Group Captain Sushil Kumar Mukherjee joined the Army Medical Corps on 15 October, 1948 and was seconded to the Air Force on 6 November 1948. He distinguished himself by standing first in primary and advanced Aviation Medicine Courses.

As Assistant Director of Medical Services (Flight Safety), he developed improved techniques for investigating medical aspects of aircraft accidents and formulated several measures to reduce human error factors. While serving with the Directorate of Technical Development and Production (Air), he was responsible for the development, evaluation and drawing up specification for various items of flying clothing, safety and survival equipment thereby effecting considerable savings of foreign exchange. In his capacity as the Deputy Principal Medical Officer, Western Air Command, he also prepared lecture notes for the guidance of aircrew and squadron medial officers. As Senior Advisor in Aviation Medicine he has guided various aviation medicine research projects and has also made valuable contribution in the field of aviation medicine.

For his distinguished service of a high order, the President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Group Captain Sushil Kumar Mukherjee.0020

Group Captain Nambi Srinivasa Gopalan was commissioned in the Accountant Branch of the Indian Air Force on 26 January 1950. Group Captain Gopalan has displayed great foresight, perspicacity and maturity in tackling complex accounting problems. His attempts to improve budgetary planning and control in Units are resulting in optimisation of resources. His studies and recommenda- tions on the contractual purchases at Units have led to considerable savings and greater benefits to the Units. He has also refined and improved the system of performance analysis of accounting function which has been in the Air Force since 1973-74 and made it a reliable yardstick for measuring the absolute perfor mance of individual Units and the compara tive performance of various Units.

His judicious interpretation of regulations has achieved economy in expenditure, while meeting service requirements fully. His organising ability is exceptional and he has been a source of inspiration to all Officers. Group Captain Nambi Srinivasa Gopalan has thus rendered distinguished service of a high order, for which the President is pleased to award him Vishisht Seva Medal.

Group Captain Raj Kumar Nehra was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) Branch of the Indian Air Force on 7 September 1953. During his tenure with the Directorate of Air Staff Requirements, he showed sound technical knowledge extraordinary zeal and extreme capacity for hard work in dealing with the large volume and range of work. Displaying a high sense of initiative and with untiring efforts, he, in a short period of time, acquired a high degree of competence even in the fields other than that of his specialisation.

Group Captain Nehra was called upon to carry out analytical studies of design/project reports of a number of development projects relating to aircraft/ systems designs. Owing to his recognised merit in the field of aircraft flight testing, the officer has been repeatedly selected for evaluation of aircraft/systems considered for induction in the IAF.

Group Captain Raj Kumar Nehra during his stay in the Directorate of Air Staff Requirements has throughout displayed outstanding professional competence, capacity for hard work and devotion to duty. The officer has thus rendered distinguished service of a high order and the President is pleased to award him Vishisht Seva Medal.

Wing Commander Nand Kishore Shankarrao Ambegaonkar was commissioned in the Flying (Pilot) Branch of the Indian Air Force on 30 November 1955. During the period that Wing Commander Ambegaonkar worked as Chief Instructor, the Transport Training Wing underwent a change from Dakota to HS-748 aircraft for training. This transition phase was a difficult period replete with innumerable Flying and maintenance problems. It was entirely due to his relentless endeavours and untiring zeal that the changeover was remarkably smooth and without any serious delay in training schedules.

Wing Commander Ambegaonkar has 8,400 accident-free flying hours to his credit. He holds an 'A-2' instructional category on both Dakota and HS-748 aircraft, and 'A' Master Green Transport rating. It was under his personal guidance and control that the training schedules were recast and the entire training machinery streamlined, which helped a great deal in elevating the standard of training.

Throughout, Wing Commander Nand Kishore Shankarrao Ambegaonkar has displayed outstanding professional skill, high organizing ability, devotion to duty and zeal and capacity for sustained hard work. He has thus rendered distinguished service of a high order. The President is pleased to award him Vishisht Seva Medal.

