Air Vice Marshal (now Air Marshal) Shivdev Singh was commissioned in the Air Force in 1940. He has held important appointments in Air Headquarters as well as in the Command of various Air Force Units. He attended the Royal Air Force Staff College in the U.K. in 1951. Before taking up the assignments of Air Officer Commandingin-Chief, Western Air Command in March 1966, he served as Air Officer Commandingin-Chief, Central Air Command. By his hard work, drive and initiative, he has improved the operational preparedness and efficiency of the units under his Command. Western Air Command is also engaged continuously in airlifting supplies to forward areas. Under his able leadership, the Command has been able to achieve airlift targets without sacrificing safety.

Air Vice Marshall Om Prakash Mehra (1639) GD (P) was Air Officer Commandingin-Chief, Maintenance Command for a period of over three years with effect from 3rd October, 1963. On relinquishment of Command he was appointed Air Officerin-Charge Maintenance with effect from 1st February 1967, where he continues.

During his tenure as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Maintenance Command, this Air Officer was able to improve the efficiency of that Command; he showed commendable initiative, energy and untiring zeal in pursuing various projects and ensuring their completion on schedule. There were many shortages in that Command during the period of his command but despite those, he was able to increase the output of overhauled engines and aircraft from the Base Repair Depots. In the Equipment Depots, he was able to introduce new ideas and improve their functioning. As a result, the efficiency of the Maintenance Command as a whole improved considerably during his assignment.

Since taking over the duties of Air Officerin-Charge Maintenance, Air Vice Marshal Mehra has not spared himself in making up the shortages which exist on the Maintenance side. Due to various factors there have been shortages of spares. There have also been many other difficulties in adhering to the programme set before us for servicing aircraft. These difficulties notwithstanding, he has with his characteristics drive and initiative set into motion various actions which area now beginning to produce good results.