During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Maneck Bomanshaw Madon, as a senior pilot of a Fighter Bomber Squadron, carried out several operational missions against enemy gun positions and troop concentrations in the Khem Karan Sector. On the 10th December, 1971, he was detailed to carry out Rocket Pod and Front Gun Missions along the Ichogil Canal. He located the well dug­in defensive positions of the enemy and carried out four attacks on them despite heavy ground fire. During these attacks, though his aircraft was hit on the wing resulting in fuel leakage and he faced control difficulty, he brought the damaged aircraft to the base.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Maneck Bomanshaw Madon displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December 1971, Flight Lieutenant Surinder Kumar Mitroo as a senior pilot of a Fighter Bomber Squadron was detailed to lead an Interdiction mission. He located a target at Raiwind which was heavily defended. While attacking the target, his aircraft was hit by the enemy ground fire. The Rudder was jammed, partially offset to the right and the Hydraulic system suffered extensive damage. Besides, there was a two feet long tear in the rear fuselage which was badly distorted. Though experiencing partial loss of control, he skillfully brought the aircraft back to base using the emergency system to obtain landing configuration and thus saved a valuable aircraft.

In. this action, Flight Lieutenant Surinder Kumar Mitroo displayed courage and professional skill.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Jagdish Bhattacharya, as a pilot of a Fighter Bomber Squadron, carried out many operational missions. On the 6th December, 1971, while he was attacking the enemy near Munawar river, his aircraft was hit by enemy ground fire. As his aircraft was getting out of control, he ejected in the enemy territory. The enemy sent a detachment to capture him but inspite of spine injury, he evaded the enemy.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Jagdish Bhattacharya displayed courage and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Vijay Arora was serving with an operational Squadron in the Western Sector. He was a member of the crew who undertook two bombing missions to Changa Manga on the 3rd and 4th December, 1971, and one mission to Haji Pir Pass on the 5th December, 1971. On the mission to Haji Pir Pass, he rectified a serious defect to release system in utter disregard to his personal safety by opening the cargo door of the aircraft without a monkey belt.

In these actions, Flight Lieutenant Vijay Arora displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Palamadai Sundaram Subramanian was serving as Engineering Officer of an Operational Squadron. He put the Repair and Servicing Section on a sound footing. Throughout the period of the operations, he worked incessantly and maintained a high serviceability rate. He thus made a significant contribution to the operational efficiency and achievements of the Squadron.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Palamadai Sundaram Subramanian displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Pradip Kantilal Gandhi was serving with a Fighter Squadron. He flew 11 sorties of offensive Air Support missions, 6 sorties of counter Air Operations and 3 sorties of Air Defence missions. Out of these he led 9 missions. In offensive support missions, he carried out four strikes at Brigade Headquarters at Jamalpur, of which two were led by him. He carried out bombing attacks on Lai-Mai Army position and destroyed four bunkers. In counter Air operations, he carried out 3 sorties of day and 2 sorties of night bombing over Tezgaon and Kurmitola airfields which were heavily defended by Anti-aircraft artillery. He was the first person to carry out night bombing sorties in the type of fighter aircraft he was flying. He carried out two strikes on the troop concentrations in Dacca and destroyed the target despite heavy ground fire.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Pradip Kantilal Gandhi displayed courage, leadership, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Charan Singh Dhillon was one of the senior pilots of a Fighter Bomber squadron. On the 4th December, 1971, he carried out a deep day penetration mission to an enemy airfield and destroyed a P.O.L. and Ammunition Dump, despite aerial engagement and heavy ground fire.

While returning from his mission, he was engaged by an enemy aircraft in close combat and though he was extremely short of fuel, yet he successfully disengaged his aircraft. Later, when about 10 miles away from the base, his engine flamed out he successfully force landed at the base and saved the valuable aircraft.

