiation in service, his immaculate performance as a transport pilot became evident and it was recognised by the award of Vayu Sena Medal during the Kutch operation in 1965. Upto 1966, he had logged over a thousand operational hours to his credit.

He successfully completed the flying Instructor's course in 1967 and did valuable instructional tenures at Elementary Flying School, Air Force Flying College and Transport Training Wing, logging over a thousand instructional hours till 1971. For his outstanding contribution in training, he was awarded the commendation by the Air Officer Commanding­in­Chief, Training Com mand, in August, 1971.

As Officer Commanding of the Air Delivery Flight during Indo-Pak conflict, 1971, he maintained a continuous life line for logistic and maintenance support to the front line Squadrons in the Eastern and the Western Sectors. For this act of outstanding devotion to duty, the officer was mentioned in 'Despatches'. In 1972, he was specially selected as a Captain and deputed to Air Wing of the Border Security Force. He was instrumental in organising the Air Wing of the Para-Military force and carried out difficult and, at times, onerous assignments satisfactorily. In recognition of his meritorious services, the Border security Force granted him an unpaid rank of Commandant during his tenure.

In 1975 Wing Commander Puri graduated from Staff College. In January, 1977, while at Headquarters Central Air Command, he was awarded n commendation by Air Officer Commanding­in­Chief for his outstanding performance and professional ability for over 1800 hours of accident free flying since 1970. During the unprecedented floods in river Indus in August, 1978, by meticulous planning and, by inspiring his men in-spite of the vagaries of nature, difficult terrain and bad weather, he organised 270 relief sorties in one fortnight. He not only won the platitude of over 100 people evacuated from the jaws of death but of service. This performance proved that Leh was no longer a dreaded Station.

Wing Commander Inder Puri's contribution towards sports has also been outstanding. He captained the National Defence Academy Team (1960), represented Air Force for nearly a decade and represented service in the Ranji Trophy.

Wing Commander Inder Puri has thus displayed exceptional professional skill and ability, undaunted determination and devotion to duty of an exceptional order.