In 1964, a large number of aircraft had accumulated in one of our Base Repair Depots awaiting production. There was, therefore challenge to be met and the backlog to be cleared for improving the operational preparedness of units in the Air Force. Wing Commander Ganendra Mukherji who was posted to this Base Repair Depot as Chief Technical Officer in September, 1964, set about this task with grit and determination. Within a short period he organised the working of the various sections and increased the productivity.

During the hostilities with Pakistan in 1965, necessity for even better effort was clearly the need of the hour. Wing Commander Ganendra Mukherji rose to the occasion and by his sustained hard work, inspired leadership and efficient direction, achieved maximum results. It is also largely due to his personal guidance and participation that an important operational modification on Mi-4 helicopters was undertaken and completed by this Base Repair Depot in record time during this period.

Again during December, 1965, and the subsequent months, when this Base Repair Depot was reorganised Wg. Cdr. Mukherji was called upon to put in very hard and exacting working routine to ensure speedy completion of the tasks. This officer once again displayed qualities of resourcefulness and organising ability of a high order and notwithstanding his poor state of health at that time, achieved commendable results.

Squadron Leader Subbiah Murugan was posted to one of the Base Repair Depots which is responsible for repair and overhaul of signals and radar equipment.

On his own initiative he set up the overhaul line for a newly acquired type of radar equipment and within a short time the turn round period for overhaul was reduced considerably. Since the equipment acquired was new and our technical personnel lacked the requisite experience on it, Sqn. Ldr. Subbiah Murugan had to prepare lists of spares and components required for overhauling the sets. Pending arrival of the spares, he met the requirements from improvised equipment which were manufactured under his personal supervision and guidance at the Repair Depot. It was under his personal leadership and guidance that manufacture of new components was undertaken at his Repair Depot thereby saving an amount of about Rs. 5 Lakhs in foreign exchange. The range of production of components included those made of rubber, bakelite non-ferrous metals and ceramics.

Several foreign made transformers were required to be purchased at a cost of about Rs 5 Lakhs. Sqn. Ldr. Subbiah Murugan, on coming to know about the requirement, was confident that these transformers could be made at the Base Repair Depot by the Air Force technicians. He opened an unserviceable transformer to obtain the necessary technical data. His next requirement was a heavy coilwinding machine. Since this machine is an expensive item of equipment, Sqn Ldr Subbiah Murugan designed and made it himself at the Repair Depot. Thereafter he set about manufacturing the transformers which were badly required by the Air Force units. The total saving of foreign exchange effected was, therefore, more than about Rs. 5 Lakhs. The officer's achievement has also opened an avenue for the Air Force to manufacture these items without dependence on foreign supplies.

In collaboration with a foreign firm, Sqn Ldr. Subbiah Murugan has evolved the technique of potting a transformer. As a result the transformers used in some of our blind bombing equipment can now be made at this Repair Depot, if raw-material is made available.

Sqn. Ldr. Subbiah Murugan also developed a technique to make card board boxes of correct design for scientific and safe packing electronic equipment. Waste paper which used to be burnt in the past is now converted into pulp and used for packing electronic equipment and to cocoon them for long storage.

The initiative, devotion to duty and superb technical knowledge displayed by Sqn. Ldr. Subbiah Murugan have been of a remarkably high order.

In April, 1966, Squadron Leader Chittilemcherry Pathiyil Karunakaran Menon (5350) Technical/Signals took over charge of the Project Team entrusted with the responsibility of planning, installation, flight testing and commissioning of radar approach control system for an advance airfield. One of the components of the systems was the Precision Approach Radar of foreign manufacture received at this airfield in 1966. Without any familiarization training on the equipment imported in the country for the first time, Squadron Leader Menon had to plan and organise the inspection of the equipment, the engineering aspects of the radar installation including buildings, power supplies and remote presentation facilities prior to the arrival of the foreign experts. Squadron Leader Menon had also to plan and execute the installation of the equipment with meager resources available at the airfield in the least possible time to ensure a maximum warranty period for the equipment.

