Air Vice Marshal Prasanta Chitta Santra (2809) was commissioned In the Administrative Branch of the Indian Air Force In February, 1944 and was transferred to the Logistics Branch In October, 1954. During his service of over 29 years he has had varied and valuable experience in, the administrative and logistics fields, and has held a variety of responsible appointments.

In his assignment as the Officer Commanding a major Equipment Depot in its formative stages, (then) Group Captain Santra showed outstanding leadership and professional ability in getting and, organising the Depot on sound lines, for which he was commended by the Chief of the Air Staff.

In 1968, Air Vice Marshal Santra was appointed Deputy Director General, Indian Supply Mission, London. In this capacity he was responsible for procurement of supplies for the Defence Services. By his painstaking efforts and tactfulness he developed excellent and cordial relations with various organisations of the United Kingdom and was able to make a positive contribution to the procurement of critically required spares and materials for the Defense Services.

On his return to India In February, 1973 Air Vice Marshal Santra was appointed Director of Maintenance Administration. In September, 1973 he was appointed Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Logistics and Management). In both these appointments he has displayed remarkable acumen for staff work and because of his indefatigable efforts, devotion to duty, foresight and tact, he has been Instrumental in successfully tackling several logistics and management problems,

Throughout his career, Air Vice Marshal Prasanta Chitta Santra has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Harkrishan Lal Kapoor (2165) Administrative was commissioned in the Administrative Branch of the Indian Air Force in January, 1943. Early in his career he passed the physical Fitness Course and served with distinction as physical Fitness Officer at various units, a Group Headquarters and Headquarters Training Command. He has successfully undergone the Defence Services Staff College Course and the Judge Advocate General (Air) Course. He served with great distinction as Aide­de­camp to the Chief of the Air Staff from December, 1960 to May, 1963 and as Staff Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff from May, 1963 to August, 1967. He was appointed Judge Advocate General (Air) at Air Headquarters in June, 1970.

Air Commodore Kapoor has re­organised the Legal Branch of the Air Force and streamlined various legal procedures with vigour, drive and imagination. This has resulted in speedy and efficient finalization of legal and disciplinary cases at all units and formations. He is also the Chairman of the Air Force Sports Control Board, in which capacity, he has organised various sports championships most successfully and has been responsible for raising the sports standards. It is a tribute to his foresight, drive, determination and boundless energy that he has been able to discharge his duties in a most able and competent manner and has achieved outstanding success in all fields of his activities.

Air Commodore Harkrishan Lal Kapoor has displayed consistent loyalty, dedication, dynamism, extreme industry and steadfastness in the performance of duty in the highest traditions of the Indian Air Force. He has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Suraj Lall Mathur (2444) was commissioned as Navigator in the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force in June, 1943. He has held a variety of important appointments with distinction during his long service. Since July, 1971, he has been serving as the Senior Officer in-charge Administration of Central Air Command. He took over this appointment at a time when the reorganisation of the Air Force Commands was to be implemented. Central Air Command had to face enormous problems during the reorganization, since this Command had to take over a number of Air Force Stations. This had to be done in the shortest possible, time in order to ensure a smooth changeover. With his devotion to duty, utmost patience and untiring zeal, he accomplished this task speedily and efficiently

For December, 1971 war with Pakistan, Air Commodore Mathur had to organize move of units to their operational locations at very short notice. He personally supervised the distribution of a large number of personnel routed to this Command under the augmentation plan and ensured that it was done smoothly. This called for long hours of hard work and he was able to achieve this task in an admirable manner. His example was a source of Inspiration to his subordinates who gave of their best under his able guidance.

During the War with Pakistan, Air Commodore Mathur had to work round the clock ensuring that even the smallest administrative problems which had a bearing on the conduct of operations were solved in the shortest possible time. The cessation of hostilities did not provide any relief to this Air Officer who had to make administrative arrangements in connection with the prompt retrieval of units which had been deployed at operational locations. He had to look after the immediate needs and rehabilitations of war widows and dependents of missing personnel.

