Wing Commander Nawal Naranjan Dhir (2752) Education has been senior training Officer (Non-Technical) in addition to his duties as Command Education Officer at Headquarters Training Command since Jul 1966. During this period, he has been responsible for achieving high standards in Non-Technical Training of officers, Flight Cadets and airmen in this Command, besides proving an all round educational coverage. While handling this dual task, he has displayed a high degree of academic and professional knowledge, zeal and enthusiasm. His guidance on educational problems has always been original and of a high caliber.

Specifically, he has been responsible for introducing the latest techniques in teaching English and improving the standard of airmen recruits at various Ground Training Schools. He has also been instrumental in revising and making up-to-date the various syllabi for non-technical trades.

His sense of dedication has been beyond the normal call of duty. Despite his personal discomforts and the handicap of a restricted medical category, he has always put in sustained hard work, showing great organizing ability and high sense of responsibility.

Wing Commander Ved Prakash Misra was commissioned in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch in July, 1949. He successfully completed the Defence Services Staff College Course in 1957-58 and has held few important appointments since.

He was Assistant Judge Advocate General (Air) at Air Headquarter prior to his posting to Headquarters Training Command as the Command Judge Advocate in October 1956. As an A.J.A.G (Air) at Air Headquarters Wing Commander Misra was in the process of drafting a new set of Air Force Act Rules. Notwithstanding change of appointment, he continued applying himself to this task and completed the draft in December 1966. The draft has since been approved by the Government and is under issue. In October 1966 when Wing Commander Misra took over the duties of the Command Judge Advocate, a large number of disciplinary cases and courts of inquiry proceeding were pending finalization. He worked hard not only to clear these arrears but also ensured that the new cases received due attention. In so doing, he investigated and removed the causes for delay. He analysed disciplinary cases and traced reasons which led to the commission of avoidable offences. By delivering lectures at stations and units under Training Command he helped in promoting better knowledge of Air Force law and a feeling of greater responsibility for reducing disciplinary cases by preventive action.

Though not part of his duties as a Command Judge Advocate, Wing Commander Misra painstakingly studied civil law, and the practice and procedures of civil courts, and by timely intervention and advice ensured that the interests of Service and the Government in any civil suit or proceedings did not suffer. He also made himself fully conversant with matters of disciplinary proceedings against civil Government servant and advised the Commanding Officers on correct procedures in respect of such proceedings. He wrote and issued training pamphlets giving comprehensive information on the subject and on Air Force law for the use of officers and cadets under training.

Wing Commander Misra has all along taken great pains to keep abreast with the latest trends in legal thinking. As a result his opinions have earned him a reputation for impartiality and high standard of judgment.

Wing Commander Inder Singh Dua (3631) took over as Senor Personnel Staff Officer of Headquarters Maintenance Command, IAF on first Apr 1969. Prior to this he worked as Command Works I, in which assignment he was graded outstanding.

Immediately after taking over his new duties, Wing Commander Dua brought about radical changes in the working of his department. His organisation and professional sill resulted in the better handling of the administrative problems in the Command. He also ensured that no disciplinary cases were left unactioned and that the personal problems were attended to promptly. His devoted work contributed largely towards the betterment of administration in general and in particular the good administration of the civilian personnel, who abound in this Command.

The non-finalisation of the documents of airmen and civilians prior to their proceeding on discharge retirement, resulting in delayed finalization of their pension claims, had been one of the major problems of the Command. With ingenuity and professional zeal, Wing Commander Dua was able to formulate procedures by which the documentation is now completed in time. He has also spent long hours, beyond the call of his duty, to compile a large number of useful pamphlets and directives on administrative matters which have been of great value to the units.

Wing Commander Padam Sen Kapur (3704) Equipment has been Senor Equipment Officer at an operational wing for nearly three years. Throughout his tenure Wing Commander Kapur has shown commendable imitative in organizing and streamlining the equipment services at this wing. He has thus made a major contribution the successful accomplishment of operational and training tasks assigned to the Wing. Particularly noteworthy has been his personal contribution to the close integration of the technical and equipment service of the Wing, effective system of consumption analysis and forward provisioning to meet the critical requirements.

Apart from his achievements in the professional fields, he has consistently volunteered to undertake additional responsibilities and shown the same determination in accomplishing these difficult tasks successfully. The achievements of the Wing in the field of sports have also been largely due to his planning and untiring efforts.

He has undertaken all the tasks cheerfully in spite of a serious set back in his health soon after his arrival in the Wing and accomplished them creditably.

Wing Commander Shymal Kumar (3818) has been the Command Electrical Officer since November 1966. In this capacity he has been responsible for variety of complex tasks such as third and fourth line servicing of aircraft electrical components, instruments, engineering system and overhauling of a number of electrical ground equipment. Besides these responsibilities, he was entrusted with the job of designing and setting up a modern and elaborate electroplating shop in Repair Depot on "turn key" basis - a new concept, and the preparation of the design and technical specifications of a centralized compressed Air Supply system for the Repair Depot. The work in both these projects involved detailed market survey of the indigenous resources and a thorough understanding of the technical set up of various workshop a the Depot. By perseverance he completed the assigned task successfully, thereby displaying an admirable depth of knowledge, ability for sustained hard work and high degree of initiative and devotion to duty.

While in Command of Signal Unit, Wing Commander Kirpal Singh Sufi was entrusted with the responsibility of training technical personnel on a new type of equipment. In spite of the meager staff at his disposal, he got down to this task with devotion and was successful in training a large number of officers and men within a short period of eight months. During this period, the mobility of his unit was also tested, without any adverse reflection. Wing Commander Sufi was solely responsible for this good all round performance.

