Squadron Leader Vishwanath Balkrishna Sawardekar had been attached to a Fighter reconnaissance squadron for operational duties during the September 1965 operations. On 10th September, 1965, he, along with his copilot, was about to take off on a sortie in a jet trainer, the airfield was suddenly attacked by four Pakistani aircraft as a result of which the trainer aircraft caught fire. Before they could abandon the burning aircraft, the co-pilot’s clothes caught fire; he crawled away from the aircraft but collapsed after removing the top of his burning overall. Sqn. Ldr. Sawardekar received facial injuries. At this stage the ammunition in the aircraft caught fire and began to explode. Without regard for his own safety, Sqn. Ldr. Sawardekar ripped off the remnants of the co-pilot’s overall which was still burning and cut away his burning shoes and socks. He then wrapped his own overall around co-pilot’s body and smothered the flames. He saved the life of his comrade.

Squadron Leader Vishwanath Balkrishna Sawardekar displayed exemplary courage and a spirit of comradeship and devotion to duty which are in the best traditions of the Air Force.

Other Details: Sqn. Ldr Sawardekar along with Sqn Ldr M J Marston were taxiing in a Vampire Trainer at Bagdogra, when the airfield was attacked by Pakistani Sabres. The Vampire was attacked and it caught fire. Sqn. Ldr Sawardekar jumped out of the burning aircraft and rescued his co-pilot inspite of his own injuries and exploding ammunition. Sqn Ldr Sawardekar elected to help his colleague with utter disregard to his personal safety.

Wing Commander Kailash Chandra Khanna was commissioned in the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force on 17th July 1954. He has served in a number of fighter and fighter bomber squadrons of the Air Force and is a qualified pilot attack instructor. He has also served in a Command Headquarters as a Command Flight Safety Officer. Since November, 1970, Wing Commander Kailash Chandra Khanna has been serving in a fighter bomber squadron, and has been the Commander of the Squadron for most of the period. He took a series of measures and brought the squadron to a high state of operational preparedness. The Squadron under the inspiring leadership of Wing Commander Kailash Chandra Khanna, played a major part in providing air support to the Army in the Chhamb Sector. His personal example and detailed briefing of his pilots on the tactics they were to adopt were largely responsible for their successes. He led 13 offensive missions himself, resulting in the destruction of a number of tanks, gun positions, enemy strong points and warlike stores.

Throughout, Wing Commander Kailash Chandra Khanna has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Squadron Leader Ashok Prataprao Shinde was serving as Senior Pilot in a Fighter Squadron. He led a number of ground attack missions in support of our troops. On two occasions he was responsible to rescue our trapped battalions by blunting the advance of enemy armour in Chamb Jaurian Sector. With utter disregard to his personal safety he led this formation in a determined and fearless attack knocking out 7 enemy tanks and 27 vehicles despite heavy anti aircraft fire. This action of his bad a decisive effect in relieving enemy presence on our ground forces in this sector.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Ashok Prataprao Shinde displayed gallantry, determination and leadership of a high order.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Iqbal Ali Syed was serving with a Fighter Bomber Squadron. He flew a number of operational missions and destroyed nine tanks, eight vehicles, one gun position, one fuel dump, one building, one watch tower and one fuel train. He also attacked concentrations of enemy troops and armour.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Iqbal Ali Syed displayed gallantry, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Chidambaram Sarangapani Chandrasekaran was a pilot in a Fighter-Bomber Squadron. He flew 13 operational missions against the enemy ground forces and destroyed 8 tanks, 2 gun positions and one bunker in the face of heavy ground fire.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Chidambaram Sarangapani Chandrasekaran displayed gallantry, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

On the 4th December 1971, Flight Lieutenant Cherry Hassanand Raney led a strike mission over Hussainwala and destroyed an enemy tank. He led a number of other missions over enemy territory in the face of enemy air and ground opposition. His missions had decisive effects on enemy ground forces in ChhambJaurian Sector. He destroyed four tanks and four vehicles in addition to deadly strike over enemy concentration of troops and armour. On the 17th December 1971, he carried out a daring attack on Lahore Railway Junction causing extensive damages which were later confirmed by films.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Cherry Hassanand Raney displayed gallantry, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Robindra Kumar Sinha displayed gallantry, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Dilip Kamalakar Dighe as a pilot of a FighterBomber Squadron, he flew fourteen sorties in support of our ground forces. On two of these missions, he spotted enemy tank concentrations. He immediately directed the formation on to the target and his own accurate shooting resulted in the destruction of four tanks, numerous enemy vehicles and two gun positions in Chhamb-Jaurian Sector.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Dilip Kamalakar Dighe displayed gallantry, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, as a pilot of a front line Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Flight Lieutenant Kuldeep Singh Sahota flew thirteen missions in support of our ground forces. He destroyed four enemy tanks and a few heavy guns. On two occasions, information brought by him about enemy tank concentrations in Chhamb-Jaurian Sector resulted in planning of subsequent missions, which destroyed these enemy tanks.

