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.

Master Signaller Sri Ram Vohra has been operating as senior Air Signaller with a Transport Squadron engaged in operational tasks in Jammu and Kashmir. This is his second operational assignment; he had earlier operated in this area as well as in NEFA. During one of his earlier tours, he met with a serious flying accident in Jammu and Kashmir. Undeterred by the effects of that accident, Master Signaller Vohra cheerfully volunteered for all difficult missions assigned to his Squadron, which involved hazardous flying over treacherous terrain and in adverse weather conditions. Within a period of 22 months, he had flown about 1000 operational hours. Master Signaller Vohra volunteered for flying whenever other signallers were not available and by his own example inspired confidence in his colleagues.

Master Signaller Sri Ram Vohra has displayed devotion to duty and professional skill of a very high order in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

During the operations against Pakistan, Sergeant Sansar Singh was a Flight Engineer in a Helicopter Unit, carried out 93 sorties and flew one hundred and four hours. He was one of the most willing workers and always volunteered to fly on operational missions. He undertook sixteen offensive sorties against the strongholds of Pakistani infiltrators in Jammu and Kashmir at great personal risk. He went on forty-two casualty evacuation sorties and attended to casualties while in flight and thereby saved many valuable lives. On several occasions he was called upon to convert a helicopter quickly from offensive version to the casualty evacuation version. He carried out these tasks with commendable speed and without caring for his personal safety or comfort. His airfield was under constant threat of enemy air raids without warning and the forward helipads were within the range of enemy fire.

Sergeant Sansar Singh has displayed commendable zeal for operational flying, a keen sense of duty and unwavering courage in carrying out all the tasks entrusted to him

Signaller Ved Kumar Sharma has been serving with a Transport Squadron in Jammu and Kashmir since July 1961, and has to his credit a total of 2500 hours of flying, of which over 1800 hours are on operations. Disregarding his personal safety, Signaller Sharma has volunteered for almost every difficult and hazardous supply dropping mission in remote and isolated posts in Ladakh. He flew as many as 10 hours a day and always appeared cheerful and thus inspired confidence in his colleagues.

Signaler Ved Kumar Sharma has displayed commendable devotion to duty and professional skill in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

Wg. Cdr. Naresh Kumar Midha has been engaged in operational flying in the Jammu and Kashmir area since 1961. Prior to that, he carried out a large number of air dropping and landing sorties over some hazardous terrain in J & K and NEFA areas. In 1960, while serving with the UNEF in Congo, he flew a number of dangerous missions. On 27th June, 1964, when he was taking off, the right outer wheel of his aircraft sheered off. He tackled the situation carefully and landed his aircraft safely. On another occasion, he evacuated a pilot who was seriously ill from a forward area in Ladakh despite bad weather conditions.

Throughout, Wg. Cdr. Midha displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

Sqn. Ldr. Vishwanathan Krishnamurthy was in command of a Reconnaissance Squadron in the eastern sector from October 1962 to April 1965. During this period in all difficult and hazardous missions, Sqn. Ldr. Krishnamurthy guided his men and proved himself to be a source of inspiration. During the trouble in Kutch, he volunteered for operations and carried out successfully all tasks assigned to him.

Throughout, Sqn. Ldr. Krishnamurthy displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Sqn. Ldr. Jagdish Kumar Seth has been engaged in air transport and operational training in Jammu and Kashmir area since 1960. Apart from his own operational flying, he has trained new pilots and raised their operational standard. He has carried out large number of supply dropping and landing sorties in forward areas. During the operations against the Chinese in October, 1962, he, in disregard to his personal safety, landed vitally needed reinforcements in an area and also carried out several reconnaissance sorties.

Throughout, Sqn. Ldr. Seth displayed courage and devotion to duty.

During the Chinese aggression in 1962, Fg. Offr. Bhupendra Prakash regularly undertook operational sorties to distant landing grounds and carried out supply-dropping missions in NEFA. On 10th February, 1964, Fg. Offr. Prakash was detailed for a communication sorties to Mechue. On his return flight, he encountered adverse weather, and when he was trying to make way through small opening in the heavy clouds, he met with an accident and was killed. He had flown 630 sorties and made 580 landings in difficult terrain in NEFA.

Throughout, Flying Officer Bhupendra Prakash displayed professional skill, courage and devotion to duty.