As Officer Commanding of another signals Unit, Wing Commander Sufi has been responsible for improving the administrative efficiency of the unit and its operation alertness. By good example and tact he has been able to knit the unit personnel into a highly trained and efficient team. He has also been able to establish very effective liaison with local civil agencies to make the Air Defence reporting system of the area a success.

Wing Commander Narayanan Krishnan Nair (4075) Technical Electrical during his long service career has held a wide variety of important assignments. Presently, he is serving as Deputy Director, Maintenance Plans at Air Headquarters.

Throughout his service career this officer has conscientiously and consistently discharged the duties entrusted to his in an exemplary manner. Whilst serving on the staff of Headquarters Maintenance Command, he was responsible for the high standard of maintenance of instrument and electrical systems at Depots under the Command. The professional skill displayed by this officer in the discharge of his duties proved an asset to the units and formations. When the Directorate of Maintenance plans was formed this officer did all the spade work to get the Directorate functioning effectively. As a result of his personal conduct, initiative and drive, he has set an example worthy of emulation by others.

Wing Commander Gursharan Singh has been the Chief Technical officer of an operational Wing since May, 1968. From the day of his arrival, this officer has shouldered his responsibility with commendable degree of self confidence and applied himself with exemplary energy, enthusiasm and devotion to duty to the complex task of maintaining a variety of aircraft with limited manpower and material.

By setting up the maintenance control room. Wing Commander Gursharan Singh has been able to improve the utilization of the technical resources and achieve a commendable co-ordination of the technical equipment services of the Wing. These achievements have contributed substantially towards the successful accomplishment of operational and training tasks assigned to the Wing, through enhanced aircraft serviceability.

Wing Commander Harbhajan Singh Bhatia was commissioned in Technical/Electrical Branch in February 1952. During his long service he has had a wide and varied experience at all levels.

While on the staff of D.T.D & P (Air), Wing Commander Bhatia has been responsible for the indigenous production of a variety of Air Force stores such as Battery Charging equipment, Rectifiers, Power supply Units, Aircraft Cables and Ground Equipment. He has also been associated with the development of Visual Approach, Slope Indicators, Isolation transformers, Constant Current Regulators and Air field cables, manufactured in the country for the first time. Thus, he has been instrumental in the considerable saving of the foreign exchange. His work in the field of Air Defence Equipment has also been very creditable. With his commendable initiative and drive, he was able to repair/service some imported items, which were difficult to replace. His contribution towards the indigenous production of a Lighting Equipment has also been substantial.

Throughout his long service, he has exhibited qualities of original thinking and sustained hard work.

Wing Commander Rajinder was commissioned in the Electrical Branch of the Air Force in 1951. He has also successfully completed a Course in Flight test instrumentation abroad. During his service career, Wing Commander Rajinder has been closely associated with the design and flight testing aspects of prototype aircraft manufactured in the country.

During his 6 year tenure in Aircraft and Armament Testing Unit, he worked untiringly and raised a team of airmen in flight test instrumentation. On his own initiative, he commissioned a number of complicated and specialized equipment and undertook elaborate instrumentation programme on a number of pre-production models of aircraft. Throughout he displayed an aptitude for original work and devoted service. Then in 1968, when posted at Headquarters Western Air Command, he developed a modification which not only resolved the baffling problem of transport operations in the Command due to the non-availability of vital material, but in so doing enhanced the operational capability of the aircraft also.

Squadron Leader Mahinder Singh (4191) took over as Command Judge Advocate of Headquarters Maintenance Command in May, 1968. Prior to this, he was Command Judge Advocate at Central Air command where he was commended for his good work by the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief.

As Command Judge Advocate at Headquarters Maintenance Command, he has displayed great understanding and fore-sight in effective and speedy finalization of disciplinary cases through sustained hard work. He possesses a thorough knowledge of Air Force law and applies it with great confidence. It has been the result of his efforts solely that there are no arrears of courts martial in the Command. He has also been responsible for instilling a sense of urgency in the handling and disposal of disciplinary cases at all levels. Beyond the call of his duty almost single handed this officer has been responsible for issuing a number of pamphlets on legal matters which have been of immense help to the units, thus making a tremendous contribution towards good discipline and better administration.

He has carried out an analysis of the disciplinary cases to find out the causes of the various offences and made valuable suggestions towards the preventive aspect. Consequently, offences like absence without leave and rash and negligent driving accidents have been curbed to a greater extent.

The number of civil suits in the Command are the maximum, because of the large number of civilians working in its stations/ units. By his high professional skill, meticulous planning and liaison with Government Law Officers and counsels, he has ensured that the cases are properly contested. His mature advice and tactful handling of the arbitration cases, which came up before the Air officer Commanding-in-Chief, has led to amicable settlement of disputes, saying large amounts to the State.

His equipment background has been an asset in his professional assignments. He has also taken pains to improve his knowledge of law and other subjects. His contribution in all fields of work has been exceptionally high throughout.

Squadron Leader Viswanath Venkataramani (4970) General Duties (Pilot) has been the flight commander of a transport squadron since May 1967. During this period the squadron carried out nearly 18,000 hours of flying which was possible only because of his foresight planning and timely procurement of the required spares. He was also able to get the devoted co-operation of the repair and servicing personnel with his tactful ways.

Besides his operational commitments, being the only Q.F.I, he was also responsible for the flying training of a large number of raw pilots. He has worked with devotion, undeterred by aircraft un-serviceability and lack of other instructional staff, and has been able to prepare 20 pilots or categorization/ upgrading in a period of two years. In so doing, he has put in nearly 3,000 hours of instructional flying without an incident.