The Installation of the P.A.R. equipment commenced at this air field in the last week of April, 1967 and was finished in the first week of July, 1967. With his remarkable leadership, initiative, confidence, inventive genius and tactful liaison with the foreign experts Squadron Leader Menon was able to complete the entire installation utilizing only 312 Engineer days as against 399 projected for, thus leading to a saving of Rs. 21,000/- at pre-devaluation rates.

Squadron Leader Menon was also responsible to install a stand-by generator with very complex automatic circuits without any outside help. In this he has shown a technical skill, application and initiative of a very high order resulting in a further saving to the public funds. He was also instrumental in re-oriented the training programme and syllabi for training of controllers and Signals tradesmen under the supervision of the foreign experts which resulted in curtailing their stay in India and an additional saving of about Rs 22, 000/- also at pre-devaluation rates.

Throughout the installation Squadron Leader Menon has shown initiative, determination, sense of responsibility, devotion to duty, technical skill and professional leadership of a very superior caliber.

Flight Lieutenant Arvind Rutuparna Vaidya (6581) Technical/Armament while serving as the armament officer in a bomber squadron has designed and fabricated a number of armament test rigs, circuit testers and modifications. With the help of the test rig and the circuit tester the bombing circuit can be functionally tested even after bombs have been loaded in the aircraft. This device has greatly enhanced the operational potential of the bomber squadron in ensuring eliminating of hang-ups or faulty release of bombs.

The inventive ideas displayed by Flight Lieutenant Vaidya have contributed considerably towards devising equipment in the Air Force from indigenous resources which will go a long way in enhancing the operational potential of all bomber squadrons when these equipment and modifications are incorporated. The technical acumen and ingenuity of Flight Lieutenant Arvind Rutuparna Vaidya are worthy of high praise and recognition.

Flight Sergeant Pishori Lal has been posted in an operational fighter squadron in the Western sector since March, 1964. During this period, he has been the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Electrical Section.

Problems arising out of shortage of spares and ground equipment were faced by the squadron quite frequently. With his ingenuity, skill and hard labour, Flt Sgt Pishori Lal fabricated devices for testing electrical equipment used on the type of aircraft in his Squadron. His excellent guidance and supervision of airmen working under him, a majority of whom had never worked on this type of aircraft or equipment before, resulted in turning out most of them into reliable and efficient technicians.

During the operations against Pakistan, he worked day and night without any regard for his personal safety or comfort. He organised his workmen in such a manner that rectification of aircraft unserviceablity was undertaken on the spot as and when they occurred and this resulted in a much higher state of aircraft serviceability.

Flight Sergeant Pishori Lal's leadership, personal conduct and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the service.

Flight Sergeant Jacob John has been in a heavy Transport Squadron since June, 1963.

As the senior N.C.O. in Charge of the Daily Servicing section he has worked with untiring zeal, perseverance and cool efficiency. There have been times when the aircraft serviceability state of the squadron had been low. This senior N.C.O. worked round the clock and has, by his personal endeavour, enthusiasm and supervision brought up the serviceability of aircraft to a high state to enable the squadron to meet its commitments. His zeal, determination and single minded devotion to duty has been a source of inspiration to all airmen working with him. But for his personal efforts towards bringing up the serviceability state of aircraft of the squadron, it would have been difficult to meet even the day to day commitments.

He is an outstanding example of senior N.C.O., who has shown initiative, supervisory capabilities and perseverance beyond the call of duty. During his tenure in the squadron, he has rendered distinguished service of a high order in the best traditions of Air Force.

Sergeant Jyotirmay Neogi has been continuously serving in a helicopter unit in the eastern sector since February, 1962, after he volunteered for duties in operational areas.