Fg. Offir. Krishna Vishwanath Rajagopal has been employed in a transport squadron engaged in airlift operations in Assam area since March, 1962. He has carried out over 1000 operational sorties at the various landing grounds and dropping zones in NEFA and elsewhere. He has fulfilled vital Army operational requirements by carrying out operational sorties in difficult terrain in bad weather conditions. Throughout, Fg. Offir. Rajagopal displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Fg. Offir. Jatinder Mohan Singh has been serving with a transport Squadron engaged in airlift operations in the Assam area. During the last four years, he has carried out many difficult air landings and dropping missions to several forward areas in NEFA and Nagaland. On many occasions, he voluntarily undertook difficult missions to hurriedly setup army posts and carried out emergency droppings under difficult conditions. He has flown over 2200 hours, including 1700 hours of operational flying.

Throughout, Fg. Offr. Jatinder Mohan Singh displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Fg. Offir. Ved Prakash Kala has been engaged in transport support operation in the eastern sector since December 1961. In early 1963, he was assigned the task of carrying out reconnaissance for dropping zones in the mountainous terrain in Joshimath and Badrinath areas. He carried out the task successfully. He has always volunteered for difficult and dangerous missions and has been able to operate under adverse weather conditions, flying over 130 hours per month even during the rainy season.

Throughout, Fg. Offir. Kala displayed professional skill, courage and devotion to duty.

Fg. Offir. Ranbir Singh has been operating in NEFA and Nagaland and has flown numerous missions to advance landing grounds in difficult terrain. Due to his intimate knowledge of terrain and flying ability, he was specially selected for flying the members of the peace mission during the peace talks in Nagaland.

Throughout, Flying Officer Ranbir Singh displayed professional skill, courage and devotion to duty.

Fg. Offr. Sadanand Ramchandra Pedgaonkar has been serving with a transport squadron engaged in airlift operations in NEFA and Nagaland sine May 1962. During the course of about 3 years, he has flown over 2000 hours, of which about 1500 hours have been on operations. He has successfully carried out landings and air dropping operations in many advance landing grounds and dropping zones. At times, when the exigencies of service so demanded, he flew as many as six to seven sorties a day. He flew over 180 hours in about a month's time during the Chinese aggression in 1962.

Throughout, Fg. Offr. Pedgaonkar displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Master Signaller Sailendra Mohan Roy has been flying as a signaler in Jammu and Kashmir and NEFA since 1956 and has completed over 1800 hours of operational flying. He has always volunteered for dangerous missions in complete disregard to his personal safety. During the operational periods, at all hours of the day, he was seen attending to the aircraft signals equipment to ensure success of the missions. He has contributed to a large extent in raising the professional ability of his colleagues and the standard of communication in his squadron.

Squadron Leader Maharaj Krishan Khanna has been a pilot in a squadron since 1959. Since then, he has given a creditable account of his professional ability and has always successfully carried out the tasks assigned to him. He has always volunteered for difficult sorties which proved extremely useful for the Air Force.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Maharaj Krishan Khanna displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Trevor Theodore Oakley has been serving in an operational transport squadron since 1961. He has done a total of 4380 hours of which 1810 hours have been on operational sorties over NEFA and Jammu and Kashmir area. During the Chinese aggression in 1962, he flew 94 hours on operational sorties in support of our army in Ladakh. During the trying days when both Ladakh and Assam sectors had to be supported, he carried out sorties to forward areas and made his aircraft available for transport support operations in both sectors. As a member of the training team in the squadron, he has also been responsible for the conversion and operational training of a number of pilots. Throughout, Squadron leader Trevor Theodore Oakley displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Hugh Lancelot Ford has been an instructor on deputation to the Iraq Air Force since November 1965. On 26th October, 1966, he was the leader of a pair of aircraft and was carrying out dual instruction with his pupil. While descending, his aircraft caught fire. The aircraft at that time was at a low altitude and over marshy terrain. Squadron Leader Ford tried to extinguish the fire but did not succeed. In these circumstances, instead of ejecting, he, at great personal risk, decided to forceand the aircraft. By accurate judgment und professional skill, he successfully force landed the aircraft in a small field without injury to his pupil or damage to the aircraft.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Hugh Lancelot Ford displayed courage and professional skill.

