Squadron Leader Kirpal Singh has been engaged in flight testing of various high speed aircraft since April 1967. In this assignment, he has flown 400 hours. His approach towards production testing has always been intelligent and dynamic and his ability to recognise the defects of aircraft in the air has helped the ground crew immensely in their task. He has displayed cool courage in the face of grave emergencies in inclement weather conditions.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Kirpal Singh displayed cool courage and devotion to duty.

After completion of his conversion training on to a new type of aircraft, Squadron Leader Kuthirodan Bhaskaran was posted to a Communication Squadron in February 1967 for navigational duties. During training, he was adjudged as exceptional in his batch. After arrival in the squadron, he undertook the conversion of other navigators in the squadron on the type and successfully achieved this task in a remarkably short time. As Navigator Instructor, he has previously worked in Navigation School and in Transport Training Wing and has the distinction of having his pupil navigators pass out on top of the course list. He has flown about 5,000 hours, of which 1,300 hours have been during his tenure in the Communication Squadron. His hard work and very high professional skill is responsible for bringing up the standard of Navigators in the squadron.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Kuthirodan Bhaskaran displayed courage and professional skill.

Squadron Leader Mangatil Karakad Chandrasekhar joined a transport squadron about a year ago. During this period, he has carried out over 800 hours of operational flying, totally unmindful of operational fatigue. He has also contributed substantially to the buildup of operational pilots in the Squadron and the training of the newly posted officers. He holds the highest instrument rating and is an A-2 instructor. In all his assignments, he has always displayed initiative of the highest order.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Mangatil Karakad Chandrasekhar displayed courage, initiative and professional skill.

Squadron Leader Norbert Joseph Misquitta has been in Training Unit as a Flying Instructor since February 1966. During this period, he has flown a total of 1,300 hours including 950 instructional hours. On 12th August 1968, when his engine flamed out on the final approach, he took speedy relight action and landed the aircraft safely. Again, in February 1969, he went into an inverted spin while demonstrating a flick on top of a loop. He ordered the co­pilot to eject but himself continued with the emergency recovery actions, and finally managed to recover the aircraft from the spin, and land it safely.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Norbert Joseph Misquitta displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Naresh Kumar who has been commanding a Helicopter Unit was asked to undertake missions for providing relief to persons affected by floods in North Bengal in 1968. He rescued 9 persons on 5th October 1968, during one such mission. In the evening of the same day, flying as copilot, he saw a number of people surrounded by flood water. They were in grave danger and needed immediate rescue. It was already dusk and the visibility was going down However as, commanding officer of the unit, Squadron Leader Naresh Kumar ordered the pilot to attempt rescue. Since landing was not possible, the helicopter was kept hovering a few inches from the ground. When marooned persons could not get into the helicopter, being too weak he, disregarding his personal safety, jumped out of the helicopter and managed to put three persons on board. In a like manner, he helped the rescue of some more marooned persons on 6th October 1968. It was the result of his planning that in 14 days 650 tonnes of food and equipment were air­dropped and over 1,400 people rescued.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Naresh Kumar displayed courage, initiative and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Rajagopal Jayagopal has been a Flight Commander of an operational squadron since October 1968. He has trained and qualified a number of pilots on the type and has thus substantially improved the operational potential of the squadron. He has flown 5100 hours, including 2,190 accident free instructional hours. On 16th January 1967 during an instructional sortie, while the pupil was carrying out an asymmetric landing, a sudden loss of elevator control was experienced on final approach. He took over the controls and landed the aircraft safely. Again on 22nd April 1969, he was carrying out an air test when the ramp door got stuck in fully down position. In this situation, the ground clearance while landing is only 1¼". He again demonstrated a high standard of airmanship and professional skill by landing the aircraft without any damage.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Rajagopal Jayagopal displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Satish Kumar Sareen has been flying fighter aircraft continuously since 1957; he has flown 2,140 hours on Jet aircraft. He took part in operation "Vijay" in December 1961 against the Portuguese and a few months later, achieved excellent results on the P.A.I. Course, breaking three Armament records. During his tenure as Flight Commander in a squadron between 1964 and 1966, he successfully led 10 operational missions in the Mizo hills. In the following year, while serving in another squadron, he flew over 200 hours in a short time. He has been serving as a Flight Commander in a squadron since May 1967. He has flown over 350 hours on supersonic aircraft. He obtained a "Master Green" Instrument Rating in the early stages of his squadron flying. He has set a fine example to all the pilots in the Squadron and has produced an exceedingly good instrument and operational state. Throughout, Squadron Leader Satish Kumar Sareen displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Shashikumar Samuel Ram das has been working as the Engineering Officer of a testing unit since February 1966. He has also put in over 150 hours of flying. It was entirely due to his initiative, hard work and supervision that ground equipment was fabricated and servicing schedules were made out for a new type of aircraft in the unit. This in turn enabled the unit to continue flight tests, as a result of which recommendations for a substantial number of modifications and improvements could be made. He also carried out a close study of the ground equipment supplied by M/s. H. A.L. and made valuable recommendations regarding its re-design. It is because of his unfailing efforts that the ground equipment which will now go into service will be a vast improvement on the one initially supplied by the manufacturers. Squadron Leader Ramdas was also responsible for carrying out various systems assessments on the type. Here, he not only applied his knowledge as an engineering officer but also as a pilot, with the result that once again recommendations made by him when introduced will make servicing of the aircraft easier.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Shashikumar Samuel Ramdas displayed exceptional devotion to duty, initiative and professional skill.