Squadron Leader Madhavakrish Khashav (5119) General Duties (Pilot) has been a senior instructor at the Flying Instructors' School since November 1966. He has flown a total of 3500 hours inclusive of 2000 hours of accident free instructional flying. He also holds an A-2 instructor category. Through his preserving effort and inspiration, many unpromising pilot have qualified as Q.F.Is and are doing well in their instructional duties. In addition to training commitments, Squadron Leader Khashav has also successfully organized various flight safety programmes with remarkable results.

Squadron Leader Khashav has rendered valuable service of considerable significance to the Air Force.

Squadron Leader Bansidar Srinivas Hatangadi has been the Senor technical Officer at a Signals Units since August, 1967. Through hard work and initiative he has evolved and organised a speedy and precise system of overhauling the sets. His methods will be a valuable asset for future overhauls of the set at other locations also. He has also been responsible for the successful deployment of the Signals equipment at distant alternate sites during the conduct of various operational exercises. The lessons leant in this regard will be of immense value to the service.

He has always applied himself with zeal to overcome any problem. Seized of serious limitation on the operational capability of a set when deployed in hilly areas, he devised a simple modification to overcome these drawbacks. The modification has greatly enhanced the operational potential of the set besides enlarging the areas of its deployment. He has also been responsible for evolving a trainable pattern, based on analysis and practical experience, which has since been recognized in the Service.

Flight Lieutenant Amarjeet Singh Kullar (5854) VrC General Duties (Pilot) has flown over 2,200 hours during his service of about nine years. He also holds the highest Q.F.I category 'A-1'. He was posted to the Aircrew Examining Board in 1966. During this tenure he has been employed on the categorization of Q.F.Is. Standardization and instrument rating of A.O.P. pilots, standardization of pupil pilots training and the testing of the jet pilots for instrument rating. By his dedication, enthusiasm for flying and hard work beyond the call of duty he has contributed greatly in enhancing the number of A2/A1 Q.F.Is. and in initiating and finalizing the categorization scheme for helicopter pilots.

Flight Lieutenant Kullar has had a brilliant career in the service all along. He stood first at the N.D.A winning the Gliding Trophy. Later, during the flying training period he won the President's plaque and the Air Chief's Medal. He kept up this high performance during his Squadron service and at the Flying Instructor's School by winning a number of competitive awards. He proved his mettle again by winning the Vir Chakra in the Pakistan conflict of 1965.

A Helicopter while landing crashed on an inaccessible helipad on 4th August, 1968 and suffered very sever damages. The aircraft was initially surveyed and was found to be beyond recovery due top the lack of communication facilities in the area. In spite of this, Flight Lieutenant Varghese took up this challenging task with practically no servicing experience or training on the type. He finally led a party of men to the crash site on 23rd April, 1969 and had the aircraft flown out on 12th May, 1969 after carrying out patch-repairs.

For carrying out this task, Flight Lieutenant Varghese had to improvise on the spot repair schemes. He showed the same ingenuity and resource fullness for air lifting a serviceable engine to the site, in a Helicopter. Besides tackling these complex technical problems, he also sustained the morale of his men in the face of extremely adverse conditions like lack of communication, medical attention and at time proper food. He thus displayed outstanding qualities of professional skill, leadership and devotion to duty. His devoted efforts also resulted in the saving of approximately Rupees twenty lakhs.

Warrant Officer Saroj Ranjan Chandra is one of the oldest members the engine repair section of Base Repair Depot and is currently employed as Warrant Officer-in-Charge Engine Test Bench. He has also received training abroad on jet engine testing and Universal Test Bench. In all his assignments he has consistently worked with devotion and has shown qualities of leadership.

Warrant officer Chandra has displayed originality in adapting old engine test bed for testing new engines and has also installed ACRE cold air units and turbine cooler testing unit without any outside help. Another notable achievement of this Warrant Officer is the manufacture of test bench for testing engines of particular type of helicopter from indigenous resources. This test bench is now in service use. Again by ingenuity and high professional skill he speedily repaired an engine test bed which was damaged seriously due to an engine explosion in the depot.

Flight Sergeant Churackamanill Mathew Abraham has been on the posted strength of Signals Unit, since July, 1967. He was associated with the installation of sophisticated radar Equipment from the very beginning. Prior to the installation work, he was responsible for positioning and arranging of the equipment at the site. Flight Sergeant Abraham played a significant part in the installation of this massive equipment and was primarily responsible for its final alignment, and subsequent checks.

Due to the remote location of the unit and lack of technical facilities nearby, a number of technical problems arise during this time. Some items of test equipment which came along with the main equipment were also found to be unserviceable. Besides, the literature relating to the equipment itself was not complete. Undaunted, he made the defective equipment serviceable and resolved the other technical problems competently with drive and initiative. He also helped in building up a nucleus of maintenance technicians.

In spite of this heavy working routine, Flight Sergeant Abraham has taken an active interest in sports and cultural activities of the unit. He has thus set an exemplary standard both in his professional and non professional activities.

201852 Flight sergeant Jotindra Nath, Fitter 1 has been the senior non-commissioned officer-in-charge Daily servicing Section in an operation Squadron since May, 1967. The squadron carries out flying both by day and night. Consequently, the Daily servicing Section has to plan and carry out its work on round the clock basis. Flight Sergeant Kaul has organized this complex work with credit. As a result, the squadron has successfully completed its allotted tasks, despite shortage of spares and limitations of manpower.

In addition to his primary duties in the Daily Servicing Section Flight Sergeant Jotindra Nath Kaul has been responsible for supervising the training of technicians to form the nucleus of trained manpower for other squadrons re-equipping with the same type of aircraft. Further, on many occasions he had to share the work of the central repair and servicing section also to enable the station to meet the heavy demands of operational and training flying. In all these tasks, Flight Sergeant Kaul has been a source of inspiration to others.