Squadron Leader Pradyot Kumar Dutta has been, serving with an operational transport squadron since 1963. He has flown a total of 4720 hours of which 2099 hours have been flown in operational areas in NEFA and Jammu and Kashmir in early 1963, when, after a supply dropping mission, he was approaching an airfield to land, a bird entered one of the outer engines rendering it inoperative. Undaunted, he skillfully handled his aircraft and ensured a safe landing.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Pradyot Kumar Dutta displayed courage and professional skill.

Flight Lieutenant Bobby Johnson has been serving with a Helicopter unit in the Eastern Sector. He has flown a total of 2375 hours, of which more than 500 hours have been on operations on helicopters, He also carried out many sorties on extremely difficult and hazardous missions. He undertook a number of commitments for His Majesty the King of Nepal and earned appreciation. He also successfully performed communication duties from and to Bhutan in difficult conditions.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Bobby Johnson displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Hariman Singh Soorma has been a pilot in a Squadron since October 1962. He has undertaken a number of hazardous operational mission and successfully carried out the tasks assigned to him. Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Hariman Singh Soorma displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Hari Mohan Tandon has been serving with an operational transport squadron since September 1961. During the operations against the Chinese in 1962, sometimes he used to fly as many as 8 hours a day on sorties to forward areas and flew a total of 91 hours. He has carried out a total of 3870 flying hours of which 1750 hours have been in operational areas. In October 1962, during an ammunition dropping mission to our troops, when one of the ejection crew suffered from lack of oxygen and the gunner, who went to his aid, also suffered the effects of anoxia. Flight Lieutenant Tandon went to the cargo compartment, pulled the unconscious men into the pressurised cabin and administered oxygen to them. He helped the other member of ejection crew to release the lashings of the cargo and then completed the supply drop accurately on the dropping zones by using the emergency operating switch.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Hari Mohan Tandon displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Gurbakash Rai Sahni has been a navigator in a Squadron since August 1963. He has always volunteered for difficult missions and has successfully carried out the tasks assigned to him. Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Gurbakash Rai Sahni displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Amar Prakash Chandra Kapoor has been serving with an operational transport squadron since July 1962. He has always volunteered for flying most difficult and arduous tasks. Out of a total of 4350 flying hours, he has flown 1668 hours in operational areas. During the operations against China and Pakistan, he maintained high morale amongst the air crew of his Squadron. He was entrusted with the supervision of Junior pilots for operational training in supply dropping in forward areas. During a sortie, when he was carrying out a check on a junior pilot, one of the undercarriage tyres of the aircraft burst on take off causing the most outer wheel to disengage partially and resulting in severe vibration in the aircraft. He promptly took over the controls and ensured the safe landing of the aircraft. Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Amar Prakash Chandra Kapoor displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Harkewal Singh has been engaged in operational flying in NEFA and Jammu and Kashmir areas since December 1956. During this period, he has carried out a total 3441 flying hours of which 2255 hours have been over forward areas. He has frequently volunteered to provide transport support to the Army over hazardous and mountainous terrain and has been an example to the pilots of his squadron. Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Harkewal Singh displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Ajay Krishna Avasthi has been serving in the Jammu and Kashmir and NEFA areas since 1960. He has flown more than 1100 hours in operational areas. On 22nd September 1964, while on a sortie to Leh, the starboard engine of his aircraft failed and the aircraft started losing height rapidly. With great skill, he manoeuvred the aircraft through narrow valleys and difficult terrain and landed safely at the base. On another occasion, when the starboard engine of his aircraft started backfiring violently at an extremely critical stage immediately after take off, he, with cool courage and great presence of mind, brought the situation under control and landed the aircraft safely and thus saved the aircraft and the lives of the passengers and crew.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Ajay Krishna Avasthi displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Inder Puri has been engaged in operational flying since July 1962. He took part in operations against the Chinese and the Pakistani forces and in Nagaland. He has flown over 1100 hours on logistic support operational duties in a single engined aircraft. During the operations in the Rann of Kutch, he flew a large number of sorties for casualty evacuation from the battle area. On one occasion, he successfully landed at an unsurveyed area. He carried out the sorties in the battle area in an unarmed single engined aircraft in the face of intense ground fire and regular enemy fighter reconnaissance activity.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Inder Puri displayed courage and devotion to duty,

During the operations against Pakistan, Flying Officer Iqbal Fazal Husain, in addition to armed patrol over the Pasrur and Chhamb sectors, carried out two successive low level strikes against enemy targets. On 8th September 1965, he took off from a strike mission in a formation of four aircraft. Despite anti-aircraft fire, his section completed the task successfully. While returning to base, his aircraft flamed out owing to damage to the fuel system caused by enemy ground fire. He successfully ejected himself and landed only 12 miles from his base. He was seriously injured by the villagers who took him to be an enemy pilot. Despite the difficult situation, he refrained from using his fire arms in self defence. Subsequently, he was killed in a flying accident.

