Corporal Phani Raju Kala Venkata AFSO II has been on the posted strength of an operational Wing since March 1973. On 25th September 1975, when he was on Aircraft Crash Crew duty, an AN-12 aircraft landed with heavy smoke and fire in the crew cabin due to the electrical short circuit. Corporal Phani Raju Kala Venkata immediately followed the aircraft with the crash tender. As soon as the aircraft came to a halt, in complete disregard to his personal safety, rushed into the aircraft and started extinguishing fire. Although he felt suffocated due to heavy smoke, he did not lose courage and continued his endeavours to extinguish the fire and was ultimately able to bring the fire under control and thus saved a valuable and irreplaceable aircraft.

In this action, Corporal Phani Raju Kala Venkata displayed exemplary courage, initiative, determination and devotion to duty of a high order.

On 29th October 19758, at about 2000 hours, 225695 Sergeant Sankaran Kutty Nair was proceeding towards the MES substation in the domestic camp of his base to find out the cause of the failure of electric power. As he was nearing the sub-station, he heard an explosion, and saw a flash coming out of the building and heard a cry for help. He rushed to the building and found that a man in flames was lying on the floor, near the entrance and that smoke was coming out of the building. In utter disregard to his personal safety, he entered the building and switched off the main switch. He then found that an MES employee was lying unconscious with his clothes in flames. Sergeant Nair put out the flames by rolling him on the ground and tearing off his clothes. He carried him to the Medical Inspection Room on his shoulders, where prompt first aid and subsequent treatment for second degree burns in Military Hospital saved the individual's life. Thus by presence of mind and quick action he saved a valuable life and expensive service equipment.

In this action, Sergeant Sankaran Kutty Nair displayed exemplary courage, great initiative and a high sense of public duty.

Squadron Leader Davinder Singh Sant (8157) was commissioned in the Flying Branch (Pilot) of the Indian Air Force in December, 1963. During his stay of about 13 years in various operational Squadrons he has flown a total of about 2000 hours and acquired the highest Instrument Rating on Supersonic Aircraft. On the 17th June, 1976 while imparting Dual combat instruction from the rear seat of a supersonic operational trainer aircraft, he was involved in an accident in which his aircraft sustained extensive damage leading to extreme control difficulty. This was further aggravated by the shattering of the both the front and rear canopies resulting in visual difficulties. The incapacitation of the pilot in front cockpit and complete loss of radio communication made the situation more grave. The dislodging of the drogue parachute from the front seat into the rear seat, partial control of flaps, failure of total main braking system and absence of the periscope made the safe recovery of the aircraft extremely difficult. Notwithstanding the sudden shock, he acted in a cool and a professional manner and recovered the severely damaged aircraft with an incapacitated pilot safely and thus saved a valuable life.

In this action, Squadron Leader Davinder Singh Sant displayed exemplary courage, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.