Air Vice Marshal Syed Abbas Hussain was commissioned in the Air Force in 1941. He saw active service during World War II. He attended Frontier Warfare Course, Flying Instructors Course, Junior Commanders Course and Defence Services Staff College Course. He also attended Imperial Defence College Course in the UK. He has held the appointments of Chief Instructor at the Indian Air Force Academy, Chief Instructor, Air Wing, Defence Services Staff College, Director Training at Air Headquarters. In the field of flying training, the officer's achievements have been most commendable. While in command, he ensured operational efficiency of the Hunter Squadrons in a record time. It was under his guidance that the first 'Hunter Aerobatic Team' was formed, trained and perfected to win the laurels it did. As Commander of an operational base from 1966 to April 1968, he earned the reputation of a mature planner in the Indian Air Force. In his present appointment as Director of Operations, he has displayed outstanding professional knowledge and administrative ability.

Air Commodore Anand Ramdas Pandit was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1941. He saw active service during World War II and was awarded Distinguished Flying Cross. He attended Defence Services Staff College in 1951-52, Indoctrination Course at Air Force School of Aviation Medicine in 1958 and the National Defence College Course in 1962-63. He has held various staff and command appointments While commanding an IAF Squadron, he has flown various types of aircraft and has varied flying experience. Subsequently, he was appointed Chief Instructor at the Jet Training Wing, and in this capacity, he successfully trained a large number of jet pilots. From 1963 to 1966, as the Senior Air Staff Officer of the Eastern Air Command, he was instrumental in swiftly achieving the targets of air maintenance task for the Command. The high standard of instructional level at the School of Land Air Warfare is largely the result of the improvements effected in the syllabus by this officer in 1967.

Air Commodore Sarosh Jahangir Dastur was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1942. He saw active service during World War II. He attended Defence Services Staff College Course in 1954-55, and Imperial Defence College Course in 1968. He has held various staff and command appointments. As Officer Commanding of an Air Force Station during 1952-54, he distinguished himself by tackling and solving several intricate administrative problems of the unit. Later, as Chief Instructor in the Air Wing of the Defence Services Staff College, he brought about improvements in methods and syllabus and made the training of Air Wing Officers purposeful. During the Goa operations, as Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Poona, he was responsible for organising the Air Task Force in his sector. He activated additional early warning stations from the meagre resources at his command. As Director of Guided Weapons at Air Headquarters his work was of a very high order.

Air Commodore Tapeswar Basu was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1942. He saw active service in Burma during World War II. He attended Staff College Course at Wellington, Air Command and Staff Course in the USA and Advanced Air Navigation Course, Air Defence Course and Transport Support Course in the U. K. He accomplished the task of setting up instructional institutions connected with Navigator's training and Junior Commander's Course creditably He was given the task of establishing a staff course for the Indonesian Air Force at D'Jakarta where he earned admiration and affection of the Indonesian Air Force and thus established goodwill between the two countries. During the India-Pakistan conflict, as Senior Officer-inCharge, Administration, Headquarters Central Air Command, he maintained control over the available resources and was able to formulate and re-adjust administrative plans as demanded by changing operational requirements.

Air Commodore Hemonto Kumar Bose was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1943 He saw active service during World War II. He attended Defence Services Staff College Course in 1955-56 and the National Defence College Course in 1966. He has held various staff and command appointments. He has been known for his dash as a flier, and for his initiative and thoroughness right from his early days. While in command of a Fighter Squadron he was responsible for bringing the squadron to the highest level. His pioneer efforts in establishing the Headquarters of a newly established Wing and other allied services proved to be of immense help during the Chinese aggression in 1962. He has rendered distinguished service as Director of Personnel (Officers) and Director of Intelligence at Air Headquarters.

Air Commodore Thirumalai Srinivasan was commissioned in the Technical Signals Branch of the Indian Air Force in 1943 He saw active service during World War II. He attended Signals Officer's Radar Course in the U.K. in 1948, Methods of Instructions Course at No. 2 G.T.S. in 1949 and Junior Commander's Course in 1953. He has held various staff and command appointments creditably. During his tenure as Director of Signals, he contributed most effectively to all the major plans in the Directorate. In addition, he was responsible for installation and check up of a variety of sophisticated and modern ground and airborne electronics equipment in the Air Force. His successful handling of the task of development of sophisticated and complex airborne electronics equipment and completion of the prototype models of equipment which have been air­tested is a real breakthrough in the field of indigenous development and production of sophisticated and specialised airborne electronics equipment in the country.

Group Captain Sita Ram Mallick was commissioned in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch of the Indian Air Force in 1943. During World War II, he served in Burma as an officer of the Public Relations Directorate of the then General Headquarters. After qualifying as a paratrooper in 1945, he went to Japan with the British occupation forces for public relations duties. In both these assignments, he acquitted himself creditably. He has served in all theatres of operations in India since Independence, and also abroad and provided public relations cover to the forces. As Chief Public Relations Officer of the Indian forces serving with the United Nations in the Congo, he rendered commendable service. He was a member of the team detailed for photographing Mount Everest in 1953, soon after the first ascent of the Everest, and again in 1965 following the Indian Expedition's success in sending nine members to the top. He was also responsible for providing Press coverage for this Expedition. In his appointment as Deputy Director in the Directorate of Public Relations (Defence), he also rendered distinguished service.