Flight Lieutenant Prem Prakash Chopra was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in June, 1967. He has been flying helicopters since 1971. During this short period, he has achieved a very high professional skill and has obtained 'A' category and Master Green Instrument Rating. Inspite of the hazards of flying over difficult and mountainous terrain, he has completed a thousand hours of accident­free flying. During the Indo-Pak Conflict, 1971, he successfully undertook casualty evacuation, urgent communication and reconnaissance missions in the Eastern sector. On 6th January, 1973, he successfully carried out a casualty evacuation sortie despite adverse weather conditions in the high mountainous terrains.

Throughout Flight Lieutenant Prem Prakash Chopra displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Master Warrant Officer Jati Kumar Kar has been serving as Signaller (Air) since 1953. He has flown a total of 9,460 hours, of which 3,072 hours have been on operational missions in Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland and NEFA areas. His aircrew category is 'A' . He has taken active role in the various research programmes and has displayed very high professional skill and devotion to duty. Because of his vast experience as Signaller (Air), he has been an asset to the Unit for training new signallers.

Master Warrant Officer Jati Kumar Kar has displayed professional skill, determination and exceptional devotion to duty.

Master Warrant Officer Vamadevan Ravindran has been serving as Signaller (Air) since 1948. His aircrew category is 'A' on Dakota aircraft and 'B' on IL-14 aircraft and he has maintained a high standard of professional efficiency throughout his career. While serving with the communication Squadron/ Flight, he carried out 776 special flights. He has 8,290 hours of flying to his credit of which 4,708 hours were flown in connection with very important assignments both within and outside India. In addition, he has 1,660 hours of operational flying in the Northern and Eastern Sectors to his credit.

Throughout Master Warrant Officer Vamadevan Ravindran displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Master Warrant Officer Muckatira Ponnappa Muthana, Flight Engineer, has been serving with the Paratroopers' Training School since June. 1970. He has flown a total of 3,500 hours, of which 478 hours have been on operational missions in Northern and Eastern Sectors. At the Paratroopers Training School, he had to shoulder the entire responsibility of conversion courses for aircrew and remustering courses for flight engineers. During the airborne assault operations in December, 1971, he displayed high professional skill by helping in the rescue of a hung up paratrooper.

Master Warrant Officer Muckatira Ponnappa Muthana thus displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Warrant Officer Lawrence Cruz has been a Parachute Jump Instructor since 1947. He has the distinction of having more than 600 descents to his credit which is the highest record among the Senior Non­Commissioned Officers. He has carried out descents at high altitudes and has always been associated with the trials of indigenous parachutes and airborne equipment. In 1965, he was selected to undergo paratrooping training from AN-12 aircraft, and has been instrumental in training Army and Air Force personnel in jumping from that aircraft. During the Indo-Pak Conflict, 1971, he was associated with the training of paratroopers who took part in the airborne operations. He also flew as a Despatcher during the paradrop over Tangail. He has trained over 1000 Army Paratroopers and a large number of Parachute Jump Instructors. This is the largest contribution by any individual instructor towards the paratrooper training.

Throughout, Warrant Officer Lawrence Cruz displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Flight Sergeant Devraj has been serving with a Transport Squadron in the Eastern theatre since April, 1972. From September, 1967 to March, 1972, he had served with a heavy Transport Squadron in Jammu and Kashmir. He has always volunteered for difficult sorties and has flown a total of 3,960 hours, out of which 1706 hours have been on operational sorties. During the Indo-Pak Conflict 1971 he had flown a large number of operational hours and had taken part in the operations in Western as well as Eastern Sectors. He also took part in paratrooping operations. During his stay of less than two years in Assam Sector, he flew a total of 1,600 hours including 1400 hours on operational sorties.

Throughout, Flight Sergeant Devraj displayed courage, professional skill and exceptional devotion to duty.

Wing Commander Krishan Kumar Bakshi was a Flight Commander in a Fighter/Bomber Squadron from January, 1974. He took part in the 1971 operations and was awarded Vir Chakra in December, 1971, for gallantry in the Rajasthan Sector.

On the 4th March 1976, during a routine training flight he was confronted with a serious in-flight emergency involving failure of the starboard engine soon after take off, resulting in engine fire and jamming of rudder control. Wing Commander Bakshi reacted to the emergency in a cool manner, controlled the fire and brought the aircraft down to a safe height despite marginal control The engine casing had burst causing extensive Airframe damage. With remarkable presence of mind and professional skill, he landed the aircraft safely and avoided a serious accident. By this act, he not only saved aircraft but also brought back valuable evidence which would otherwise have been destroyed.

Wing Commander Krishan Kumar Bakshi thus displayed exemplary courage, determination and devotion to duty of a high order.