Squadron Leader Vivian Christopher Goodwin is serving as Flight Commander in an operational squadron. He has flown 1,350 hours on type. He took part in the Goa operations, the Congo operations and the 1965 conflict with Pakistan. On 29th November 1968, he took off on a cross-country flight. A few minutes after take-off, he lost aileron control due to a fire in the starboard wing. Even though the nature of the emergency warranted abandoning the aircraft, he brought it safely to base. While doing so, he avoided flying over populated areas, even though this prolonged the flight and greatly increased the danger to him personally.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Vivian Christopher Goodwin displayed courage and professional skill.

Flight Lieutenant Ashutosh Kumar Tripathi joined a flying unit in 1964. During his tenure in this Squadron, he has flown 2,586 hours, of which more than 1,500 hours were on air maintenance operations over the hazardous mountainous terrain in the Eastern area. He has always shown willingness to undertake the most arduous and demanding missions and has successfully accomplished the tasks. He has thus been a source of inspiration to others in the Squadron.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Ashutosh Kumar Tripathi displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Manjit Singh Dhillon, General Duties (Pilot), has flown a total of 1,375 hours in forward areas in less than three years. He has flown 2,305 hours on helicopter aircraft without a single accident; most of the flying was over difficult hilly terrain. On 27th March 1967, two helicopters, one of which was flown by Flight Lieutenant Dhillon, were sent out on detachment to a forward area to carry out a search and rescue mission for an Army patrol which was lost in that extensive marshy area. Flight Lieutenant Dhillon carried out a very long hazardous search of the area, which had hardly a ground feature to pinpoint and was able to locate the lost patrol. After finding a suitable spot, he landed and rescued the patrol. During his flying career, Flight Lieutenant Dhillon has worked hard to train the unit pilots. Thus, his unit has always been in a high state of operational preparedness.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Manjit Singh Dhillon displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Om Prakash Singh has been serving with a heavy transport squadron since December 1965 in his fourth operational tenure. He has flown a total of 5,620 hours of which 2,260 hours were in the operational areas of J&K and the Eastern Sector. As the Signals Leader of the Squadron, he has imparted an extremely high standard of training to the Signaller crews which is reflected in a very commendable categorisation state and which in turn has contributed significantly towards the winning of the best categorised squadron trophy. He has enhanced the operational potential of one of the important transport squadrons by preparing its crews to operate the aircraft at all times in its multifarious roles.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Om Prakash Singh displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Rohiton Burjor Framjee has been employed in a transport Squadron since October 1966. He has to his credit 2,600 hours of flying out of which he flew about 900 hours during one year at times flying 100 hours a month. On 17th September 1968, while taking off at full all-up take off weight the jet pack caught fire and its rear portion flew off. The aircraft was in such a critical stage that the take off could not be abandoned. He courageously continued with the take off, controlled the engine fire and landed back the aircraft safely. Again, on 8th January 1969, soon after take off in a transport aircraft at maximum take off weight, when several passengers were on board, he experienced an abnormal vibration with a severe blurring of the instrument panel because of the port outer tyre burst. He immediately decided to land the aircraft on the remaining runway length, which was not much. He skillfully managed to stop the aircraft at the O.R.P. During this run of only 600 yards, the inner left tyre had also burst and soon after the port brake caught fire. Mustering the available personnel and using the portable fire extinguishers on board the aircraft he quickly controlled the fire and thus saved valuable lives and an aircraft. Once again, during an engine failure in a forward area he skillfully controlled the emergency, completed the mission and subsequently carried out a single engine safe landing at base.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Rohiton Burjor Framjee displayed courage, professional skill and determination.

