Air Commodore Keki Nadirshah Gocal has been Senior Air Staff, Officer of Headquarters Western Air Command since 30th December 1963. A competent pilot, who is at home in almost all the type of aircraft in that Command, be they fighters, bombers, transport or helicopters, he has applied his knowledge of the aircraft and their performance to good effect in the preparation of operational plans.

When hostilities between India and Pakistan broke out, the task of preparing operational plans based on the general directive of Air Headquarters fell on Air Commodore Gocal. Allocation of targets to the fighters, fighter bombers involved a thorough study of the radius of action, take off distance with different war loads in the sharply varying temperatures, the type of weapon appropriate for the destruction of the target, the amount of fuel to be carried with the particular configuration and the sortie profile in respect of the different types of aircraft employed. His duties also involved the coordination of the effort of the technical and armament staff in working out the deployment of squadrons to bases to achieve the best results. Short of hand, Gocal had to work long hours without any rest and be available for advice to the Unit Commanders. He took on all the tasks cheerfully. By making frequent and unscheduled visits to the frontline units during the operations he ensured the smooth functioning and efficient performance of the squadrons.

Air Commodore Gocal has set a very good example of selfless dedication to duty and rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Air Commodore Kanvar Singh was commissioned in the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force on the 20th December, 1943. He has served in five fighter and fighter bomber squadrons of the Indian Air Force, of which he has been the commander of two. He is also a qualified flying instructor and has carried out a tenure of duty in this role at an Air Force Flying Training Institution. Air Commodore Kanvar Singh has also commanded an operational wing of the Air Force and has served on the staff of Air Headquarters in various capacities. At present Air Commodore Kanvar Singh is the Air Officer Commanding of an Air Wing in the Rajasthan sector. He was incharge of all Air Force operations in this during the recent operations against Pakistan. He provided all the air support required by the Army. In addition to his own base, he exercised administrative and functional control over two forward bases. By hard work and sound planning, he brought these forward bases to a high degree of operational preparedness.

Throughout the operations, Air Commodore Kanvar Singh successfully completed all the tasks allotted to him and rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Trilochan Singh Brar was commissioned in the Flying (Pilot) of the Indian Air Force in April, 1944. He has held a variety of important flying and staff appointments. Since November, 1970, he has been holding the appointment of Air­I of Headquarters Western Air Command. The Command was required to prepare plans to meet the threat from Pakistan. The preparation of the plan required careful study and prolonged hours of work to ensure that the resources of the Command were utilised in an economical and effective manner.

Air Commodore Trilochan Singh Brar made significant contribution towards the success of Western Air Command's plans during the recent conflict with Pakistan. He has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Group Captain Aubrey Leslie Michael was commissioned in the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force in November, 1946. After serving in active flying squadrons for years, he was selected to attend the Pilot Attack Instructors Course in the United Kingdom which he completed successfully. In 1962, he was selected to attend the Staff College at Wellington. He has commanded two squadron-one fighter bomber squadron in the rank of Squadron Leader and an Air Defence squadron in the rank of Wing Commander. He has been Joint Director of Tactical Operations and, more recently Director Offensive Opera-tions. In these two appointments, his main objectives were study and analysis of the employment of fighter bomber aircraft. He has worked out the utilisation of different types of aircraft in the ground attack, fighter recce and offensive support roles. These studies proved to be of considerable value in working out detailed tactical plans. He was also of great help in planning bomber operations.

Throughout, Group Captain Aubrey Leslie Michael has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.