Wing Commander Bir Inder Singh took over command of a fighter squadron in July 1974. He has flown over 4000 hours and has participated, with distinction, In the IndoPak Conflicts of 1965 and 1971. Due to his personal attention Wing Commander Bir Inder Singh has maintained an excellent flight safety record over the past two years. During the Inter-Squadron Gunnery Meet, 1975, his Squadron was the best Squadron in front­gun firing and bombing. When the squadron was required to operate a detachment of aircraft from a transport base, Wing Commander Bir Inder Singh undertook and executed this task effectively. Wing Commander Bir Inder Singh has displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

Squadron Leader Sudesh Chand Khuller has been a member of a front-line jet fighter squadron since September, 1973. During this period, he has flown 464 hours. Being an experienced QFI, he was largely responsible for the training of young pilots with the result that the squadron now has a high proportion of operationally prepared pilots and the entire squadron holds current instrument ratings. During the tenure of Squadron Leader Sudesh Chand Khuller, the squadron operated five detachments and, every time, planned tasks were completed without untoward incident. Squadron Leader Khuller has so far flown 4000 hours on single­engined aircraft of which 1636 hours have been devoted to the training of ab­initio pilots.

Squadron Leader Sudesh Chand Khuller displayed courage, leadership and devotion to duty of a high order.

Squadron Leader Shashi Dharan Panicker has been with the Paratroopers Training School as a Staff Instructor since June. 1971. He is presently holding a Master Green category on Packet aircraft with a Command examiners ticket. His professional competence is evident from the manner in which he has handled flight emergencies. On one such occasion on 31st December, 1974, while on a mission to airlift 20 passengers and 2000 Kgs of service load, he encountered a perilous situation of a runaway propeller during the crucial stages of the take off, which caused the aircraft to swerve violently, a few feet above the ground. Maintaining his composure and with his skill Squadron Leader Panicker brought the aircraft under control and warded off what might have been a serious accident. Squadron Leader Panicker is an instructor of considerable experience. He has flown 1450 instructional hours out of total flying record of 5350 hours.

Squadron Lender Shashi Dharan Panicker has displayed courage, professional competence and devotion to duty of a high order.

Squadron Leader Chetan Swaroop Kataria has been the Officer Commanding of a VIP Communication Helicopter Unit since May, 1974. He has a total of 3300 hours of accident free flying to his credit and has been responsible for the training of many new pilots and in improving the categorization state of his unit to a very high operational standard. He not only discharged his duties well out also undertook numerous mercy missions find flood relief operations in Punjab and Rajasthan in 1975. Because of his exceptional organizational ability, guidance find devoted supervision, the unit flew 3600 accident free hours within a period of 19 months. He successfully organised the development of a battery-operated portable refuelling rig for Chetak helicopter, on no cost basis, in his unit, which is a creditable achievement.

On 16th October 1975, Squadron Leader Kataria, while on a night training flight noticed that his helicopter had developed engine trouble due to material failure, with total loss of engine torque and heavy reduction in the rotor RPM. He faced the hazardous situation calmly and landed safely without any damage to the helicopter.

Squadron Leader Chetan Swaroop Kataria has displayed courage, high professional skill and devotion to duly of a high order.

Squadron Leader Vijay Kumar Mohotra was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in April, 1964. He has a total of 3010 hours of accident free flying to his credit of which 2218 are on helicopters. Since December, 1975, he has been commanding a Helicopter Unit. On 23rd May, 1976, Squadron Leader Mohotra undertook the evacuation of a seriously injured mountaineer from the Trishul Base Camp located at a height of 15,300 feet. The helipad constructed there by the team of mountaineers was totally unsuitable for the safe landing of helicopter. Realising the urgency of the mission, Squadron Leader Mohotra carried out a detailed reconnaissance of the area and expertly decided that a landing could be carried out if one of the camp tents was removed and the area made available for the landing. This was indicated to the mountaineers and the tent was removed. Thereafter, Squadron Leader Mohotra landed his helicopter safely and carried out the assigned task.

On 26th May, 1976, after having completed a long and arduous sortie, Squadron Leader Mohotra was once again called upon to carry out the evacuation of seriously injured civilians from a remote area in the close vicinity of the Northern Border. He set off immediately with two other helicopters to a helipad nearest to where the casualties were. In the meantime, as immediate medical assistance was indicated and helicopter rescue facilities were not expected, the casualties were being moved by stretcher-bearers along a difficult and narrow mountain path. Realising the urgency to evacuate the casualties to bet ter equipped hospital, Squadron Lender Mohotra immediately set about organize rescue operations of injured on the move. He landed his helicopter in turbulent and gusty weather conditions in a boulder strewn tiny river bed. His outstanding performance in this operation inspired his formation pilots.