In this action, Flight Lieutenant Charan Singh Dhillon displayed courage and professional skill.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Shridhar Madhav Ghatate as a Senior Pilot of a Fighter Bomber Squadron, flew twelve operational missions, and destroyed two enemy tanks and a number of vehicles. On two occasions, when his aircraft was hit by ground fire, he brought his aircraft back to base with almost no fuel and thus saved two operational aircraft. He set an example to the Pilots by his courage in hitting the enemy positions despite heavy ground fire and by pressing home attacks in complete disregard to his personal safety.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Shridhar Madhav Ghatate displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Nayanathara Kunjan Pillai Raghava Menon was attached to a Fighter Bomber Squadron. He flew a number of operational missions deep inside enemy territory despite heavy ground and air opposition. On the 16th December, 1971, while on a bombing and strafing mission, his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire. The shell shattered the canopy and fragments of the shell got embedded in his body injuring him seriously and hampering his vision. Though be was more than seventy nautical miles away from his base, he brought the aircraft back to base safely instead of abandoning it.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Nayanathara Kunjan Pillai Raghava Menon displayed courage, determination and professional skill.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Mohankumar Prabhakar Samant, as a pilot in a Fighter Bomber Squadron, carried out a number of operational missions deep inside enemy territory despite heavy ground fire and air oppositions. He took aerial photographs of Sargodha airfield which was heavily defended and brought back information of immense value to the Army and the Air Force for further planning. On the 6th December, 1971, he carried out two interdiction missions over Laila Musa marshalling yard and destroyed a railway engine and ten bogies of a goods train carrying military stores and thus prevented the enemy in getting the supply of ammunition. During one of these missions, he cut off the lines of communication of the enemy. On the 8th and 9th December, 1971, he led two successful strike missions over Chander and Walton airfields and caused extensive damage to the runway and the dispersal area. He also photographed the Ichogal Canal and the Chhamb area west of river Tawi and brought back photographs of great operational value.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Mohankumar Prabhakar Samant displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Prakash Nath Sharma, as a pilot of a Helicopter Unit, operated from forward helipads in support of our ground forces. He flew fifty missions deep inside enemy territory carrying food, water and ammunition for our ground forces in Nayachor, Chhachor and Khinsar areas and bringing back battle casualties. Sometimes, he had to land at completely unprepared desert surface, well within the range of enemy fire. On the 11th December, 1971, while returning from a mission, he was attacked by four enemy aircraft about six miles from Nayachor. He immediately landed his helicopter between two sand dunes and ordered his crew to take cover under the thick dust raised up by the rotor. The enemy aircraft straffed the helicopter and the crew and one of the aircraft dropped a 500 lbs bomb also, but their attacks failed to find the mark. The only damage caused was that the perspex of the Helicopter got shattered and the reductor bay cowling was blown apart. Undeterred, he took off again and landed at a forward helipad and thus not only saved the helicopter but also the lives of the crew members.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Prakash Nath Sharma displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Ravindra Vikram Singh was Flight Commander of a Helicopter Unit. He undertook hazardous tasks over difficult terrain. He moulded his team into a highly organized and effective force, capable of giving their best at all times. On the 16th December, 1971, while on a mission to Sylhet, his aircraft which was flying at a height of one kilometre was hit by enemy ground fire and one of the bullets after penetrating the cabin, hit an oil pipe thus resulting in leakage of hot oil into the cabin. He pulled up the aircraft immediately to 1.5 km of height and by this time the reductor oil pressure had started dropping rapidly. It was by then dark and returning to base or to any other airfield was impossible. He, however, brought the aircraft out of enemy area, selected a suitable field at Fenchugari after approximately 15 minutes flying under trying circumstances in complete darkness and made a successful landing and thus saved the aircraft and the lives of the passengers and crew. Earlier on the 8th December, 1971, he brought the aircraft back safely when it was hit just six inches behind the co­pilot seat, twice on main rotor blades and once on main gear box cowling by enemy ground fire.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Ravindra Vikram Singh displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Rudra Krishna Bishnoi was serving with a Transport Squadron in the Eastern Sector. On the 10th December, 1971, he was detailed to undertake a supply dropping mission in support of our forward troops at Sylhet, he took off with full load of ammunition and on arriving over the target faced heavy ground fire. In spite of intense firing from the ground he continued his drop run and delivered the urgently required ammunition to the troops. During the process of drop, his port fuel tank was hit by ground fire in three places and fuel was streaming out and the engine was spluttering. He controlled the crippled aircraft, feathered the engine and carried out a safe single engine landing at a forward base. This emergency drop enabled our troops to overcome the enemy opposition and gain vital advantage. On previous night, he had undertaken three bombing missions in an unarmed transport aircraft over enemy airfields.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Rudra Krishna Bishnoi displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Philip George was serving as Engineering Officer of a Squadron. Throughout the operations, the Unit maintained 100% serviceability. All the aircraft of the Unit operated from various airfields during day and night on operational reconnaissance missions. This achievement was largely due to untiring efforts of Flight Lieutenant Philip George. His qualities of leadership inspired his men to work cheerfully round the clock.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Philip George displayed leadership, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operation against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Konerirajapuram Srinivasan Raghavachari served with an operational Squadron in the Eastern Sector. He undertook a number of strike missions. His aircraft was hit on a number of occasions but he safely brought it back to base every time. Undaunted by heavy enemy ground fire, he pursued his missions and pressed home his attacks. He was responsible for destruction of enemy positions which included runways, bunkers, gun positions and troop concentrations.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Konerirajapuram Srinivasan Raghavachari displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Kuldip Singh Bajwa was serving with an operational Squadron in the Eastern Sector. On the 4th December, 1971, he was No. 4 of the formation which attacked a heavily defended airfield. Short of the target, he was the first pilot who noticed that his formation had been attacked by three Sabres. He immediately took appropriate steps and saved the threatened aircraft. In a subsequent strike on Tejgaon on the same day where he was No. 2 in a two aircraft formation, he found his leader being attacked by a Sabre. He again exercised effective control and informed his leader to execute a timely Break. At this stage he was fired upon by the enemy. His aircraft was damaged and it went out of control close to the Ground. Rather than abandoning the aircraft over enemy territory he brought his aircraft under control, a few feet off the ground and decided to make an attempt to take the aircraft to base. He flew the damaged aircraft over a distance of 150 nautical miles and landed it safely at the base. Subsequently, he executed several highly effective missions in the face of heavy ground fire. He attacked and damaged a number of enemy ammunition dumps, many gun positions, tanks, ferry boats, trains, bunkers, buildings and effectively straffed enemy concentration areas.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Kuldip Singh Bajwa displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations, against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Ramesh Thakurdas Chandani carried out twenty-six sorties in JAMMU AND KASHMIR Sector. On the 14th December, 1971, when he was returning from Nainakot, his co-pilot drew his attention to one of our aircraft which had been shot down and was on fire. He immediately landed near the wreckage and rescued an Army Officer who was the only living occupant of the aircraft and thus saved his life.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Ramesh Thakurdas Chandani displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty,