Throughout, Flying Officer Iqbal Fazal Husain displayed cool courage and professional skill.

Signaller/Air

Master Warrant Officer Venkatachalam Padmanabha Iyer has been serving with an operational transport squadron since July 1963. He has flown a total of 5278 hours which 1600 hours have been in operational areas in NEFA and Jammu and Kashmir. He has also carried out more than 600 sorties on supply dropping and landing at advanced landing grounds. On 28th September 1963, he was signaler of an aircraft which met with an accident while landing at Leh. The situation was fraught with grave danger as the aircraft was likely to catch fire. With cool courage, he carried out the emergency drill and saved the aircraft from catching fire.

Throughout, Master Warrant Officer Venkatachalam Padmanabba Iyer displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Warrant Flight Engineer Apurba Kumar Banerjee has been serving with an operational transport squadron since March 1961. During this period, he has flown a total of 2027 hours of which 1540 hours have been on operational sorties.

During the operations against the Chinese, he flew a total of 85 hours on supply dropping and landing missions in Ladakh. He also flew a number of sorties airlifting material and personnel to the Assam Valley. In 1961, he spent two weeks, during winter in Chushul to help retrieve a stranded aircraft. He has also been responsible for the operational training of a large number of flight engineers.

Throughout Warrant Flight Engineer Apurba Kumar Banerjee displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

Warrant Officer Samirendra Nath Bhattacharya has been serving with an operational transport squadron since October 1961. Out of a total of 3404 flying hours, he has flown 1660 hours on operational duties. He was instrumental in fabricating special tools required for loading and unloading heavy equipment and his squadron was able to supply large quantity of stores to forward airfields due largely to the initiative and professional skill shown by him.

During the operations against the Chinese in 1962, he always volunteered for any sortie during the day or night and carried out successfully a number of supply dropping and other missions.

Throughout, Warrant Officer Samirendra Nath Bhattacharya displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Flight Sergeant Vellayudhan Krishna Nair has been serving with an operational transport squadron since July 1963. He has flown 2352 hours of which 1504 hours have been in operational areas. At times, when his squadron was short of Flight Engineers, he volunteered on every occasion and flew 3 to 4 sorties a day and thus set an inspiring example for others. Throughout, Flight Sergeant Vellayudhan Krishna Nair displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Flight Engineer Koshy Thomas has been flying in Jammu and Kashmir since 1962. He has flown 1457 hours of which 1031 hours have been in operations. He has flown a large number of missions to advance landing grounds and dropping zones located in very difficult terrain. On 28th March 1965, during a flight to Leh when the starboard engine of the aircraft failed, he rendered valuable assistance in making a safe and successful single engine landing at Leh.

Throughout, Flight Engineer Koshy Thomas displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Flight Engineer Srinivasa Rajagopalan has been flying in the Jammu and Kashmir and NEFA areas since 1961. He has flown over 1767 hours of which more than 1000 hours have been in operational areas. He always volunteered for hazardous operational missions. His professional skill and resourcefulness contributed to a great extent towards the success of many operational missions. During the Chinese aggression in 1962, his aircraft was hit by enemy fire and damaged. Undaunted, he continued flying hazardous missions.

Throughout, Flight Engineer Srinivasa Rajagopalan displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Group Captain (then Wing Commander) Jagdish Raj Bhasin was in command of a Squadron from April 1966 to May 1967. He was entrusted with, the stewardship of the Squadron at the time of its re­equipment with a new type of aircraft. The primary task of the Squadron was to train the pilots to use this new type of aircraft. For this purpose he, despite many difficulties, marshalled all the resources at his disposal with utmost speed and carried out the task successfully by working about twelve hours a day. During his stay in the Squadron, he introduced effective steps for flight safety.

