During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Pradip Kantilal Gandhi was serving with a Fighter Squadron. He flew 11 sorties of offensive Air Support missions, 6 sorties of counter Air Operations and 3 sorties of Air Defence missions. Out of these he led 9 missions. In offensive support missions, he carried out four strikes at Brigade Headquarters at Jamalpur, of which two were led by him. He carried out bombing attacks on Lai-Mai Army position and destroyed four bunkers. In counter Air operations, he carried out 3 sorties of day and 2 sorties of night bombing over Tezgaon and Kurmitola airfields which were heavily defended by Anti-aircraft artillery. He was the first person to carry out night bombing sorties in the type of fighter aircraft he was flying. He carried out two strikes on the troop concentrations in Dacca and destroyed the target despite heavy ground fire.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Pradip Kantilal Gandhi displayed courage, leadership, professional skill and devotion to duty.