Squadron Leader Verinder Puri was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in August, 1956. After graduating as a Flying Instructor, he carried out instructional duties in various capacities and has a very impressive accidentfree 7,500 total hours of flying, out of which 3,500 are instructional. He achieved a proud record of three of his pupils winning the coveted Flying Trophy. He served with Aircrew Examining Board and held the highest category on three different types of aircraft and for three years he was testing pilots on the three types. He carried out his duties with great dedication and exceptional devotion to duty and was responsible to a large extent in maintaining the operational preparedness of the Transport Squadrons in the Indian Air Force. While serving at the Flying Instructors' School, Squadron Leader Puri was given the additional task of training some junior pilots on a new aircraft. He prepared all the Standard Operational Procedures and evolved the syllabus and procedures for converting these pilots. He inspired his colleagues and the airmen to a high pitch, completed the task well in time without any untoward incident.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Verinder Puri displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Jagbir Singh Rai was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in May, 1962. He was posted to a Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron as a Flight Commander in June, 1973. As a Flight Commander, Squadron Leader Rai carried out the training and supervision of his flight with great zeal and initiative and maintained a high categorization state of aircrew and a very high standard of flight safety. Due to his exceptional organising ability and guidance, his Flight, flew 1,810 hours during the year 1973-74 which is a record of this Squadron ever since its formation. He made efforts to achieve maximum aerial survey task output and has set up a record of surveying 30,000 square miles by Dakota Flight.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Jagbir Singh Rai, displayed exceptional organising ability, professional skill and high sense of devotion to duty in keeping with the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

Wing Commander Vidya Bhushan Vasisht was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in October, 1953. He has been serving as the Commanding Officer of a Squadron since August, 1971. He was awarded Maha Vir Chakra for his acts of gallantry during IndoPak Conflict in 1971. During the year, 1973, the Squadron had shown outstanding improvement in all-round efficiency. Not only had the Squadron completed its monthly Air maintenance tasks but had also accomplished all the transport support missions and addi ­tional commitments given to his Squadron efficiently in spite of handicaps. Simultaneously, aircrew training was vigorously progressed and a high percentage of aircrew was brought to fully operational state. In addition to the Command of his own Squadron, Wing Commander Vasisht was also responsible for the co­ordination and planning of all air maintenance tasks allotted to his Wing. He was also primarily responsible for rewriting the complete standard operating procedure for air maintenance in his area and also the procedures for paratrooping in unfamiliar areas. Wing Commander Vasisht has brought the Squadron to its present state of efficiency by sheer hard work, perseverance and determination.

Throughout Wing Commander Vidya Bhushan Vasisht displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Wing Commander Suresh Chand was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in October, 1953. He attended the Flying Instructors Course in 1962 and the Defence Services Staff College Course in 1967. He has flown over 1300 hours of instructional flying out of a total of 5350 accident-free flying hours. He assumed Command of the Paratroopers School in March 1971 and within a few months brought up the Operational preparedness of the Unit. In addition, he organized and successfully completed the paratroop training of a number of Transport Squadrons and of Transport Training Wing. This went a long way towards the success of airborne assault during Indo-Pak Conflict, 1971. Wing Commander Suresh Chand contributed towards the operational efficiency of the Transport Fleet and the Army Airborne Forces by developing fresh techniques in paratrooping and undertaking trials of new airborne equipment. He was responsible for setting up of an all time record of paratrooping by his unit.

Throughout, Wing Commander Suresh Chand displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Wing Commander Madhukar Shantaram Jatar was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in November, 1954. He has been commanding a front line strike Squadron since March, 1972. His devotion to work has led to successful accomplishment of all tasks assigned to him well in time under difficult and trying conditions. A flier of exceptional merit, Wing Commander Jatar stands out as an officer worthy of emulation, who brought to bear his experience in all his work which has led to high operational efficiency of the squadron.

Throughout, Wing Commander Madhukar Shantaram Jatar displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Wing Commander Edwin Godfrey Salins was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in November, 1954. Since March, 1972, he has been commanding a Fighter Squadron. He has to his credit a total of 4375 hours of accident-free flying on various types of aircraft, out of which, he had done 3728 hours on single engine jet aircraft. During the IndoPak Conflicts, 1965 and 1971, he displayed exemplary courage and great enthusiasm in accomplishing hazardous missions. In 1972, his Squadron won many championships and trophies and he himself won the Trophy for straffing with an exceptional score.