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Kalyan Brata Bagchi was serving as an Interception Director in the Eastern Sector. On the 22nd November, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Bagchi observed on his radar scope one single blot close to Jessore heading towards our border. He scrambled four Gnats from Dum Dum within half a minute. He positioned his fighters with precision and achieved such a tactical advantage that the moment the Pakistani Air Force intruders entered the Indian territory at Boyra, our fighters were ready to engage them. Flight Lieutenant Bagchi continued to give direction to pilots and this resulted in shooting down of three Pakistani Air Force Sabre Jets and capture of two pilots. In this action, Flight Lieutenant Kalyan Brata Bagchi displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Jagjit Singh Ghuman as a pilot of a Fighter Bomber Squadron, flew fourteen missions in support of our ground forces and destroyed two tanks, three vehicles and one enemy gun position. He also successfully attacked Sulemanki Head Works which was heavily defended. The destruction of this target was of paramount importance to halt the enemy Armour. He also bombed enemy concentration of troops over Dharwal Village, Norowal Railway Yard and enemy troops and tank concentration in village Mehlwanni Zaffarwal area.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Jagjit Singh Ghuman displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Joginder Pal worked single-handed and round the clock, supervising rectification, loading and unloading of armament stores, changes of configuration and was generally in charge of the armament operations. The fact, that the Squadron dropped over 4,00,000 lbs. of bomb load and a variety of other miscellaneous stores, within a period of a fortnight, is a tribute to his hard work and dedication to duty.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Joginder Pal displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Perminder Jit Singh Sidhu was serving as a pilot with a Fighter Bomber Squadron. He flew a number of operational missions deep inside enemy territory in the Eastern as well as Western Sectors. In the Eastern Sector, while flying as a wing man on a mission to Gaibanda ferry, he damaged the ferry and a number of steamships. Later, he carried out offensive missions and destroyed trains and marshalling yards in Rangpur-Bogra Sector, In the Western Sector, he led an offensive mission in the Siddinya Canal area and caused heavy damage to the bridges across the canal and enemy bunkers. All these missions were carried out in the face of heavy enemy ground fire and air opposition.