Warrant Officer Chanan Singh Gill joined the Royal Indian Air Force in 1944. He received training as a Parachute Jumping Instructor at Chaklala. During the post partition period, he was called upon to be in the first team of instructors selected for establishing the Paratroopers' Training School. Ever since then, he has been associated with experimental trial drops to develop and manufacture suitable equipment for para­drops. The trials included live jumps with new type of airborne valises, airborne kit bags, airborne stretchers and dropping of various types of containers and other heavy equipment. Many of the trials have been carried out in difficult terrain. Once when he was the leader of the ejection crew conducting a double platform dropping trial from a heavy transport aircraft, using the aircraft extractor system to deliver the load, the platform release strap was accidentally disengaged while the aircraft was over a village with the DZ still a mile away. The result was that the platform began to slide out of the aircraft. Realising the danger in letting the load drop on the village, which could have caused much damage to life and property, he immediately caught hold of the lashings attached to the platform and arrested its movement at the risk or being pulled out of the aircraft himself. He continued to hold the lashings in place at great risk; to his life till the aircraft was able to drop the load over the DZ.

Throughout, Warrant Officer Chanan Singh Gill displayed courage and determination.

Flight Sergeant Samuel Ponniah James Martin has been serving in a heavy transport squadron since April 1964 as a Flight Gunner and Load Master. Though he joined the squadron as an ab­initio aircrew, his determination, initiative and keenness soon made him one of the best operational aircrew in the squadron. He has flown 2,173 hours of which 1,405 hours, were in the hilly terrain along the border. This senior non­commissioned officer has always cheerfully volunteered for difficult and hazardous flying missions and has shouldered difficult task, on the ground in complete disregard of his personal safety and comforts. He has contributed significantly towards the operational potential of the squadron by formulating new loading and unloading procedures.

Throughout, Flight Sergeant Samuel Ponniah James Martin displayed courage and devotion to duty.

Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Denis Anthony Lafontaine served at an operation Wing during a significant phase of transition from subsonic and transonic aircraft to supersonic aircraft. The strategic importance of the Wing required it to become fully operational with the new equipment in the shortest possible time. Despite many problems and numerous other commitments, he set to the task with dedication, skill and high professional ability. He has, to his credit, 2,700 hours of accident-free flying on a wide range of aircraft. He has flown over fifty sorties on the new supersonic aircraft and from this experience found solutions to urgent problems connected with the re-equipment task. In a short time, he reorganised the flying pattern and raised the combat status of the Wing.

Throughout, Wing Commander Denis Anthony Lafontaine displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Harendra Narain Bysak worked as Officerin-Charge Flying at an operational Wing from January 1969 to July 1970. During his service, he revised the operational Standing Orders and Procedures, planned a new Operations Room and streamlined the operational set­up of the Wing. By his untiring zeal, professional skill, initiative and devotion to duty Wing Commander Bysak raised the operational potential of the Wing significantly. His achieve ments contributed substantially towards the creditable performance of the Wing in Exercises held in May and June 1970.

Throughout, Wing Commander Harendra Narain Bysak displayed professional skill, initiative and devotion to duty.

Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Surendra Sahney has been closely associated with planning of Transport Support Operations in the Eastern Sector, training of paratroopers and examining IAF aircrew. He has flown nearly 5,000 hours on various types of aircraft, of which 2,000 hours have been on instructional sorties and 700 hours on operational flying over hazardous terrain. During 1965­66 in the Eastern Sector, he organised the airlift of supplies and evacuation of casualties with great success. He also arranged transport support operations in the Mizo Hills and was responsible for selection of many Dropping Zones in use today. As Officer Commanding the Paratroopers Training School, he was instrumental in introducing night formation flying on transport aircraft for the first time In the Indian Air Force. As Officer Commanding the Aircrew Examining Board, he set a high standard in examining aircrew.

Throughout, Wing Commander Surendra Sahney displayed professional skill and devotional to duty.

Wing Commander (now Group Captain) Robert Arnold Weir has commanded Fighter Squadrons of the Air Force for nearly eight years. Through his efforts, young pilots have learnt to fly supersonic aircraft on most complex missions. In 1969, his Squadron had the lowest accident rate of all fighter Squadrons of the Air Force. Due to his excellent leadership, his Squadron maintained a high state of operational readiness at all times. Wing Commander Weir is a qualified Flying Instructor, has a Master Green Instrument Rating and has flown over 3,000 hours on single­engined aircraft.

Throughout, Wing Commander Robert Arnold Weir displayed professional skill and devotion to duty

Awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for professional competence and exceptional devotion to duty.

Awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for professional ability and exceptional devotion to duty.

Wing Commander Mian Naranjan Singh commanded an operational Squadron from April 1967 to July 1970. During his tenure, inspite of shortage of experienced pilots he succeeded in improving the operational efficiency of the Squadron by intelligent planning, hard work and close supervision. His Squadron won a number of trophies in various competitions and gunnery meets held by his Air Command. The Squadron under his guidance consistently met the flying tasks allotted to it and participated with credit in every exercise held in the theatre.

Throughout, Wing Commander Mian Naranjan Singh displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Wing Commander Jagdish Chandra Sabherwal commanded with distinction an operational Squadron from December 1967 to July 1970. During his tenure, the Squadron was re-equipped with a new type of aircraft. Under his able leadership, it achieved fully operational status within the shortest possible time. He has flown over 4,000 hours, and is qualified as a Flying Instructor, Pilot Attack Instructor and Instrument Rating Examiner. His own skill and professional ability in combat has been an inspiration to the pilots under his command. His Squadron has completed all tasks assigned to it over the past two years in a commendable manner.

Throughout, Wing Commander Jagdish Chandra Sabherwal displayed professional skill, devotion to duty and leadership.

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.

Wing Commander Suresh Sitaram Sane has a total of 4,765 hours of flying to his credit, of which a large number has been flown on operational sorties in the Eastern Sector. In January 1969, he assumed Command of a transport squadron and set out to improve its already high operational potential. This he succeeded in doing with a short period of time. By his efforts, a large number of aircrew also obtained their transport categories. Noteworthy amongst his achievements is the recovery of a damaged aircraft from an advanced landing ground where it had met with on accident. In the absence of adequate maintenance facilities at the Advance Landing Ground, the aircraft was only partially repaired but Wing Commander Sane flew it out successfully.

Throughout, Wing Commander Suresh Sita Ram Sane displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Lawrence Menezes was a Flight Commander in a supersonic fighter Squadron from April 1967 to June 1970. He carried out a total of over 2,100 hours of flying on jets, of which over 500 hours were on supersonic fighter aircraft. He is one of the experienced supersonic fighter pilots who has played an outstanding part in training younger pilots to a high degree of professional efficiency. He has achieved a Master Green Instrument rating. As the Pilot Attack Instructor of his Squadron, he has been instrumental in the achievement of high standards of gunnery by the pilots.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Lawrence Menezes displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Hersern Singh Gill was one of the first pilots to be selected to fly a highly sophisticated aircraft introduced in the Indian Air Force. Since then, he has been actively connected with this aircraft either a Flight Commander or as a Staff Officer. He holds a Master Green instrument rating on the aircraft, and is an Instrument Rating Instructor. Due to his efforts, his Squadron attained 100% instrument rating and a very high operational state on the new type of aircraft. He was selected by Air Command to give a low level aerobatic demonstration on the aircraft on two occasions during the visits of foreign dignitaries.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Hersern Singh Gill displayed professional skill, leadership and devotion to duty.

