Wing Commander Darshan Singh Basra was commissioned in the Air Force in May 1962. The officer has all along maintained and displayed highest order of flying professionalism.

Wg Cdr Basra was selected to undergo flying training abroad on two types of aircraft in 1963. Subsequently he gave a good account of his flying proficiency and instructional ability while on posted strength of various instructional establishments. Later, he also held prestigious Command of two fighter Squadrons. During his period of command both the Squadrons maintained a totally nil accident rate. One of his Squadrons won the Flight Safety Trophy in 1979 and was placed second for the Instrument Rating Trophy in 1980. Wg Cdr Basra was the leader of his Command Bombing team in the Inter Command gunnery Meet in 1979 and won the championship.

Wg Cdr Basra has flown over eleven types of aircraft and has logged over 3400 hrs of flying. Wg Cdr Basra commended by the Chief of the Air Staff in 1978 for executing a successful restricted RPM landing on a fighter aircraft.

For his utmost dedication to duty and professional ability the President is pleased to award VAYU SENA MEDAL to Wing Commander Darshan Singh Basra.

Air Commodore Darshan Singh Basra is a Fighter Pilot of outstanding merit with over 3600 hrs of flying to his credit. During his 28 years of service, he has held many important and prestigious field and staff appointments with distinction.

Air Cmde Basra has been AOC of a Fighter Wing since the 1st October, 1989. Through out his period of command, he has shown tremendous dedication and total involvement in every activity at his base. His personal leadership has inspired the Station personnel to new heights of motivation and efficiency. Because of his drive, dynamism and initiative, his Station was adjudged the Best Wing in Central Air Command including the best in Administration. It also had the distinction of being the best in propagation and use of Hindi in official work. His is a Station located on the fringes of the Terai region of U.P. The growth of vegetation on the airfield caused many problems for the Station administration including fire risk. Air Cmde Basra with initiative and untiring drive took up the task of clearing the heavy under­growth in the Station with self help on 'Shramdan' basis. He galvanised the entire Station personnel and led them personally in this massive clearing operation with great success.

Air Commodore Darshan Singh Basra, VM has, thus, has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Marshal Darshan Singh Basra AVSM VM was commissioned as a fighter pilot in May 1962. In 36 years of distinguished service he has held several important Command and Staff appointments. That his service was of exceptional order was recognised by the award of Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Vayu Sena Medal to him. He is a graduate of Military College, Paris, a Pilot Armament Instructor and a Fighter Combat Leader. He was one of the founder members of the prestigious TACDE. In the Indo-Pak war of 1971 he successfully undertook night strike operations deep inside enemy territory. His accurate night attacks at Sargodha airfield, famous for its fortress like defences, are still quoted in aviation circle for fearlessness and cool professionalism.

He has the distinction of commanding fighter Squadron twice (Gnat and MiG-21). Both his tenures recorded Nil accident rate. Air Force Station, Bareilly - a major fighter base not only peaked operationally under his command but also saw introduction of local purchase procedures which led to huge saving and better utilisation of funds. His vast experience and knowledge resulted in a much better Inter Service Co-operation when he was Air Officer Commanding Advance HQ WAC.

As SASO Eastern Air Command, his acute analysis and sound recommendations led the Air Force to introduce Type Training Instructors for MOFT Units and an improved syllabus for training. These measures have resulted in a qualify improvement of pilot training.

It is extremely difficult to detect an aircraft in mountainous region due to limitations of radars. When Intelligence Reports indicated that insurgent groups in East would resort to air drop of weapons, he successfully evolved procedures to detect and thwart such schemes within the existing resources. His wide field experience, broad knowledge base and outstanding resolve to use resources efficiently led to an optimum utilization of the transport fleet in EAC.

He took over as SASO, Western Air Command in Mar 98. In a short span he has set into motion a variety of measures aimed at sharpening the fighting edge of the most important command of the IAF. These are all expected to fructify shortly.

Air Marshal Darshan Singh Basra AVSM VM (6519) Flying (Pilot) has thus rendered distinguished service of most exceptional order.