Throughout, Wing Commander Edwin Godfrey Salins displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Wing Commander Prabhat Kumar Varma was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in November, 1954. He has been commanding a front line air defence fighter squadron since May, 1972. In 1973, during the adverse weather period, his squadron was required to move to a base which was not fully established and lacked most essential services. By his close supervision and drive, he surmounted all problems and made his unit functional both in flying and technical servicing in the shortest possible time. In 1973, the unit won most of the major sports events and the overall sports trophy in the inter­unit competitions.

Throughout, Wing Commander Prabhat Kumar Varma displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader John Frederick Josephs was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in January, 1954. He has served as Flight Commander from October, 1963 to August, 1965 and as Chief Flying Instructor from December, 1969 to February, 1974 at Fighter Training Wing. He has flown a total of 3810 hours, of which 2300 hours are accident-free on Vampire aircraft. During his tenure at the Fighter Training Wing, he was responsible for the compilation, revision and printing of Briefing Notes, Vampire Emergency Handbook and Syllabus. He has attained A-2 Instructor Category and Master Green Instrument Rating. He has maintained very high professional standard and deep understanding of the pupil­instructor relationship, and has been a source of inspiration to the younger Flying Instructors.

Throughout, Squadron Leader John Frederick Josephs displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Peter Eric Gaynor was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in April, 1956. He has been engaged in Flight Commander's duties in front line fighter Squadrons since 1962. He has a total of 3280 flying hours on jet Fighter aircraft. He took part in the 1961 Goa operations and also in the Indo-Pak Conflicts of 1965 and 1971. On one mission, which he was leading with fighter escorts, the formation was attacked by two F-104 aircraft. He so maneuvered the formation that the escort aircraft were able to shoot down both the attacking aircraft. Due to his extreme devotion to duty his Squadron has completed all its tasks and maintained a high standard of operational readiness.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Peter Eric Gaynor displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Pratap Rao was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in August, 1956. He has been on the Aircrew Examining Board since July, 1972. He has flown over 4000 hours on single engine aircraft and out of these over 2100 hours are on instructional or examining duties on 10 different types of aircraft. He holds an A-2 Instructional Category on 8 aircraft and Master Green Rating on 5 types of aircraft, which is an achievement of an exceptional order. As a Flying Instructor, he has carried out his duties with the utmost devotion and dedication. He has helped in improving the categorisation state of the Qualified Flying Instructors in the Air Force to a very great extent.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Pratap Rao displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Rajendra Prasad Paliwal was commissioned in the Logistics Branch of the Indian Air Force in December, 1958. He has successfully completed the Defence Services Staff College Course and has also qualified as a Parachute Jump Instructor. He has a total of 230 parachute descents to his credit including many trial descents with indigenous parachutes and airborne equipment both in the plains as well as at high altitudes. He is one of the two Parachute Jump Instructor officers who have jumped at the highest dropping zone in India. Squadron Leader Paliwal was posted as Assistant Director of Operations (Parachuting) at Air Headquarters in December, 1971. He has helped to lay down a paratrooping policy and worked out a training programme which enabled Paratroopers Training School to set an all time record of 35,000 parachute descents and to meet army tasks in full for the first time during 1972-73. In March, 1972, he actively participated in the paratrooping trials from HS-748 aircraft and formulated paratrooping requirements for this aircraft. Free fall parachuting was started in December, 1972 at Paratroopers Training School due to his initiative and untiring efforts. He also edited a training manual on paratrooping from AN-12 aircraft which is of invaluable help to the instructors and the trainees. Squadron Leader Paliwal has also worked out the scales of flying clothing for Parachute Jump instructors and transport aircrew and scales of Safety and Survival equipment for transport aircraft and helicopters.