Flight Sergeant Kaul is brilliant example of an airman displaying a high professional skill.

206773 Flight Sergeant Mannamkunnath Goplan has been in an operational Squadron since May 1966. As SNCO i/c Electrical Section - a key section for the operation of a modern aircraft with their complex electrical circuits and instruments, he has discharged his duties with zeal, perseverance and efficiency. With his initiative, enthusiasm and professional skill he has ensured high rate of aircraft serviceability even though these aircraft were newly introduced in service and there was general shortage of trained personnel.

He has been responsible for fabricating a number of test equipment for electrical components which were not readily available. On his own initiative he also fabricated from indigenous resources, within a matter of 15 days, facilities for inhibiting an aero-engine. The rig has proved most reliable and simple and has saved considerable man hours.

The professional skill and devotion to duty of this SNCO has been a source of inspiration to all those working under him.

219257 Sergeant Prana Krishan Misra, F.II.A has been on the posted strength of an operational squadron since March, 1961. Throughout his stay in the squadron he has worked with zeal and vigor. His skilful diagnosis of faults and their rectification has saved innumerable man-hours and avoided unnecessary replacement of expensive spares. His ever-readiness and known capacity for sustained hard work has earned him immense respect and admiration from all men.

During his stay in the squadron he has been called upon to perform many difficult tasks under trying conditions. Once, during the Chinese aggression in 1962, he was the only tradesman in the entire servicing party to look after the servicing of six aircraft detachment. Through only a Corporal then, he worked with initiative and ensured 100% serviceability of all the aircraft despite lack of spares and manpower. On another occasion, he had to service an aircraft, after the failure of complete hydraulic system, without the requisite ground equipment.

Throughout his service career Sergeant Misra has displayed high professional skill and singular devotion to duty. He has accomplished many difficult tasks though his initiative and organizing ability.

Group Captain Jagdish Chandra Sengupta (3657) General Duties (Pilot) was com missioned in the Indian Air Force was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in September, 1949. After completing a tour in operational units, he qualified as a flying instructor and carried out instructional duties with distinction for a number of years. Thereafter, he held several important flying appointments, including that of a Squadron Commander. Till recently he was in command of an important repair depot.

As Officer Commanding the depot, Wing Commander Sengupta fostered a feeling of spirit-de-corps amongst his men. Through able leadership and sustained hard work, he was able to double the annual production rate. He was also quick to realize that to sustain a substantial increase in production, it will be necessary to plan production on scientific basis. He, therefore, laid down guide-lines for controlled production and planning and introduced modern methods of programme evaluation. This achievement is all the more commendable because Wing Commander Sengupta had no previous experience in the management of large technical organization, such as the depot.

Wing Commander Leslie Desmond Chater (2468) Administrative and Special Duties was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in June 1943. During his long service career, he has held with distinction many important appointments, including those of the Senior Personnel Staff Officer of a Command Headquarters and the Senior Administrative Officer of a Group Headquarters. At present he is commanding a Ground Training School, where his work has been outstanding in every way. By his hard work, sound planning and meticulous care he has succeeded in bringing about conspicuous improvement in all facets of administration and the standard of training. He has displayed organizing ability and leadership and by his personal example has been an inspiration to his officers and men.

Wing Commander Sasidharan Nair (3669) Accounts joined the Indian Air Force as an airman on 3rd March 1945 and was commissioned as an officer on 28th August, 1949.

After early years of service as an Accounts Officer at various Stations and Wings, he became the Senior Instructor in Accounts at the Air Force Administrative College, where he was responsible for the training of new Accounts Officers for the Air Force. Thereafter, he served as the Deputy to the Command Accounts Officer at a Command Headquarters and as the Commands Accounts Officer of another Command. For his good work, he was commended by the Chief of the Air Staff in 1966.

In Wing Commander Nair's present appointments at an Air Command, there was a large number of stores transactions awaiting finalization. This backlog had accumulated in the wake of the Chinese aggression in 1962 and the Indo-Pakistan hostilities in 1965, because the units concerned had changed from peace-time accounting procedures to operational procedures and finally reverted to peace time procedures after the two conflicts. Using bold and unconventional methods, he was responsible for clearing 2400 out of 2500 cases in a period of 18 months. He has also initiated a system in the Command, whereby Station Commanders can easily watch the trend of expenditure under locally controlled heads, thereby reducing wasteful expenditure.

Wing Commander Manaklal Narayana Iyer Sunderasan (3785) Technical/Engineering was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in May 1950. On graduation from the Air Force Technical College, he filled a number of engineering appointments in various operational units with distinction. Later, he was appointed as the Deputy Director of Technical Services at Air Headquarters. At present he is serving as the Senior Maintenance Staff Officer at a Command Headquarters.

As Senior Maintenance Staff Officer, Wing Commander Sunderasan has displayed singular drive and high professional acumen. He has devised methods to improve serviceability of aircraft at all flying stations under the Command Headquarters. Further, his initiative has led to the procurement of various important maintenance items from indigenous sources. He has also streamlined the maintenance administration at all levels, thus eliminating considerable waste in manhours and material.

Wing Commander Sunderasan has also been responsible for modification of trainer aircraft to increase its reliability. He has also planned and supervised the intensive trials of a new type of aircraft in a flying training school.

Wing Commander Tapas Kumar Ukil (3911) Technical/Engineering was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in July 1950. At present he is serving in a Flying Training Wing as its Chief Technical Officer. Since taking up his appointment at the Training Wing in October, 1968, Wing Commander Ukil has done much to improve the maintenance and serviceability of aircraft, in spite of shortage of manpower and

materials. He has reorganized the technical sections of the Wing, and has applied new techniques of planning and control to speed up the inspection and servicing of aircraft. It has been largely due to his intelligent and dedicated work that the Wing has met all its flying tasks in full. He has also brought about a marked economy in the consumption of spares required for the maintenance of aircraft.