In this action, Flight Lieutenant Kuldeep Singh Sahota displayed gallantry, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Vijay Kumar Wahi was a pilot in a Fighter-Bomber Squadron. On the 6th December, 1971, he was detailed as number two in an Air to Ground mission to Chhamb area. The target was heavily defended by anti aircraft guns and enemy aircraft but the destruction of this target was of vital important to our ground forces which were under heavy pressure. He pressed home the attacks and knocked out two enemy tanks. While returning from the mission, his aircraft was hit and he ejected sustaining fatal injuries.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Lawrence Fredrick Pereira displayed gallantry, determination and devotion to duty of a high order.

Wing Commander Pirthi Singh took over command of a fighter Squadron which was being re-equipped with a new type of aircraft. He personally carried out extensive trials to collect valuable data required for maximum exploitation of this aircraft. Re­equipment of this Squadron at a forward base demanded very close supervision and leadership. The problems associated with induction of this aircraft in the Indian Air Force were also unusual. Inspite of the difficulties, the Squadron became fully operational in remarkably short time and Wing Commander Singh himself attained the highest instrument rating on the new type of aircraft.

Throughout, Wing Commander Pirthi Singh displayed devotion to duty and leadership.

Squadron Leader Annaswami Sridharan was posted to an operational unit whose role was to train pilots on a new type of supersonic aircraft. He was the only Flight Commander in the unit qualified to undertake this task. He had to devise the entire training syllabus and programme, prepare orders and operating procedures. He flew on an average four instructional sorties daily, in addition to conducting ground lectures and training of pilots under conversion. He worked beyond the call of duty regularly, and was successful in converting pilots on to the new and sophisticated aircraft.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Annaswami Sridharan displayed initiative, drive and processional skill.

Squadron Leader Madhavendra Banerji has been a Flight Commander of an operational squadron since June 1968. He has flown a total of 3,826 hours and holds a Master Green instrument rating with an Instrument Rating Instructor endorsement. He was one of the first batch of pilots who had undergone flying training on a new type of supersonic aircraft. He displayed considerable initiative and professional skill and in a relatively short time trained the pilots of Squadron to full operational status.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Madhavendra Banerji displayed professional skill, initiative and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Jagdish Bhattacharya, as a pilot of a Fighter Bomber Squadron, carried out many operational missions. On the 6th December, 1971, while he was attacking the enemy near Munawar river, his aircraft was hit by enemy ground fire. As his aircraft was getting out of control, he ejected in the enemy territory. The enemy sent a detachment to capture him but inspite of spine injury, he evaded the enemy.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Jagdish Bhattacharya displayed courage and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Shridhar Madhav Ghatate as a Senior Pilot of a Fighter Bomber Squadron, flew twelve operational missions, and destroyed two enemy tanks and a number of vehicles. On two occasions, when his aircraft was hit by ground fire, he brought his aircraft back to base with almost no fuel and thus saved two operational aircraft. He set an example to the Pilots by his courage in hitting the enemy positions despite heavy ground fire and by pressing home attacks in complete disregard to his personal safety.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Shridhar Madhav Ghatate displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Ashok Prataprao Shinde has been flying fighter aircraft continuously since 1959. He has flown 2331 hours on jet aircraft, out of which 635 hours are on a supersonic type of aircraft. On the 8th May, 1965, while he was flying a Toofani aircraft, the engine flamed out. He displayed great courage and airmanship in successfully executing a dead stick landing. He stood first in the Pilot Attack Instructors course.

He passed with an excellent grade while undergoing on a supersonic aircraft abroad. Due to his efforts, his Squadron emerged as the best in close Air Support competition held by his Command in 1972.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Ashok Prataprao Shinde displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Air Force.

Squadron Leader Vir Sain Chowdhry (7126) was commissioned in the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) Branch of the Indian Air Force in January, 1963. He was posted as Armament Officer of a Fighter Bomber Squadron during the period of opera tion against Pakistan in December, 1971.

He was responsible for setting up a high standard of maintenance of the aircraft armament equipment. He ensured the training of armament personnel within a short time which enabled the squadron to become fully operational. By his ingenuity he increased the number of rounds loaded in aircraft and thus increased its fire power. This modification was subsequently accepted even by the manufacturers. He was also associated with the clearance trials of indigenous armament stores used in the aircraft.

He skillfully organized the activities of the Central Repair and Servicing Section, and thereby increased the rate of aircraft serviceability. He also undertook camouflaging of aircraft blast pens and dispersal of technical equipment.

Squadron Leader Vir Sain Chowdhry displayed dedication to duty, organizing ability and professional skill of a high order. For his distinguished service of a high order, he is awarded the Vishisht Seva Medal.