Group Captain Bal Bhagwan Marathe has been in command of one of the major flying Air Force Stations unique for the number, variety and complexity of its lodger units. As the Station Commander, he was faced with enormous problems of timely completion of operation training of the jet bomber crews and transport crews of the Indian Air Force and the ab­initio and refresher training of the paratroops of the Indian Army.

Group Captain Marathe spared neither himself nor those placed under his command in a determined round­the­clock effort to raise the flying standard of the Wing to an exemplary level of operational efficiency in providing assistance to the units engaged in the logistic support in the J&K area including Ladakh. Faced with enormous problems of acute shortage of trained personnel and equipment, Group Captain Marathe with determination, and able leadership, brought up the operational readiness of the Wing and accomplished the difficult task of training operational aircrew to a high standard of efficiency.

Group Captain Marathe's skill and effort as a pilot, his leadership, administrative ability, energy, drive and devotion to duty have inspired his officers and men to an excellent professional standard, by which he has rendered services of an exceptional order.

Air Commodore Jafar Zaheer was commissioned in the Air Force in March 1944, in the Flying Branch. He has served with a number of fighter and fighter bomber squadrons of the Air Force and has commanded one of them. In addition, he has been a staff officer at Command and Air Headquarters, the Commander of a Tactical Air Centre and the Air Officer Commanding of an Air Defence Area. At present he is the Air Officer Commanding a major bomber base, and concurrently is the air defence commander of the area within which his base is situated. During the recent conflict with Pakistan, the bombers at his Base carried out a large number of strikes on important targets in enemy territory. Their attacks were kept up throughout the hostilities despite repeated raids by the enemy designed to put the base out of action. The servicing and repair of aircraft and their preparation for operational missions was maintained at a high tempo due largely to the personal example of Air Commodore Jafar Zaheer. He has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.