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 Dhirendra Singh Jafa work ed as Senior Flight Commander in an operational Squadron from February 1968 to July 1969. This Squadron was the first to be equipped with a new type of supersonic aircraft. Through his tireless efforts, zeal and dedication to duty, he ensured that the Squadron was fully operational in the shortest possible time.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Dhirendra Singh Jafa displayed professional skill, leadership and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Mohan Chandra has been commanding a Helicopter Unit. He has to his credit more than 1,000 hours of operational flying on Transport aircraft and helicopters.

His flying career has been accident free. He has attained the highest Transport category and instrument rating. Under his guidance, the unit has been brought up to a high degree of operational efficiency. For more than two years, there has been no accident in his Unit. Except when grounded by weather, his unit has met all demands for flights made upon it. With the introduction of a categorization scheme for helicopter pilots, he organised training schedules for his unit and carried out the training programme single-handed. It is as a result of his efforts that, all pilots in his Unit have now been successfully categorized.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Mohan Chandra displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

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.

Squadron Leader Ishwar Ramchand Sonpar was commissioned in November 1954. After his basic flying training, he was converted to transport aircraft and became a transport pilot. In 1960-61, he became a qualified flying instructor after which he was posted to Training Establishments to train not only ab-initio pilots but also cadets selected for transport flying. During his career in the Air Force as a transport pilot, he was mainly flying the Dakota aircraft. He has to his credit over 1500 hours of operational flying on Dakota. In 1963, he joined an operational unit. Within a short period of two months, he became a fully operational pilot an another type of aircraft. In 1965, when this unit acquired another type of aircraft, he was converted on this type. He has to his credit 4,800 hours of flying in twin­engined and multiengined aircraft and has logged so far a total of 6,401 flying hours in his short career of 14 years. Besides undertaking important operational as well as other tasks, he has trained a number of pilots in the unit to operational standard. During the 1965 operations, Squadron Leader Sonpar flew many missions.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Ishwar Ramchand Sonpar displayed professional skill, initiative and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Vinod Behari Mathur was commissioned in December 1960. He was posted to an operational unit from 30th January 1967. He is the only qualified Alouette Pilot in this Centre. During his tenure of over 3 years, Squadron Leader Mathur has flown over 200 hours. In 1969-70, the unit undertook certain operations in NEFA. They involved helicopter landings at altitudes upto 11,000 feet at helipads for below the required standards. Inspite of these hazards, Squadron Leader Mathur undertook operational and support flights regularly to and from these helipads, displaying great courage and devotion to duty. But for the logistic support rendered by this pilot, many important operations would not have been feasible.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Vinod Behari Mathur displayed professional skill, courage and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Roopanagunta Saroj joined the Air Force as a Radar Operator in 1943. He successfully completed the Radar Mechanics Course in 1950 and later he was selected for flying duties as a Sig/Air at the Air Force Flying College, Jodhpur. He was awarded the ground, air and all­round trophy as the best trainee. He has flown over 3,000 hours of which 1,800 hours were in NEFA, Nagaland and the Mizo Hills areas. During the 1962 Chinese aggression, he flew a number of missions to far-flung areas in NEFA. He has to his credit over 4,500 hours of flying as aircrew in different types of aircraft. In 1963, he joined an operational unit. He has qualified for flying duties on all types of aircraft held by the unit. Since 1965, besides his professional duties, he has been employed on important staff duties. These duties require planning and execution of operations, proper liaison and co­ordination with various organisations.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Roopanagunta Saroj displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Ravinder Nath Bhardwaj has been serving at an Operational Training Unit for over two years. During this period, he has flown a total of 3350 hours. By his hard work and professional skill, he improved the flying skill and ground knowledge of the pilots under training. His capacity and willingness for hard work were a source of inspiration to all officers and airmen.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Ravinder Nath Bhardwaj displayed professional skill, initiative and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Buddho Deb Biswas was a Flight Commander in an operational transport Squadron for four years, during which he undertook numerous missions over the inhospitable terrain of NEFA, Nagaland, Mizo Hills, Bhutan and Sikkim. There he flew a total of 1,715 hours, which included 896 hours on operational sorties involving 600 landings, and 200 supply dropping missions. He has a record of 14 years of dedicated service and during this period has flown a total of 6,308 hours without accident, which include 2,424 hours of instructional flying. With thorough knowledge and exceptional professional skill, he met all emergencies with admirable results.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Buddho Dev Biswas displayed professional skill, leadership and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Keith David Kingsley Lewis has been a Flight Commander in a fighter squadron for over three years. He has carried out a total of over 2,100 hours of flying on jet aircraft of which nearly 450 hours fire on supersonics. He has had an accidentfree record. He has achieved a Master Green instrument rating and has also been awarded the Instrument Rating Instructor's endorsement. He has had the onerous task of training and familiarising pilots of his unit in flying in all-weather conditions. Inspired by his example, the officers and airmen under him have worked cheerfully to maintain the Squadron at a high state of operational readiness.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Keith David Kingsley Lewis displayed professional skill, leadership and devotion to duty,