Earlier in his career, Air Commodore Suraj Lall Mathur had commanded two Guided Weapons Wings which he had formed himself. He was thus responsible for raising a large number of GW Squadron and bringing these to operational standard. Throughout his career, he had ably handled all the assignments given to him. His devotion to duty at all times has been a sterling example and has been in the best traditions of the Air Force.

Throughout, Air Commodore Suraj Lall Mathur has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Chand Parkash Mehra (2469) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force In June, 1943. During his service of over 30 years he has had varied and valuable experience in the administrative and logistic fields. He has held many important assignments including two in our Diplomatic Missions abroad, the latter being that of Deputy Air Attaché In Moscow.

In his assignment as the Officer Commanding an Equipment Depot, Air Commodore Mehra showed outstanding tact and leadership and established a rapport with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited which resulted in quicker turn round of our aircraft and rotables sent to them for overhaul and repair.

As Deputy Air Attaché, Moscow, Air Commodore Mehra's painstaking efforts and tactfulness, led to the development of excellent and cordial working relations with various organizations of the USSR. He was thus able to make a positive contribution to the procurement of critically required spares and materials and to enhance the operational capability of the Air Force.

On his return to India in November, 1971, he was appointed Joint Director Maintenance at Air Headquarters. In this appointment his main assignment was Data processing. He soon got to grips with the many and varied complicated problems confronting the Air Force in its scheme of computerizing inventory management functions. Through sustained hard work, he speeded up the process of computerisation. He also introduced the programmes for the Reportable Items Control System, thus giving the Air Force much needed management potential for controlling such costly and critical Items. Recently he has been directing a programme for using the computer in progressing outstanding contracts which in its wake will also eliminate the perpetual problem of unlinked invoices. By sheer determination, tenacity and single mindedness of purpose, Air Commodore Mehra has made a definite impact and a most valuable contribution in the field of Computerisation.

Air Commodore Chand Parkash Mehra has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore YESHWANT RAMCHANDRA AGTEY (2715) Flying (Pilot) Citation Not Available

Air Commodore Hemant Ramakrishan Chitnis (2964) was commissioned as a pilot in the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force in July, 1944. After early years of service in Operational units, he was selected to undergo a Flying Instructors Course in the UK and on his return, he was utilised in various Flying Training Establishments. Thereafter he served with distinction in several staff appointments at Air Headquarters and as the Commander of two operational Wings.

Air Commodore Chitnis was appointed to the post of Director of Pay Commission and Job Evaluation Cell In July, 1970. His task was to formulate Air Force proposals for consideration by the Pay Commission. This was a very difficult task involving as it did a detailed scrutiny and analysis of every area of Air Force skills, but he tackled it in a remarkable manner and produced very sound proposals. He showed of tact originality, foresight and Immense drive and determination in finalising these proposals in a limited period.

Throughout his career, Air Commodore Hemant Ramkrishna Chitnis has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Jagdish Singh Sodhi (2179) was commissioned in the Administrative Branch of the Indian Air Force In January, 1943. During his long service he has held various important appointments in which he has acquitted himself creditably. He was awarded a certificate of appreciation for his valuable services on welfare matters by the Defence Minister, Government of India in the year 1953. In 1971, he was commended by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Air Command, while he was employed as Officer in-charge Administration at Air Force base for exceptional services in the field of administration.

Group Captain Sodhi took over the command of Air Force Administrative College in March, 1971. Immediately, on taking over his appointment, he set about the task of improving the tone of training as well as administration of the College with vigour, zeal and determination. He applied his vast experience and knowledge on works services to the task of improving the technical and non­technical accommodation of the station. Due to his indefatigable efforts and tenacity of purpose, now training schemes were introduced, which resulted in vastly superior output of trained personnel. He has also, been instrumental in revising the syllabus as well as précis for abinito and advanced courses giving more stress on the development of officers' ability to study, interpret and apply rules as also to think out effective solutions to problems and situations, as they arise. He has set a personal example by taking regular classes on 'works services' and 'works procedure' in which subjects he is considered an expert.

The exemplary manner in which Group Captain Jagdish Singh Sodhi has shouldered the heavy responsibilities as Commandant of Air Force Administrative College and the highly commendable way in he has carried out the varied task with high professional ability and inspiring leadership have been in the highest traditions of the Air Force.

