Wing Commander Dilip Kumar Ranchhod Das Ashar (7686) Flying (Pilot) was commanding an operational bomber squadron of the IAF. On 24th January, 1983, while on a night training flight, the Canberra trainer that he was flying, had a bird hit. This resulted in flaming out of starboard engine. The differential thrust led to almost 90° bank only a few feet above the ground. Despite the rapidity at which the grave emergency developed, Wing Commander remained calm. He reacted with incredible speed and took the necessary recovery action. Even in the face of almost certain death, Wing Commander Ashar remained calm, and did not lose sight of his duties as a commander and a soldier. In the few seconds available to him he warned his crew, switched off the left engine and applied recovery controls. Failure to do so would have caused the aircraft to roll on its back prior to the crash. In the process he himself was totally injured but he saved the lives of two of his crew members.

Wing Commander Dilip Kumar Ranchhod Das Ashar thus displayed courage, a high order of professional competence and devotion to duty.