He is a well-disciplined, conscientious, hard working and the most experienced technician in this trade in the squadron. His theoretical as well as practical knowledge in his trade is outstanding. All his superiors are highly impressed by his work and his juniors look forward to him for guidance and advice. He is always cheerful and even when working under adverse environments during long hours; he spares no pains in ensuring methodical and foolproof servicing of helicopters. Due to these qualities he has successfully enhanced the high morale for both aircrews and ground crews of his Squadron. It was to some extent due to his untiring efforts that the squadron was able to maintain a high state of helicopter serviceability and undertake heavy operational commit ments in the Mizo hills and North East Frontier Agency.

The outstanding devotion to duty, sincerity of purpose and exemplary work displayed by Sergeant Jyotirmay Neogi are in the best traditions of the Air Force.

In 1962, a team of technical airmen at the Jet Training Wing built an armament trainer for pupil pilots to go through basic procedural drill before they went up for flight exercises in the air. The idea of the armament trainer though conceived by the then Chief Instructor of Jet Training Wing, was made practicable due to the dedicated spirit, technical know how and hard work of the members of this technical team. Sergeant Baldev Singh Plaha was one of them. With the help of this trainer a great improvement in the accuracy of firing during armament exercises was achieved.

Later on, when the utility of the first armament trainer was fully assessed, the same team under the guidance of the same officer set to work to produce another armament trainer of an improved performance specifically for Vampire aircraft. This trainer was installed at one of our Air Force stations and proved of great use as a standard armament trainer for pilots of fighter and fighter-bomber squadrons.

Finally, a third armament trainer for Hunter aircraft with equipment and spares salvaged from crashed aircraft was designed and built by the same technical team with great success. Sergeant Baldev Singh Plaha took an active part in the design and construction of all the three armament trainers. The great technical skill, zeal, hard work and devotion to duty displayed by this senior N.C.O. in completing the tasks undertaken by the team are worthy of high praise and recognition.

In 1962, a team of technical airmen at the Jet Training Wing built an armament trainer for pupil pilots to go through basic procedural drill before they went up for flight exercises in the air. The idea of the armament trainer though conceived by the then Chief Instructor of Jet Training Wing, was made practicable due to the dedicated spirit, technical knowhow and hard work of members of this technical team. Sergeant Gopalkrishnan was one of them. With help of this trainer a great improvement in the accuracy of firing during armament exercises was achieved.

Later on, when the utility of the first armament trainer was fully assessed, the same team under the guidance of the same officer set to work to produce another armament trainer of an improved performance specifically for Vampire aircraft. This trainer was installed at one of our Air Force Stations and proved of great use as a standard armament trainer for pilots of fighter and fighter-bomber squadrons.

Finally, a third armament trainer for Hunter aircraft with equipment and spares salvaged from crashed aircraft was designed and built by the same technical team with great success. Sergeant Tiruvannamalai Srinivasa Gopalkrishnan took an active part in the design and construction of all the three armament trainers. The great technical skill, zeal, hard work and devotion to duty displayed by this senior N.C.O in completing the tasks undertaken by the team are worthy of high praise and recognition.

Sergeant Ramakrishna Jankiram Gosawi has been in-charge of the repair and servicing section of a logistic support squadron since October, 1964. With the limited resources available at the forward airfield in the Eastern Sector, from which his squadron was required to operate, this S.N.C.O left no stone unturned to keep the aircraft of his squadron in the air.

More than once, during the years 1965 and 1966, major tasks such as engine change had to be carried out at forward helipads right in the midst of mountains and wild life. During those times, this S.N.C.O showed exemplary courage and determination in leading teams of a handful of airmen to perform the tasks allotted. On every occasion he successfully carried out the repairs in a remarkably short time. Instances, where the final tasks were accomplished, with nothing but a few candles to provide light, were not uncommon.

At times, when aircraft serviceability reached low ebb, this SNCO, in utter disregard to personal comforts, proceeded to areas in the interior to salvage equipment and spares from the crashed aircraft so that the overall aircraft serviceability at base could be improved. His sincere and unflinching devotion to duty and cheerful acceptance of the hazards of working under difficult conditions, provided a magnificent inspiration to all other airmen of the squadron