Wing Commander Ashok Ray (4210) General Duties (Navigator) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 12th January, 1952. He was employed as a Navigator in several operational units of the Air Force. All through, he had the reputation of being an accurate and purposeful Navigator. He worked with credit as a Navigator in a Night Fighter Squadron, Navigation Leaders in another operational Squadron and Assistant Director (Navigation) at Air Headquarters.

Since 1966 Wing Commander Ray has been working in a guided weapons complex. He formed a new Combat Squadron and set up the Guided Weapons Firing Range. He was associated with the siting and planning of the range from the very beginning and gave very valuable guidance in techniques, maintenance and practical training to Guided Weapons units visiting the Range. Later, he took over the command of another Guided Weapons Squadron where the project work was still under construction. He saw to it that the project was completed in time and that it conformed to the highest standards. At the same time, he brought up the Squadron to a very high level of operational and technical proficiency.

Wing Commander Ray has high practical ability and a large capacity for planning and organization. His Squadron secured the highest marks in Firing Exercises, both in 1969 and 1970, and showed excellent results in the exercises organized by his Command Headquarters.

Wing Commander Shyam Chander Mehra (4290) Technical/Signals was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 26th February 1952.

After training at the Air Force Technical College, he has been employed in various operational units of the Indian Air Force. He has also been Commanding Officer of the Technical Wing of a Wireless Experimental Centre. At present he is serving in a Surface to Air Guided Weapon Unit, where he has been in Command since March 1969.

During October, 1969, a major fault was detected in the auto-pilot units of the weapon with which Wing Commander Mehra's unit is equipped. He successfully analysed the problem and carried out the necessary repair and testing of this unit in respect of all weapons held. This was a precision job involving careful handling of delicate equipment. It entailed work round the clock, as any delay would have set-back the operational readiness of the units. His initiatives finally resulted in saving a large amount of foreign exchange.

Throughout his career, Wing Commander Mehra has displayed a high degree of imagination, intelligence and practical ability. He is a rare combination of an efficient Engineer and a skillful Manager. His meticulous planning and foresight have paid dividends in saving valuable foreign exchange and, at the same time, improving the technical ability of our own personnel.

Wing Commander Pemmaraju Kamaraju (4533) Technical/Armament was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in September 1953. He has since held many important appointments including those of Assistant Director of Armament at Air Headquarters and Chief Technical Instructor (Armament) at Air Force Technical College.

As Chief Technical Instructor, Wing Commander Kamaraju worked with singular devotion and high professional acumen. He reorganized the Armament Department of the College to undertake fresh training commitments and revised the syllabi to enable introduction of new equipment into the Air Force. Within meager resources, he was responsible for designing and fabricating the simulator on which loading of bombs and rockets of various types of operational aircraft could be practiced. In every way, he has contributed a great deal to the proper training of Technical Officers.

Squadron Leader Charanjit Singh (4823) General Duties (Pilot) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 6th November, 1954.

During his service career, Squadron Leader Charanjit Singh has creditably filled a number of flying appointments. In recognition of his professional ability he was selected to undergo a Pilot Attack Instructors' Course and subsequently was posted as OfficerIncharge of the Pilot Attack Instructors' Flight. Later, he became a successful bomber pilot and in that capacity was sent to Congo in 1961-62 as a member of the United Nations Peace Keeping Contingent. He also took active part in the Indo-Pakistan conflict of 1965 and was 'Mentioned in Despatches'.

Recently while serving with an operational unit, Squadron Leader Charanjit Singh carried out a large number of flights in inclement weather over very hazardous terrain to successfully complete tasks of national importance. Throughout disregarding his personal safety and comfort, he has set a standard of professional skill and devotion to duty for others to emulate.

Squadron Leader Dushyant Singh (5048) General Duties (Pilot) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 14th January, 1956.

At an early stage in his career, Squadron Leader Singh was selected for conversion on Jet Bomber aircraft. He was member of the Indian Air Force Contingent which formed the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Congo in 1960. He was actively engaged in operations during the Indo-Pakistan conflict in 1965.

Squadron Leader Singh is currently employed with an operational unit of the Air Force. During his tenure he carried out a large number of operational sorties over hazardous terrain in very bad weather conditions, fulfilling a task of national importance.

Squadron Leader Rajmani Ramamurthy (5614) Technical/Engineering was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in November, 1958. After fulfilling some important Engineering appointments in operational units, he was selected for training abroad on a new type of aircraft which was being introduced into the Service.

Currently, Squadron Leader Ramamurthy is serving in an operational Squadron as a Senior Technical Officer. He has been responsible for the initial training of technical personnel and setting up first and second line servicing facilities for the new aircraft. This was a hard task, considering the difficulties associated with the introduction of a new type of aircraft in Squadron service. Squadron Leader Ramamurthy not only succeeded in organizing the aircraft servicing on a planned basis, but was also successful in enhancing the flying effort through increased output from inspection and repair. His personal example and organizing ability have made this possible.

Squadron Leader Vaithianatha Krishnamurthy (5937) Techincal/Engineering was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 1st June 1960.

After several years spent in field appointments, Squadron Leader Krishnamurthy was selected to undergo the Flight Engineers Course. Thereafter he was employed with considerable success as a Flight Engineer in an operational unit. He was selected for training abroad on a new type of aircraft, and was adjudged by his instructors as an exceptional flight engineer. On return, he was closely associated with evolving standard operating procedures, emergency drills and training schedules for the new type of aircraft.