Wing Commander Prabhakar Mukundrao Achalkar was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) Branch of Indian Air Force on 20 May 1957. He has been working as the Chief Engineering Officer of a Fighter Wing since October 1973. He is a qualified single-engine pilot and has flown over 150 hours on sophisticated helicopters. With unremitting efforts, efficient organization and conduct of the Maintenance Control Centre, he has ensured unhindered flow of aircraft spares. This has resulted in sustaining an average serviceability of 70% on types 77 and 96 aircraft. By his initiative, hard work and professional skill, he has maintained and, wherever necessary, fabricated ground equipment to ensure unfettered flying operations.

Wing Commander Achalkar has worked long hours with determination and has displayed an exceptional devotion to duty, initiative and professional competence. His innovative spirit and dedication, which are in the highest traditions of the Air Force, have contributed to the enhancement of the operational potential of the Wing.

For his distinguished service of a high order, the President is pleased to award Wing Commander Prabhakar Mukundrao Achalkar Vishisht Seva Medal.

Wing Commander Sundaram Kalyan Sundaram was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) Branch of the Air Force in November 1968.

He has been the Chief Engineering Officer of the Air Force Academy since 16 September 1976. Undeterred by the high Aircraft-onGround rate of rotables and ARS spares, and the problems faced on the tail plane, nosewheel assembly and canopies, Wing Commander Sundaram displayed intelligent planning, effective material management, high devotion to duty an cordial relationship with HAL, thus raising the serviceability progressively to 70%. Wing Commander Sundaram Kalyan Sundaram has all along deployed outstanding work, intelligence, management ability and a high sense of devotion to duty and has thus rendered distinguished service of a high order. The President is pleased to award him Vishisht Seva Medal.

Squadron Leader Pritam Singh joined the Indian Air Force as an airman on 22 November, 1943. He was commissioned in the Administrative Branch on 30 December 1959.

His first tenure was a Fighter Controller from March 1960 to August 1963 at a Signals Unit in the most active sector in Punjab. Whilst at Air Headquarters, he dedicated himself to his task whole heartedly and contributed a great deal to the consolidation of Air Defence System of number of Signals Units integration of Surface-to-Air Guided Weapons and the formulation and issue of Air Defence Air Staff Instructions, directives, procedures and connected Air Publications.

Throughout his service career, Squadron Leader Pritam Singh has displayed high sense of loyalty, exemplary devotion to duty and a high level of professional knowledge and skill.

In recognition of the distinguished service of a high order rendered by Squadron Leader Pritam Singh the President is pleased to award him Vishisht Seva Medal.

Corporal Vamsa Vardhana Audipudi joined the Air Force in November 1962. He has been responsible far setting up and operating the servicing bays of radio and radar equipment of a sophisticated jet trainer aircraft.

By his diligent application and thorough professional knowledge, devotion to duty and zeal, Corporal Audipudi not only rectified many complicated snags on the aircraft, but devised and executed a modification altering the internal circuiting. This not only removed certain basic snags but also solved the intercommunication problem of the operators and greatly improved the radio performance, thus leading to increased efficiency and greater flight safety.

Corporal Vamsa Vardhana Audipudi's ingenuity, technical skill, devotion to duty and hard work have been a worthy example to others and are in the best traditions of the Air Force. He has thus rendered distinguished service of a high order for which the President is pleased to award him Vishisht Seva Medal.

Corporal George Chacko, Airframe Fitter joined the Air Force on 26 June 1963. His professional knowledge as a Non-commissioned Officer, of aircraft systems, snag rectifications, the numerous modifications, Special Technical Instructions and other Technical Orders is outstanding.

During the period February-March 1976, when all fighter aircraft were grounded for special checks, Corporal George, with a small gang of technicians, worked relentlessly for long hours, unmindful of his personal comfort. During these special checks on the aircraft he came across a number of difficult technical problems. With his superior theoretical and practical knowledge, professional skill and determination, he devised a number of jigs and rigs to solve the problems. He thus made a number of these aircraft serviceable within the shortest possible time.

Corporal George Chacko has an excellent record of achievements in the past. For his distinguished service of a high order, the President is pleased to award him Vishisht Seva Medal.