Throughout, Group Captain Jagdish Raj Bhasin displayed professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

As Commander of a Bomber Squadron, Group Captain Jaspal Singh led his Squadron in a commendable manner, winning many a laurel in inter­Squadron armament competitions. For five years he was connected with the Flight Safety Organisation at Air Headquarters and by his organising ability and sound technical knowledge implemented various plans. As Commander of a large multi­role station, he has successfully tackled many complex operational, training, maintenance and administrative problems. He has flown over 4000 hours without a blemish.

Throughout, Group Captain Jaspal Singh displayed professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

Wing Commander Malcolm Shirley Dundas Wollen was in command of an Interceptor Squadron re-equipped with a new type of aircraft. The squadron, besides its role of interception, had to undertake conversion training of a number of pilots. Wing Commander Wollen with great perseverance and fortitude fulfilled the task by continuously supervising the unit. The syllabus of training prepared by him for conversion of his squadron personnel has been accepted in the Air Force as a standard syllabus. During the conflict with Pakistan, Wing Commander Wollen, undertook several operational sorties both by day and night for intercepting enemy aircraft despite various limitations and adverse conditions.

Throughout, Wing Commander Malcolm Shirley Dundas Wollen displayed professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Wing Commander Mohan Inder Singh has been intimately associated with the introduction of the HS-748 aircraft in operations with the Air Force. The level of efficiency at which the present force of HS-748 aircraft operates in the squadron is mainly due to his professional skill, foresight and good planning. While he was in command of this squadron, he effected smooth changeover to modern turbo­jet aircraft for VlP communication duties. He ensured the highest standard of flight safety required in the communication squadron for air transportation of VIPs. He has a total of about 6990 flying hours to his credit his credit.

Throughout, Wing Commander Mohan Inder Singh displayed professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

Wing Commander Jasmer Singh Dhanoa has recently taken over command of a Transport Squadron. He undertook various missions in the eastern region from 1953 to 1955 and, thereafter, served as an Instructor in a transport training wing and as Flight Commander in the VIP flights of Air Headquarters Communication Squadron. He has an accident free record of over 6000 hours of flying

Throughout, Wing Commander Jasmer Singh Dhanoa displayed professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

Squadron Leader Rajinder Pal Singh has been actively associated with operational flying since 1952. He has to his credit a total of 6700 flying hours which included 2300 hours in operational areas and over difficult terrain under adverse weather conditions. During the conflict with Pakistan in 1965, his squadron was faced with enormously increased operational tasks. As a flight commander of his squadron, he undertook the tasks courageously and completed them exceptionally well. In addition to his own duties, he took an active part in carrying out the conversion- training of newly posted pilots and screening them for operational flights.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Rajinder Pal Singh displayed professional skill, courage and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Kshirode Krishna Sen has flown a total of nearly 3500 hours which includes 250 hours on single engined aircraft during night and 1600 hours on instructional duties. On the 10th March 1962, while an instructional duties on an aircraft, he found that the ailerons had jammed and the aircraft went into a spiral. He skillfully managed to get the ailerons free by inducing excessive skid and rocking motion and this saved the aircraft and precious lives. He displayed similar remarkable skill in saving a Hunter aircraft when it was hit by a bird. Once again, he showed remarkable professional skill in saving a Vampire aircraft when there was rear bearing failure during a cross country flight.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Kshirode Krishna Sen displayed professional skill courage and devotion to duty.