Squadron Leader Krishnamurthy's dedicated work and high level of knowledge have been a source of inspiration and guidance to all aircrew to his unit.

Squadron Leader Krishnamurthy has always displayed high professional skill and devotion to duty in the best traditions of the Air Force.

Squadron Leader Ram Narain Agarwal (5951) Electrical Engineering was commissioned in the Indian Air Force on 1st June 1950. He has held a number of important appointments including those of Squadron Electrical Officer of an operational Squadron, instructor at Air Force Technical College and Electrical Engineer at the Institute of Aviation Medicine.

At the Institute of Aviation Medicine Squadron Leader Agarwal was responsible for the servicing of highly complex and sophisticated equipment such as the human centrifuge, low pressure chambers, climatic chamber and the hyperbaric recompression chamber. His work in this area was of a very high order and enabled the Institute of Aviation Medicine to meet all its commitments of research and clinical evaluation.

Squadron Leader Agarwal was also responsible for building up cold temperature research facilities at the Institute. The minimum temperature available with the imported deep cooling plant was only -10° C against the specification of -54° C. The manufacturers having failed to improve the efficiency of the cooling plant, Squadron Leader Agarwal took the initiative to modify certain electrical and other circuits, thereby bringing down the temperature to -50° C. This was done without any assistance or expenditure of foreign exchange. Simultaneously, he equipped a room to obtain a controlled temperature from 15° C to 0° C. These facilities have enabled the Institute to meet many of its commitments in the field of operational research.

Recently the Institute was required to resolve a thermal problem associated with a new type of aircraft. This called for a hot and humid room capable of simulating tropical conditions. The engineer's estimated for the cost of work was Rs. 75,000. Squadron Leader Agarwal was able to design and construct the room from salvage material obtained locally. The room has been an unqualified success and has enabled various combinations of heat and humidity to be obtained as required by the Research Team.

The human centrifuge installed by a foreign firm had an inherent defect of creeping and jerking suddenly on starting. This was accepted by the Manufacturers as being incapable of rectification. On his initiative, Squadron Leader Agarwal modified the electrical circuit and servo-mechanism which not only removed the defect but will also serve in prolonging the life of the equipment.

Squadron Leader Perungavur Balasubramaniam Harikishnan Technical/Engineering (6226) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in July 1961. He has held many important Engineering posts both in operational units and in the staff at Command Headquarters.

In his recent assignment as the Officer incharge Aircraft Repair Section at a Base Repair Dept, Squadron Leader Harikishnan has displayed inspiring leadership, drive and extreme devotion to duty. In a year's time, his section completed 57 major inspections and two Cat 'B' repairs on seven different types of aircraft. In effecting this high rate of production, he had to overcome a large number of seemingly insurmountable problems.

Squadron Leader Harikishnan has also been responsible for the setting up of a servicing line for a new type of aircraft. Besides, using a great deal of initiative and technical ingenuity, he has completed major servicing of a large number of these aircraft despite non-availability of certain ground equipment and shortage of spares.

Flight Lieutenant Perminder Singh Chahil (7059) Technical/Engineering was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in January 1963. He was, subsequently, trained in the specialist task of maintenance of helicopters. At present he is serving at a helicopter unit as its Engineering Officer. During his tenure with the Squadron, Flight Lieutenant Chahil has displayed exceptional devotion to duty, initiative and leadership, and, by his personal example, inspired his men to give their best under most adverse conditions.

On one occasion, a detachment of two helicopter aircraft had to be based at a forward landing ground to carry out search operations for two missing aircraft. For successful operations, it was imperative to maintain a very high state of serviceability. The difficult terrain also necessitated that the two search aircraft operate in a pair. Flight Lieutenant Chahil volunteered to go on this detachment and through his zeal, determination and professional ability, he managed to keep both helicopters serviceable in spite of the limitations of manpower, spares and ground equipment.

On another occasion, one of the unit aircraft had force-landed at a forward landing ground necessitating an engine change. It was the month of January, which is the coldest month in the region and is associated with spells of heavy snow-fall and blizzards. Realising fully the difficulties and personal discomforts to which any servicing party would be exposed at the high altitude in subzero temperature, Flight Lieutenant Chahil volunteered for this task. By his dedicated work and personal example, Flight Lieutenant Chahil succeeded in repairing the helicopter within a short period of time.

Flight Lieutenant Balasubramanian Chandran (7307) Technical/Engineering was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in April 1963. During his brief service career, he has displayed able leadership and high professional acumen. He has been serving as Engineering Officer in a Helicopter Unit in one of the forward areas on the Northern Border since 1967.

At the Helicopter Unit, Flight Lieutenant Chandran organised winter maintenance of the aircraft and brought winter serviceability at par with that in summer. On more than one occasion he was responsible for retrieving helicopter aircraft from situations which were considered almost impossible.

On one occasion, a helicopter had accidentally flown into the cables of an aerial ropeway, forcelanding in a small field on the slopes of a hill overlooking a deep gorge. There was continuous torrential rain in the area which made the approach extremely slippery. Nevertheless, Flight Lieutenant Chandran reached the spot and assessed the aircraft as repairable at site. He then retraced his steps, organised the repair party returned to the site, where under his personal supervision saw to it that the aircraft was flown out to the base successfully within 48 hours.

On another occasion, a helicopter was stranded with a defective engine at a helipad 14,500 feet AMSL. The minimum temperature was - 26° C. Despite the bitter cold and the difficulties of working in rarefied atmosphere at that height, Flight lieutenant Chandran successfully carried

out the engine change of the aircraft in record time with the help of two technicians.