On 23rd January 1970, Squadron Leader Ranjit Singh Bedi was leading a formation of four aircraft during a rehearsal of the Republic Day Flypast. When on the final run in, at approximately 500 ft above ground level, the port stabilator of his aircraft was hit and damaged by another aircraft in the formation, causing it to roll over on to its back. He showed remarkable presence of mind and professional skill in regaining control of his aircraft and thereby averting a serious mishap. He has been a Flight Commander in a Fighter Squadron for over three years. He has successfully converted a large number of pilots on the type of aircraft with which his Squadron is equipped.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Ranjit Singh Bedi displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Virendra Singh Pathania has been flying the Gnat aircraft since January 1964. He has carried out 692 hours of flying on this type and is one of the most experienced pilots on the Gnat. His profound knowledge of the aircraft has benefited many other pilots, whom he has trained with patience and understanding. His personal qualities in the air and on the ground have been a shining example for his juniors to emulate.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Virendra Singh Pathania has displayed professional skill, leadership and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Trevor Joseph Fernandez has been associated with Gnat aircraft since September 1962. He has over 1,900 hours of accident-free flying experience, including more than 700 hours on the Gnat. During the IndiaPakistan conflict of 1965, he flew a number of operational sorties. He is an experienced Pilot Attack Instructor and has had great success in training pilots of his unit in gunnery. As a result of the excellent training imparted by him the aircrew trained by him secured high places in the Command Gunnery Meets.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Trevor Joseph Fernandez displayed professional skill, leadership and devotion to duty,

Squadron Leader Subir Dey worked as a Flight Commander in a fighter Squadron from March 1968 to April 1970. He has been associated with the Gnat aircraft since 1965. During this period, he attained 365 accident-free flying hours. Of a total of 245 hours flown in his present Squadron, he has completed 164 hours in instructing trainee pilots in combat weaponry. He was given the task of training pilots who were new to the aircraft. He completed this task in the shortest possible time. The measure of his success in training has been manifest in two successive Inter-Squadron Weapon Meets, wherein the aircrew trained by him distinguished themselves.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Subir Dey displayed professional skill and devotion to duly.

Squadron Leader Poovala Govindarajulu Srivatsalu has flown over 5,200 hours on transport aircraft, which include over 800 hours of operational flying. He is also a flying instructor and has over 2,000 hours of instructional flying to his credit. He holds Transport Category 'A' and a Master Green instrument rating. His entire flying career has been accident­free. He has ensured high standards of training amongst his aircrew.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Poovala Govindarajulu Srivatsalu displayed professional skill and leadership.

Squadron Leader Puthettu Mani Kurien served with an operational squadron for a period of one and a half years. During this period, he carried out intensive operational flying recording 1,200 hours. In his 11 years of service, he has flown a total of 6,828 hours of which 2,500 hours are on operational sorties and 2,350 hours on instructional duties.