Throughout, Squadron leader Rajendra Prasad Paliwal displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Harjit Singh Ghuman was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in May, 1959. Since March, 1972, he has been serving as Flight Commander of an operational Squadron. It was due to his rare organising ability, zeal, determination and single minded devotion to duty that the Squadron got an above average assessment in 1972. He has over 5,200 hours of accidentfree flying to his credit which includes over 1200 instructional hours. He holds the highest instrument rating and his unflagging zeal for operational flying has been a constant source of inspiration to his juniors.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Harjit Singh Ghuman displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Surendra Nath Sehgal was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in December, 1960. He has been serving as Flight Commander of a Fighter Squadron since December, 1973. Earlier he served as Flight Commander of another Fighter Squadron. He has flown 1,938 accident-free hours. He holds Master Green instrument rating and has excelled in professional courses. He won the Noronha Trophy in the Pilot Attack Instructors Course and Alpha grading with Directing Staff rating on the Defence Services Staff College Course. When faced with two serious emergencies while flying Squadron Leader Sehgal reacted with fortitude and great presence of mind. During the IndoPak conflicts, 1965 and 1971, he flew a large number of missions and proved himself as an extremely reliable Fighter Pilot in times of crisis. In 1973, he was responsible for imparting a very high standard of conversion training to fresh Pilots. Throughout, Squadron Leader Surendra Nath Sehgal displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Squadron leader Chitta Ranjan Ghosh was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in May, 1961. He has over 4,000 hours of accident­free flying to his credit. There have been numerous occasions when Squadron Leader Ghosh has been called upon to meet dangerous and challenging tasks. Notable amongst these missions was the heavy dropping of jeeps in November, 1972. Again in May, 1973 he was assigned another difficult task to land, and take-off, with full load. He carried out the mission on an unprepared and short runway under adverse monsoon weather. In April, 1972 he moved to a forward base with his Squadron. Single handedly he screened all the pilots and brought the Squadron to fully operational readiness in that area in a short time. He has flown long hours flood relief operations in West Bengal, Orissa and Bihar in 1970-71. During the Indo-Pak Conflict, 1971, he was selected to fly the pathfinder aircraft for the airborne operations. His accurate drop over target contributed greatly to the success of the first ever airborne assault undertaken by the Indian Force.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Chitta Ranjan Ghosh displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Kushinder Singh Bindra was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in January, 1963. He has qualified on Helicopters. He has flown a total of 2,945 hours, most of which have been in the Eastern Sector and in Ladakh area. He took over command of the Helicopter Training School in January, 1972. Soon after it was planned to introduce new type of Helicopters and also change the location of the Unit. He completed four conversion courses on schedule inspite of immense maintenance problems in a record time of ten weeks as against the approved duration of sixteen.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Kushinder Singh Bindra displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Krishan Kumar Sangar was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in January, 1963. He has been posted to a Helicopter Unit since June, 1972. During the period of July-August, 1973, he rescued 532 persons from the flooded areas of Haryana, Punjab and J&K. All these rescues were carried out in conditions of extremely bad weather and at great personal risk. He has to his credit a total of 4,039 accident­free hours, out of which he has flown 2,600 hours as a first pilot during his operational tenures in the hills of Eastern and Western sectors.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Krishan Kumar Sangar displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Sukrutaraj Jayandra was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in April, 1964. He has been engaged on instructional duties at Fighter Training Wing since April, 1972. On 26th February, 1973, while he was carrying out a dual instructional sortie of aerobatics in a Vampire aircraft the engine of the aircraft caught fire. He managed to extinguish the fire but in this process had perforce to shut down the engine. By accurate judgment and great professional skill, he successfully force-landed at base thereby saved a valuable aircraft.

Throughout, Flight lieutenant Sukrutaraj Jayandra displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Kamlesh Singh Mandla was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in October, 1965. On 3rd July, 1973 he was asked to carry out an air test of a Gnat aircraft. At 20,000 feet when he lowered the undercarriage, the control column jerked to the right and consequently the aircraft commenced rolling viciously and uncontrollably to the right. Showing great presence of mind, he brought the undercarriage up and recovered the air craft successfully. He was instructed to reduce the speed and lower the undercarriage once again. The control column again jerked to the right and got stuck approximately one inch away from the neutral position. By full application of left rudder and with both hands forcing the control column to the left he managed to keep the aircraft straight, and carried out a safe landing, thus preventing what might have been a serious accident.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Kamlesh Singh Mandla displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Prem Singh was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in October, 1965. He has been serving as a Flying Instructor at Elementary Flying School since July, 1973. During the latter part of 1971 when the majority of flying instructors were away on operational missions, he took it up himself to ensure timely completion of the flying task, carrying out several instructional sorties in a day. He successfully forced landed the aircraft seven time following engine failures. Each time he displayed remarkable airmanship and precise judgment culminating in flawless landings on the airfield, thereby saving the aircraft and. his own life and the lives of his pupils.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Prem Singh displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Bhupinder Singh Marwa was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in October, 1966. In October, 1971, he was posted to a Fighter Squadron and has since completed 500 hours of flying. On 9th April, 1974, while returning from a training sortie, he found that the port undercarriage and the nose undercarriage of his aircraft had locked down but there was no indication of the position of the starboard undercarriage. Attempts lo get the starboard undercarriage lowered proved to be of no avail. He skillfully piloted the aircraft on to the runway, made the port undercarriage touch the ground with a thump and then held the aircraft off the ground with the help of increased power. This action caused the starboard undercarriage to lock down, enabling him to land successfully. Thus by his presence of mind and expert airmanship he prevented damage to valuable aircraft.