On yet another occasion Flight Lieutenant Chandran relied on his experience of repairing a defective helicopter which was stranded at a forward helipad during the winter months. In this case too, the extreme cold and the height of the helipad made repairs difficult. Even so the aircraft was fown out to base successfully within two days.

Flight Lieutenant Govind Chandra Singh Rajwar (8103) General Duties (Navigator) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in December 1963. For his accuracy and precision work, he was selected to join an important operational unit of the Air Force which carried out very special tasks.

During his stay at the unit, he has undertaken a number operational sorties both by day and night over inhospitable terrain at high altitudes which require a high degree of navigational skill and presence of mind. In all these flights he contributed significantly to the accomplishment of the tasks were assigned to the unit.

Flight Lieutenant Rajwar's devoted services and high professional skill has been a source of inspiration to other officers in the unit.

Flight Lieutenant Baljinder Singh Sidhu (8107) General Duties (Navigator) was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in December 1963. During his short service career, Flight Lieutenant Sidhu has shown high professional skill and initiative. At present he is serving in an operational Squadron whose personnel are handpicked.

During his tenure at the Squadron, he has undertaken a large number of operational sorties which involved flying over difficult terrain and at times through inhospitable weather. Undeterred, he volunteered for these flights. Throughout, by his devotion to duty he has been a great help to his Squadron Commander in the planning and execution of the special tasks assigned to the Unit.

201358 Master Flight Engineer Surat Singh Yadav, VM, Flight/Engineer was enrolled in the Indian Air Force as a technician in January 1948. He has been continuously employed on the duties of a Flight Engineer in the Eastern and Northern sectors since 1957. He was a member of the Indian Air Force contingent in Congo. He was awarded the Vayu Sena Medal during the Chinese aggression in 1962 and was 'Mentioned in Despatches' during the Indo-Pakistan conflict in 1965 for his outstanding services.

Throughout his career, Master Flight Engineer Yadav has worked with devotion and zeal. In 1963, when the categorisation scheme for flight engineers was introduced in the Service, he was entrusted with the task of formulating yardsticks for the categorisation scheme. He was also associated with the actual categorisation work, which in due course, became voluminous because of the rapid expansion of the air transport role of the Service. By his initiative and thorough professional knowledge, he has successfully carried out these exacting duties of testing and standardisation, almost single handed, on eight different types of aircraft.

400352 Master Flight Engineer Gurdial Singh Samra Flight Engineer was enrolled in the Indian Air Force as a technician in June 1950. After working for some years on a variety of aircraft, he was appointed as Officerin-charge of the Daily Servicing Section of an operational Unit. He held this appointment creditably. Thereafter, he qualified as a Flight Engineer, in which role he has flown to-date 2500 hours, including 1000 hours on operational missions.

Master Flight Engineer Samra has amply demonstrated his qualities of courage and leadership. On one occasion, he extricated and saved a passenger, who was trapped in a burning aircraft which had been loaded with inflammable material. The danger to his own life did not, in any way, deter him from performing his duty.

Master Flight Engineer Samra has secured the unbounded loyalty and admiration of the airmen working under him through his personal example of hard and devoted work.

12183 Master Warrant Officer Viswanath Dattatraya Walwadikar, Fitter 1, was posted to the Gas Turbine Research Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation in August 1965. Soon after arrival, after familiarising himself with the Orpheus Reheat Project work being carried out in GTRE, he was given the task of looking after the GTRE flight development detachment set up at the HAL Aircraft Division. He was associated with the flight development of the HF-24 Aircraft with Orpheus Reheat Engines installed in it. During the early stages, various development problems connected with the aircraft installation arose, which could only be sorted out by hard and long hours of concentrated effort. In view of the urgency of the priority allotted to the project, the need to overcome problems expeditiously, as they arose was very pressing and this MWO took upon himself more than his share of the work involved.

His example was an inspiration to others working with him. The type of work involved in the Reheat project had not been attempted before in the country and it is very creditable that this MWO without any prior training adapted himself to the requirements of the task.

The MWO always put Service before self and has made a significant contribution to the Orpheus Reheat Project. Master Warrant Officer Viswanath Dattatraya Walwadikar apart from showing professional skill of a high order has also displayed exceptional devotion, to duty and work in the best traditions the Indian Air Force.

23223 Warrant Officer Piara Singh, Fitter I was enrolled in the Indian Air Force as a technician in June 1943. At present he is serving in an operational Squadron.

During his four years' service with the Squadron, he has been responsible for looking after the repair and serving Section, which has to carry the main responsibility of preparing aircraft for meeting flying tasks. Warrant Officer Singh has shown limitless energy, determination, high organizing ability and leadership and ensured maximum serviceability of aircraft despite many handicaps. His professional ability has been of the highest order and he has always been an inspiration to his men.

39556 Warrant Officer Raghbir Singh, Fitter I was enrolled in the Indian Air Force as a technician in July 1944. Recently, he was selected for training abroad on the maintenance of engines of a particular type of aircraft. At present he is serving in a Base Repair Depot which repairs these engines.

During his tenure at the Depot, Warrant Officer Singh been personally responsible for the development and manufacture of a variety of handling and cleaning equipment which is needed during the engine overhaul. He designed a jet nozzle which can be used for pressure cleaning of parts with kerosene and petrol. It is a simple item in design, capable of manufacture even at a unit workshop, which can reduce hours considerably.

Warrant Officer Singh has also commissioned and serviced a large number of complex machines, often without guidance of publications, and by substituting indigenous parts.

Warrant Officer Singh's personal example of dedicated service and high professional ability has been a constant source inspiration to his men. He has made a significant contribution to the operational efficiency of the Service.