His untiring efforts towards training young Squadron pilots up to operational status brought about considerable improvement in the Squadron's operational capability. Inspite of adverse conditions, all operational tasks assigned to the Squadron were successfully completed.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Puthettu Mani Kurien displayed professional, skill and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Surendranath Kedarnath Gupta has been in Training Command as a Qualified Flying Instructor since April 1965. During this period, he has flown a total of 1645 hours of which 1,352 hours were on instructional duties. He has a total of 3,020 flying hours to his credit. On 26th June 1969, he was detailed to ferry a jet aircraft from Hakimpet to Kanpur. When about 70 miles from Nagpur, he experienced severe engine vibrations, which compelled him to reduce power, which in turn caused the aircraft to lose height. Despite this, the vibrations became more severe. On descending to about 10,000 feet, he estimated that by shutting down the engine to prevent further damage he would still be able to land at Nagpur airfield. He thereupon switched off the engine and brought the aircraft down to an engine­off landing at Nagpur airfield, and thus saved the aircraft.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Surendranath Kedarnath Gupta displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Joginder Singh has been serving in an operational Wing since July 1969. As Wing Navigation Briefing Officer, he organised the Station Briefing Room, Operations Room and intelligence Room. He also served for three and a half years in an operational Squadron and logged approximately 1,600 hours of flying. He successfully completed a course abroad on a new type of aircraft and his performance was adjudged as 'exceptional'. In his 10 ½ years of service, he has flown about 5,500 hours, which include approximately 800 hours of night flying.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Joginder Singh displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Surendra Kumar Kaushik has been posted to an operational Squadron since June 1965. During this period, while on a course abroad for conversion on to a new type of aircraft his performance was rated 'exceptional'. In the Squadron, besides his normal operational assignments, he has been responsible for training of newly posted Navigators. He has over 1,900 hours of flying to his credit. In the earlier assignments in the Eastern Sector, he had flown over 900 hours in difficult terrain. During his tenure as instructor in the Navigation School, most of his pupils passed out with high positions in the Course. He holds the Instructional Category 'A-2'. Throughout, Squadron Leader Surendra Kumar Kaushik displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant, (now Squadron Leader) Jogendra Chandra Hazarika has been a Flying Instructor since November 1965. During this period, he has flown approximately 1,600 hours, which include about 1,300 hours of instructional flying. Prior to his posting as an Instructor, he was serving in an operational Squadron in NEFA. He worked with zeal, imagination and devotion and made considerable contribution towards the flying standards of the Squadron. His performance during the Chinese aggression in 1962 was creditable.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Jogendra Chandra Hazarika displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Velayudhannair Girish Kumar has been serving with an operational Squadron since August 1966. In this Squadron, he has flown over 1,650 hours. In an earlier tenure with another operational Squadron, he carried out a number of trial landings at hitherto unused airfields. He flew numerous supply dropping missions in NEFA. During the earthquake in Nepal in 1966, he did commendable work in connection with reconnaissance flights and setting up of dropping zones. He has flown over 4,200 hours without accident.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Velayudhannair Girish Kumar displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Chandrakant Nijanand Bal has been serving with an operational Squadron since April 1967. He has flown a total of 1,710 hours. On 22nd January 1970, while returning from a mission at 40,000 ft. he observed an excessive voltage reading and immediately isolated the battery. This was followed by a sudden electrical flash and total electrical failure. He was forced to descend and divert to another airfield, flying with the help of a torch and an emergency light and steering with the help of a small emergency compass. During this descent both engines flamed out once and the starboard engine flamed out thrice at low altitude. Relighting of the engines was successful each time only because he had conserved the battery. He ensured a touchdown at the correct speed and at the beginning of the runway without any damage to the aircraft. By his presence of mind and skilful handling of the situation, he not only saved a valuable aircraft, but also the lives of the crew.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Chandrakant Nijanand Bal displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

Flight Lieutenant Yoginder Prakash has been serving in a Helicopter Unit in the Mizo Hills since November 1968. He has about 1,400 hours of operational flying to his credit under difficult flying conditions in hilly terrain. He has shown remarkable initiative and courage both on the ground and in the air. He has successfully carried out numerous special helicopter borne operations. In evacuating casualties from very small helipads, he has displayed great professional skill. His flying career has been accident-free.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Yoginder Prakash displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.