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Sqn Ldr | Ranjit Dhawan 4572 GD(P) | Unit : No.2 Squadron | Award Date | Announced 26 Jan 66 | |
Details : | ![]() During the operations against Pakistan, Squadron Leader Ranjit Dhawan was the flight commander of an operational squadron. He was also responsible for a group of 25 Gnat aircraft based at his station and had to look after the necessary coordination between the engineering and the operational personnel. He carried out a total of 44 operational missions in Gnat aircraft. He also was required to plan and coordinate the flying effort of all the aircraft under his command. Thanks to his leadership and planning, the Gnats were able to give a good account of themselves against Pakistani aircraft of superior performance. Although he himself did not shoot down any enemy aircraft, other operational pilots achieved success under his guidance and leadership. His cheerful disposition, zeal and keenness to hunt the enemy in the sky inspired the other pilots and the Ground crew under him to put in their best efforts in the operations. | ||||
Reference: | Gazette of India dated 12th February 1966 - No.14-Pres/66 dated 1st January 1966 | ||||
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Plt Ofr | Subramania Sankaran 7127 GD(P) | Unit : No.2 Squadron | Award Date | Announced 26 Jan 66 | |
Details : | During the operations against Pakistan, Pilot Officer Subramania Sankaran was recalled from leave and moved to a forward wing. He was asked to assume the responsibility of running the Daily Servicing Section at his base which housed aircraft not only from his own squadron but from other units also. The aircraft were required round the clock, starting from early morning armed patrols which had to be airborne at 0430 hours. Himself an armament officer, he went out of his way to gain a workable knowledge of the other trades and within a very short time was able to run a Daily Servicing Section in an efficient manner and to coordinate its activities in order to meet the demands from detachments in other forward bases. He was required at times to work upto 17 hours a day. For several days Pilot Officer Subramania Sankaran did not leave the Daily Servicing Section premises. In the execution of this task Pilot Officer Subramania Sankaran displayed commendable devotion to duty, great skill and good leadership. Working against many handicaps and under difficult conditions, he set an inspiring example to all those around him. | ||||
Reference: | Gazette of India dated 12th February 1966 - No.14-Pres/66 dated 1st January 1966 | ||||
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Wg Cdr | Johney William Greene 4093 F(P) | Unit : No.2 Squadron | Award Date | Announced 26 Jan 72 | |
Details : | ![]() During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Wing Commander Johney William Greene was commanding a Fighter Squadron. He flew a number of operational missions in the form of Combat Air Patrol, sweeps and escort. On the 4th December, 1971, while he was on Combat Air Patrol mission, two F-104 aircraft attempted to attack an airfield. Even though he was alone in the air, he took offensive action and attacked the enemy aircraft. The enemy aircraft jettisoned the tanks and armament load and engaging the reheat, retreated towards their own territory. Throughout, Wing Commander Johney William Greene displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty. | ||||
Reference: | Gazette of India dated 7th October 1972 - No.108 - Pres/72 dated 23rd September 1972 | ||||
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Sqn Ldr | Narinder Singh Verdi 5116 F(P) | Unit : No.2 Squadron | Award Date | Announced 26 Jan 72 | |
Details : | ![]() During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Squadron Leader Narinder Singh Verdi was serving as a senior pilot with a Fighter Squadron. On the 8th December, 1971, he went on a low level sweep mission as a number 3 in a four aircraft formation. After completion of the mission, as the formation was approaching the base, his aircraft was hit by a flock of three large birds and the aircraft including the engine was severely damaged. The windÂÂscreen was smashed and the canopy was broken. He lost R/T contact and could see only the side of the cockpit. Despite the steady and progressive loss of engine thrust and the limited vision, he located the airfield and landed safely thus saving the valuable aircraft. In this action, Squadron Leader Narinder Singh Verdi displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty. | ||||
Reference: | Gazette of India dated 7th October 1972 - No.108 - Pres/72 dated 23rd September 1972 | ||||
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Wg Cdr | Sube Singh Malik 4663 F(P) | Unit : No.2 Squadron | Award Date | Announced 26 Jan 73 | |
Details : | ![]() Wing Commander Sube Singh Malik took over command of a fighter squadron in November, 1970. Throughout his stay in the Squadron, he has consistently endeavoured to improve the operational readiness of the squadron. During the India-Pakistan conflict 1971, he was required to move to the Western Sector at extremely short notice and operate detachments of the Squadron from several separate locations. All these moves were undertaken at very short notice and the detachments were operational at each of these locations immediately on arrival. Most of the moves were carried out either with very limited air transport support or none. The threat from enemy aircraft in the area in which his squadron operated was reduced almost to nil because of the activity of his unit. Throughout, Wing Commander Sube Singh Malik displayed courage, leadership and devotion to duty. | ||||
Reference: | Gazette of India dated 23rd March 1974 - No.34 - Pres/74 dated 26th January 1973 | ||||
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Wg Cdr | Akbar Singh Bains 4882 F(P) | Unit : No.2 Squadron | Award Date | Announced 26 Jan 76 | |
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Reference: | Gazette of India dated 22nd January 1977 - No.5- Pres/77 dated 26th January 1976 | ||||
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Wg Cdr | Balakrishnan Suresh 16206 F(P) | Unit : No.2 Squadron | Award Date | Announced 26 Jan 01 | |
Details : | ![]() Wing Commander Balakrishnan Suresh (16206) Flying (Pilot) was commissioned on 13 Dec 80 in the flying branch of IAF. An accomplished professional, he has over 2200 hours of fighter flying to his credit. He is a Fighter Strike Leader (FSL) with the distinction of two instructional tenures at the Tactical and Air Combat Development Establishment. Wg Cdr Suresh was appointed the Commanding Officer of a fighter squadron on 24 Aug 98. On taking over command, he faced the twin challenges of low aircraft availability and low operational status of pilots mainly in the op and strike roles. A thorough analysis of the situation revealed that while improvement of role-qualifications was an operational necessity, resources would be hard to come by. Through a concerted and well-focused training effort, he affected a quantum jump in the status of his squadron. The squadron armament results showed a noticeable improvement under his watchful guidance. Enhanced operational readiness saw his squadron ready and willing to go whenever called upon. He responded promptly during the mobilisation for Op Safed Sagar and the build-up during the Sri Lankan contingency. His squadron accredited itself in exemplary fashion during the annual joint Navy Air exercise off the Eastern seaboard. The Commanding Officer had to call upon the very best of his managerial skills in juggling scarce aircraft resources. Through close interaction with his maintenance staff, he ensured maximum support for his operations. Meaningful interaction with Wing and Command staff fetched real time solutions for his operational and maintenance problems. At the same time, his humane approach towards his men and their problems resulted in a large number of meaningful welfare measures being instituted for the overall improvement of his unit.For exceptional devotion to duty, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vayu Sena Medal' to Wing Commander Balakrishnan Suresh. | ||||
Reference: | Gazette of India dated 26th May 2001 - No.68-Pres/2001 dated 26th January 2001 | ||||
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Wg Cdr | Rajiv Kumar Mendiratta 16799 F(P) | Unit : No.2 Squadron | Award Date | Announced 26 Jan 02 | |
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Reference: | Gazette of India dated 29th June 2002 - No.118-Pres/2002 dated 26th January 2002 & AFD 2002 Investiture Booklet | ||||