39919 Warrant Officer Daljit Singh, Instrument Repairer 1 was enrolled in the Indian Air Force as a technician on 29th July 1944. In the early years of his service, he was employed as an instrument repairer in operational units and Static organisations.

Warrant Officer Singh has an inventive bent of mind. He has turned this quality to great use in the Units in which he has served. Some of his innovations include a tester for zero-the fuel content gauge of an operational aircraft, a tester for the time-delay switches on another operational aircraft, a simplified technique for testing altimeters with the Null reading micromanometer, and a compact temperature gauge tester capable of testing temperature gauges of instruments manufactured in several different countries. His most recent achievement is the manufacture of a device for testing accuracy of the liquidometer fitted in the fuel tanks of an operational type of aircraft.

Warrant Officer Daljit Singh has displayed inventive ability of a very high order. For some of his inventions he has been awarded cash prizes by the Government of India. He has worked with a spirit of complete dedication to the Service spending almost all his leisure time on his inventions, which have had direct and immediate utility of high value to the Service. His drive, perseverance and devotion to duty have been remarkable.

207283 Flight Sergeant Bakshish Singh, Radar Mechanic was enrolled in the Indian Air Force in February 1951. Since 1964, he has been serving in a Guided Weapon Squadron as a senior cabin mechanic.

During his long service with the Squadron, Flight Sergeant Singh has displayed high initiative and singular devotion to duty. He is currently rated the best mechanic in his category in all the Guided Weapons Squadrons in Service.

In 1965, soon after he had just joined the Squadron, he was associated with its move from its temporary location to the permanent site. He volunteered to take over many other duties, besides ensuring the satisfactory completion of his own assignments. During Indo-Pakistan conflicts of 1965, he maintained a combat vigil round the clock to ensure full serviceability of equipment, disregarding all personal comforts. Subsequently when the Squadron equipment was damaged in a rail accident, he showed considerable initiative in repairing the equipment. It was a difficult task which he accomplished with credit.

209191 Flight Sergeant Kuttikattu Mathai Verghese, Inst. Rep. 1 was posted to the Gas Turbine Research Establishment of the Defence Research and Development Organisation in November, 1962. From the very beginning he was intimately associated with the Orpheus Reheat Project of the GTRE. He was detailed to work in the Test Bed, where the static bench development trials of the Reheat systems commenced early in 1963. He made valuable contributions towards develop ment of the electrical and instrumentation systems for Reheat operation as well as for development testing. He accepted all task allotted to him very cheerfully and carried them out with efficiency and most effectively under all conditions of stress and strain which were inevitable in an equipment oriented projected like the Orpheus Reheat develop ment and which was required on high priority for the HF-24. He was also associated with the task of installation of engines in the prototype aircraft and the development of the Reheat electrical system in the aircraft. He made significant contributions to the various certification tests successfully carried out on the Reheat system over the last few years, such as 24 hrs flight clearance test with limited reheat, 24 hrs flight clearance test with design reheat and the 150 hrs development test conducted to a schedule similar to that required for production clearance of the system. In all the work that he undertook, he showed exemplary devotion to duty and technical competence of an exceptional order. The type of work involved in the Reheat project had not been attempted before in the country and it very creditable that this Senior NCO without any prior training adapted himself to the requirement of the task.

Apart from acquiring and utilizing a thorough knowledge of his trade aspect of the task, he also built up a knowledge of other systems of the Reheat engine outside the requirement of the trade. On many occasions, because of his deep insight into problem, he was able to help the development programme in its entirety.

Flight Sergeant Kuttikattu Mathai Verghese contributed significantly to the Orpheus Reheat Project and his devotion to duty and efficiency with which he carried out his technical assignments were in the best traditions of the Indian Air Force.

During his earlier tenure in an operational area he was on two occasions responsible for repairing badly damaged aircraft at the site of their crash landings, in difficult and inaccessible areas in the Eastern borders. Despite the handicaps of manpower and repair facilities, he accomplished the assigned task expeditiously disregarding all personal comforts.

At his present unit, Flight Sergeant Choubey has been working with great resourcefulness. With his ingenuity and professional skill he has fabricated a number of time saving devices and tools needed for engine overhaul. He has thus made a significant contribution to the operational efficiency of the I.A.F. and his personal example of dedicated service has been a constant source of inspiration to his colleagues and subordinates.

48282 Sergeant Leonard Roberts, Aircraft Hand and General Duties was enrolled in the Indian Air Force in 1944. At present he is serving in an Air Force Station as Assistant Station Warrant Officer.

On 16th May 1969 his Station was hit be a cyclonic storm which caused extensive damage to life and property in the area. When the storm was at its height and the tented accommodation was being blown away, Sergeant Roberts, who was officiating as the Station Warrant Officer, mobilized airmen and civilians and took effective steps to prevent loss of life and further damage to Service property. Later when the storm had abated, he supervised recovery of Service equipment and repairs of the damaged tents and their speedy erection to ensure that a temporary shelter was available to all personnel. All through this period of distress, Sergeant Roberts was a shining example to his men and a source of inspiration to others who had suffered because of the storm.

203575 Sergeant Vannalil Devasia Joseph, Fitter 1 was enrolled in the Indian Air Force in December, 1948. At present he is serving in an operational training unit.

During his four years' stay in the Unit, Sergeant Joseph has displayed resourcefulness and initiative of a high order. Disregarding his personal comfort, he has worked long hours to maintain a high serviceability state of aircraft at all times. By his personal example of dedicated work and cheerful disposition, he has been able to obtain the utmost cooperation from his men, thereby enabling the unit to complete is flying task on schedule.

Despite heavy load of work, Sergeant Joseph has also been able to take active part in the unit functions and sports. By his tactful handling, he has been able to ensure excellent morale amongst his airmen.