Flight Lieutenant Bhupinder Singh Marwa displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Prem Prakash Chopra was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in June, 1967. He has been flying helicopters since 1971. During this short period, he has achieved a very high professional skill and has obtained 'A' category and Master Green Instrument Rating. Inspite of the hazards of flying over difficult and mountainous terrain, he has completed a thousand hours of accident­free flying. During the Indo-Pak Conflict, 1971, he successfully undertook casualty evacuation, urgent communication and reconnaissance missions in the Eastern sector. On 6th January, 1973, he successfully carried out a casualty evacuation sortie despite adverse weather conditions in the high mountainous terrains.

Throughout Flight Lieutenant Prem Prakash Chopra displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Master Warrant Officer Jati Kumar Kar has been serving as Signaller (Air) since 1953. He has flown a total of 9,460 hours, of which 3,072 hours have been on operational missions in Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland and NEFA areas. His aircrew category is 'A' . He has taken active role in the various research programmes and has displayed very high professional skill and devotion to duty. Because of his vast experience as Signaller (Air), he has been an asset to the Unit for training new signallers.

Master Warrant Officer Jati Kumar Kar has displayed professional skill, determination and exceptional devotion to duty.

Master Warrant Officer Vamadevan Ravindran has been serving as Signaller (Air) since 1948. His aircrew category is 'A' on Dakota aircraft and 'B' on IL-14 aircraft and he has maintained a high standard of professional efficiency throughout his career. While serving with the communication Squadron/ Flight, he carried out 776 special flights. He has 8,290 hours of flying to his credit of which 4,708 hours were flown in connection with very important assignments both within and outside India. In addition, he has 1,660 hours of operational flying in the Northern and Eastern Sectors to his credit.

Throughout Master Warrant Officer Vamadevan Ravindran displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Master Warrant Officer Muckatira Ponnappa Muthana, Flight Engineer, has been serving with the Paratroopers' Training School since June. 1970. He has flown a total of 3,500 hours, of which 478 hours have been on operational missions in Northern and Eastern Sectors. At the Paratroopers Training School, he had to shoulder the entire responsibility of conversion courses for aircrew and remustering courses for flight engineers. During the airborne assault operations in December, 1971, he displayed high professional skill by helping in the rescue of a hung up paratrooper.

Master Warrant Officer Muckatira Ponnappa Muthana thus displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Warrant Officer Lawrence Cruz has been a Parachute Jump Instructor since 1947. He has the distinction of having more than 600 descents to his credit which is the highest record among the Senior Non­Commissioned Officers. He has carried out descents at high altitudes and has always been associated with the trials of indigenous parachutes and airborne equipment. In 1965, he was selected to undergo paratrooping training from AN-12 aircraft, and has been instrumental in training Army and Air Force personnel in jumping from that aircraft. During the Indo-Pak Conflict, 1971, he was associated with the training of paratroopers who took part in the airborne operations. He also flew as a Despatcher during the paradrop over Tangail. He has trained over 1000 Army Paratroopers and a large number of Parachute Jump Instructors. This is the largest contribution by any individual instructor towards the paratrooper training.

Throughout, Warrant Officer Lawrence Cruz displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Flight Sergeant Devraj has been serving with a Transport Squadron in the Eastern theatre since April, 1972. From September, 1967 to March, 1972, he had served with a heavy Transport Squadron in Jammu and Kashmir. He has always volunteered for difficult sorties and has flown a total of 3,960 hours, out of which 1706 hours have been on operational sorties. During the Indo-Pak Conflict 1971 he had flown a large number of operational hours and had taken part in the operations in Western as well as Eastern Sectors. He also took part in paratrooping operations. During his stay of less than two years in Assam Sector, he flew a total of 1,600 hours including 1400 hours on operational sorties.

Throughout, Flight Sergeant Devraj displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.