Group Captain Achengaden John Chacko (3833) was commissioned in the Flying (Navigator) Branch of the Indian Air Force in April, I950. He served with distinction in various operational units. From May, 1970 to January, 1973, he was assigned the Command of an operational Wing. He had to build up the Wing from scratch and achieve operational readiness of two Combat and one Technical Squadrons and his Wing Headquarters in AVSM 1974-75 the shortest possible time. This he achieved within a period of six months and all his squadrons attained a very high state of operational efficiency despite working under very hard and trying living conditions. Undaunted by adversity, Group Captain Chacko led his men by sheer dedication to duty and hard work and had the distinction and satisfaction of seeing his Wing rated among the best in the Indian Air Force. His Wing has also carried out successful training of combat personnel from other Wings.

During the 1971 war with Pakistan he was always available round the clock at his complex keeping a personal watch on operational activities and maintained his complex at a very high state of operational readiness throughout.

Group Captain Chacko's untiring zeal, enthusiasm, hard work, leadership and unstinted devotion to duty have been in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

Throughout, Group Captain Achengaden John Chacko has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Mandokollathur Gopalaswamy Ramachandra (4033) was commissioned as a Pilot in the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force In January, 1951. He served with distinction in a number of operational units. During the Indo-Pakistan War 1971, he was the officer in-charge flying of an operational Wing. The achievements of the squadrons based at that Wing during the 1971 War are legendary and many aircrew of those squadrons have been decorated for their valour. To bring the Station up to such a high standard of operational readiness, Group Captain Ramachandra had to work day and night for meticulously planning every detail connected with the missions undertaken by the squadrons, in total disregard to his personal comforts. The measure of success achieved by the squadrons was mainly due to the tenacity of purpose, exceptional devotion to duty and professional competence of Group Captain Ramachandra.

Group Captain Ramachandra assumed the command of another operational Wing soon after the operations and had to face enormous problems as an aftermath of the War. He grappled with the situation readily and settled down to rebuilding his fighting machine up to an optimum level of efficiency, and this he has achieved in the shortest possible time. Although a bomber pilot himself, he was able to make a quick appraisal of the problems of the fighter squadron at his Wing and in solving them speedily. Concurrently, no detail with regard to the administrative and maintenance aspects of the Station has escaped his attention and he has been able to ensure that the maximum state of efficiency is maintained in these areas as well. It was due to his untiring efforts that the married accommodation project, which has been under consideration for nearly ten years, was finalised for execution in 1972. Immediately after taking over the Station, Group Captain Ramachandra organised and conducted various welfare schemes for augmentation of funds for the IAF Benevolent Funds.

These schemes are being followed up with great vigour due to the magnificent example set by him,

Group Captain Mandokollathur Gopalaswamy Ramachandra's professional skill, devotion to duty and leader ship have been in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force. He has thus rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Wing Commander Krishan Kant Saini was commissioned in as a Pilot in the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force In January, 1953. He has been on deputation to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bangalore Division since August, 1970 as a rotary wing test pilot. During his tenure he has done 980 flights comprising 879 hours on testing, evaluation and training of Helicopter pilots as Flight Inspectors. His efforts in this respect have been unrelenting and he has shown great devotion to duty. He has also shown high degree of skill and competence in his Job,

He was twice deputed to Aerospatiale in France. On the first visit, he was required to assess the vibration standards obtained on helicopters in France as this defect was resulting in extra test flights at Bangalore. The recommendations of Aerospatiale for remedial action to obtain acceptable vibration were very inte lligently applied by Wing Commander Saini and this resulted in the acceptance of helicopters without extra flights, thus saving infructuous expenditure. On the second visit in connection with production testing of the first fly away SA-315 (Cheetah), after an intelligent study of the Flight Manual he pointed out the feasibility of clearing the helicopter for operation at an all up weight of 1750 Kg instead of 1650 Kg at high altitude. This valuable suggestion was accepted by Aerospatiale engineers. This was highly commendable technical appreciation.

Wing Commander Krishan Kant Saini has worked beyond the call of duty and displayed courage, initiative and outstanding skill in discharge of his duties. He has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.