When both the Squadron Leader and the Flight Commander of a Squadron were killed in a fatal flying accident in July 1965, Squadron Leader Eric Lionel Allen took over the command of the Squadron. By working from dawn to dusk and at times even during the night, he successfully completed the task of operational training of the pilots in the Squadron, within a very short time. During the conflict with Pakistan in 1965, he undertook several difficult missions. In addition to the duties of Squadron Commander, he performed the duties of Officer-in-Charge of Flying at an airfield for a period of 15 months.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Eric Lionel Allen displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Narinder Singh Arora has been on the strength of a transport squadron since October 1966. He has flown a total of 4600 hours including 2200 hours over Jammu and Kashmir and NEFA areas. He has always volunteered for any new tasks that were assigned to the squadron and accomplished them. On the 30th April 1960, when his aircraft had an engine failure during a sortie in the Ladakh area, he took proper collective action immediately and brought the aircraft safely to base without any damage to Service property or injury to the crew.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Narinder Singh Arora displayed professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Shrinivas Prahlad Desai was posted to a squadron in June 1967, which was called upon to undertake the difficult task of air maintenance for the North East Frontier Agency. He, along with a handful of his colleagues, carried out the pioneering work of classifying all the dropping zones despite adverse weather conditions. He flew 104 hours on operational tasks of air maintenance and also trained many pilots in supply dropping techniques. On the 27th July 1967, Squadron Leader Desai was called upon to undertake a supply dropping mission to an isolated post located in an extremely difficult mountainous region at a height of 10,700 feet. He undertook this sortie with full knowledge of the difficulties involved. After carrying out a most accurate pin-point drop in the first run, over the tiny dropping zone, he made another circuit for subsequent drop when the port engine of the aircraft suddenly failed and the aircraft started losing height rapidly. Faced with great danger, he had to crash land the aircraft in the mountainous terrain and in doing so lost his life along with three other aircrew.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Shrinivas Prahlad Desai displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Conjeevaram Rajaratnam Mohanraj took up flying as a Flight Engineer in early 1963 when he was posted to a transport squadron in Jammu and Kashmir. Although new to his job, he worked steadfastly to master operational flying and techniques and from his experience a number of data were formulated for the safe operation of the transport aircraft of the squadron in Jammu and Kashmir. During his short career, he has flown about 2000 hours which include a number of sorties in hazardous areas. Once, his aircraft caught fire during ground testing due to mechanical defects. With complete disregard of his personal safety he got the cargo in the aircraft unloaded and also the other aircraft parked nearby removed to a safe place and, thereafter, opened the engine panels of his aircraft and saved it from burning by draining out engine oil from the crank case.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Conjeevaram Rajaratnam Mohanraj displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Ravindra Sahai has been flying in the Assam area since 1961. He has flown a total of 3800 hours. During the period of his service with a squadron, he had three engine failures in the treacherous valleys of NEFA, but on each occasion he managed to land the aircraft safely by exceptional flying skill and masterly handling. At present he is in a transport squadron. In this squadron also he experienced two engine failures, but he displayed presence of mind and flying skill in safe landing his aircraft.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Ravindra Sahai displayed professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Krsihnamurti Srinivasan has been on the strength of the Aircrew Examining Board as Navigation Examiner Leader since 1963. He has all along discharged his duties exceptionally well and has always met the demands for additional tasks beyond the normal call of duty. He has flown 4800 hours including those as an instructor on different types of transport aircraft. He was engaged in the task of categorisation, of navigators, instructors and pupils. Squadron Leader Srinivasan implemented the set tasks and enhanced the categorisation state by careful planning and hard work. He has been responsible for re­orientation of categorisation and increasing it to a very high percentage.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Krishnamurti Srinivasan displayed professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty,

Flight Lieutenant Tushar Sen has been serving with an interceptor Squadron. He is one of the most experienced pilots on this type of aircraft and has flown 600 sorties. On many occasions, he had to cope with serious emergencies but each time he brought the aircraft down safely. Once, when all wheels of his aircraft did not come down, and when any normal pilot would have been justified in abandoning the aircraft in such a situation, he, with courage and determination, brought the aircraft back safely on two wheels. On another occasion, when his longitudinal control failed at a low height, he successfully landed the aircraft. He flew a number of sorties in 1965 operations to provide air defence.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Tushar Sen displayed professional, skill courage and devotion to duty.

Master Warrant Officer James Coutts Lorine has been serving with a Transport Squadron. In the absence of the armament officer for flight gunnery duties, he also took up the duties of the flight gunnery leader. While working as a flight gunnery leader he kept the training state and the operational status of the gunners at a high degree of efficiency with his efficient management and administrative ability. He also took the initiative in improving various techniques of safe loading and unloading in the shortest possible time resulting in quick turn round of aircraft. He has flown 3500 hours out of which more than 1000 hours have been in operational areas.

Throughout, Master Warrant Officer James Coutts Lorine displayed professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Master Signaller Sadashiv Pandurang Thatte has been working with a Transport Squadron since January 1964. He has flown a total of more than 6000 hours out of which about 2400 hours have been in Jammu and Kashmir and NEFA areas. As a Flight Signaller, he has made a considerable contribution towards the achievements of the Squadron.

Throughout, Master Signaller Sadashiv Pandurang Thatte displayed professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.