Throughout Squadron Leader Vijay Kumar Mohotra displayed courage, flying skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

Squadron Leader Bhanwar Singh Rathore was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in August, 1964. He has an Impressive total of 5600 flying hours, flying as many as 650 hours in one year alone. During his present tenure with the Air Headquarters Communication Squadron, he has flown 2000 hours, mostly on VIP tasks. He holds the highest category and Instrument Rating on HS-748 aircraft. He has had three engine failures on Devon aircraft. In all the three cases, squadron Lender Rathore executed a safe landing with admirable courage and flying skill. During the 1971 operations Squadron Leader Rathore flew day and night to supply troops in the Eastern Sector. He put in 200 flying hours, making a significant contribution to the war effort

Squadron Leader Bhanwar Singh Rathore displayed courage, high professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

Group Captain Surjit Singh Malhotra was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in November, 1954. He has been serving as the Commanding Officer of Air Headquarters Communication Squadron since March, 1976. During the very first year of his command, he brought about appreciable improvements in all round performance and efficiency of the Squadron. The Squadron flew a total of 5,292 accident­free hours maintaining a high state of serviceability. He also ensured that the aircrew training was vigorously progressed. This enabled the Squadron to achieve hundredpercent aircrew categorisation and remain fully operational. Under his able guidance, the Squadron also completed its tasks connected with the transportation of dignitaries and undertook all the transport support missions assigned to it. Group Captain Malhotra has over 7,300 hours of unblemished accidentfree service flying to his credit. He has flown six types of operational aircraft and has held highest transport category 'A' on no less than four types. At present, he holds 'A' category on two types of aircraft in current use. This is commendable achievement particularly when he has been on ground tenure for nearly seven years during his service.

Group Captain Surjit Singh Malhotra has thus displayed high professional skill, determination and devotion to duty of an exceptional order.

Wing Commander Daya Krishan Dhiman was serving as Commanding Officer of a fighter squadron. While on duty as flying supervisor in the Air Traffic Control, he was called upon to assist an aircraft Pilot who was involved in a grave situation of loss of power controls and all hydraulic services, failure of both generators with impending total loss of electric supply and loss of speed control due to throttle being stuck at 98% RPM. It was a unique and challenging situation and to avoid a serious accident, it was necessary to land the aircraft immediately. The advice tendered by Wing Cdr Dhiman to the pilot of the aircraft at that moment, which enabled the latter to accomplish safe recovery of the aircraft, is a proof of his sound professional competence. This also subsequently led to the discovery of the cause of the aircraft failure. As Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Dhiman raised by his hard work, the operational potential of the unit both on the ground and the air. Although his unit is equipped with old aircraft with enormous maintenance and operational problems, he overcame all the handicaps and enabled his unit to achieve outstanding operational training standards.

Wing Commander Daya Krishan Dhiman has thus displayed professional competence, leadership and devotion lo duty of an exceptional order.

Wing Commander Srinivaspuram Krishna swamy served in Tactical and Air Combat Development Establishment for one year. During this period, he performed the duties of a Flight Commander and a staff pilot and conducted Fighter Combat Leaders' course. As Flight Commander, he carried out the difficult tusk of running the Daily Servicing Section, often working round the clock with a view to ensuring a high standard of performance. He used his professional knowledge as a test pilot to guide airmen/ technicians working under him and motivate them, by personal example, to work hard. It was because of his deep involvement with the maintenance activities of the Daily Servicing Section and also the Repair and Servicing Section, that the establishment was able to meet its commitments. In the air also, he was able to assist in the wide range of complicated operational flying tasks of the establishment. His contribution has not been confined to this establishment alone, he has often been called upon to carry out special test flights on such aircraft as had developed peculiar snags and were unsafe for flying even by experienced Squadron Pilots. Despite the hazards involved in such flights and considering that he is not employed on test flying duties, he has always accepted these commitments willingly and executed the flights ensuring maximum safe by both to the pilot and the aircraft. Because of his deep knowledge, he was asked to give special lectures on aerodynamics to all pilots, even at other bases and thus promoted among them a higher consciousness of flight safety.

Wing Commander Srinivaspuram Krishnaswamy has thus displayed high professional skill, competence and devotion to duty of an exceptional order.

Squadron Leader Ajai Kumar Singh was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1961. He qualified as flying instructor in 1965 and carried out this onerous task with distinction. Because of his flying skill and professional knowledge he was appointed Station Instrument Rating Instructor in 1966. He distinguished himself in his instructional tenure by qualifying for 'A' category in 1967. He subsequently served with distinction on the staff of Flying Instructors' School and at an operational aircraft conversion unit. He has to his credit a record of 3,500 hours of accident-free flying hours. On completion of his Defence Services Staff College Course with distinction, he was selected for assignment in the Directorate of Air Staff Requirements at Air Headquarters. During the tenure, he was called upon to prepare Air Staff requirements for combat aircraft and major systems and carry out subjective analysis and assessment of contemporary weapon system being considered for induction in the Indian Air Force. In addition, he was assigned special concept ional time-bound tasks, which were successfully accomplished by him. He also maintained tactful and effective liaison with various agencies in the Research and Development Organisation and the Aircraft Industry which has helped the Air Force in finalizing major acquisitions and indigenous schemes.

Squadron Leader Ajai Kumar Singh has thus displayed professional competence, diligence and devotion to duty of an exceptional order.