Throughout, Flight Lieutenant Perminder Jit Singh Sidhu displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations, against Pakistan in December 1971, Flying Officer Gey Darsha Bamboat was serving with an operational Squadron in the Western Sector. He flew a number of operational sorties. On one such sortie he was attacked by four MiG-19 aircraft of the enemy. In the engagement his aircraft was hit and the drop tank was damaged. Though he was short of fuel, he brought the aircraft back safely. On the 4th December, 1971, while carrying out search and strike mission in the Chhamb Sector, the enemy Act Ack hit and damaged his aircrafts hydraulic system but he brought the aircraft back to base.

Throughout, Flying Officer Gey Darsha Bamboat displayed courage, professional skill and devotion td duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Pilot Officer Daljeet Singh Shaheed was attached to a Brigade in the Eastern Sector for duties as a Forward Air Controller in the Air Contact Team of the Brigade. On the 4th December, 1971, he directed air strike under heavy enemy artillery and small arms fire at Akhaura. Inspite of the enemy engaging his position, he continued to direct air strikes for a period of two hours. The air strikes were so accurate and effective that they inflicted heavy damage on the enemy, demoralized him and silenced his fire. Later, in the outskirt of Dacca, along river Lakhya, he took up his position at a vantage point and directed effective air strikes en enemy targets. Although he suffered an attack of Asthma on the 13th December, 1971, he continued to carry out his duties as a Forward Air Controller until the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered.

Throughout, Pilot Officer Daljeet Singh Shaheed displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

(Fitter 1) During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Warrant Officer Gurdas Ram Dixit was serving as Warrant Officer-inCharge Station Workshop at a forward airfield in the Western Sector. He was responsible for the repair, servicing and rectification of various defects of the technical equipment. He ensured quick servicing of all ground equipment for aircraft and the patch repairs of the damaged aircraft.

Throughout Warrant Officer Gurdas Ram Dixit displayed professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Sergeant Pacheeri Sivasankaran was serving as the Senior NonCommissioned Officer in charge of servicing party in a Fighter Bomber Squadron. On the 6th December, 1971, at about 1700 hours, when one of the aircraft had landed and switched off at the entrance of a blast pen, the airfield was attacked by enemy aircraft. Unmindful of his safety, he, with the help of some airmen, pushed the aircraft into the blast pen and thus saved a valuable aircraft. On the 7th December, 1971, when a pilot was strapped in the cockpit ready to take off, the air raid siren was sounded. In complete disregard to his safety, Sergeant Pacheeri Sivasankaran ensured that the aircraft started and taxied out.

In these actions, Sergeant Pacheeri Sivasankaran displayed courage and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Sergeant Parameshwaran Doraiswamy was posted as Senior NonCommissioned Officer-in-Charge of airfield lighting at a forward airfield in the Western Sector. He was responsible for keeping serviceable all electrical facilities for flying such a runway lighting, crash barriers, air raid alarm and light communication systems vital for operations. He successfully completed all the tasks assigned to him in the face of air attacks.

Throughout, Flight Sergeant Parameshwaran Doraiswamy displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Sergeant Rathinasabapathy Kanniah served with the Air Delivery Flight that airlifted vitally needed spares from different equipment depots to forward air bases. Inspite of the fact that he had to fly for long hours daily most of the time landing late at night, he was always cheerful and was a source of inspiration to the other crew members. It was largely due to him that the tasks assigned to the Air Delivery Flight were successfully completed.

Throughout, Sergeant Rathinasabapathy Kanniah displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Sergeant Sohan Lal Pal was serving with an operational Squadron in the Western Sector. On the 3rd December, 1971, at 2330 hours, he was supervising the loading of the Squadron aircraft in the dispersal area. There was a bombing raid at that time and several bombs were dropped near the dispersal area. He encouraged his men and continued to work on the aircraft. During this period, a bomb exploded very near the dispersal area. He continued working calmly and the men, seeing his example carried on undisturbed. He thus ensured that the full complement of the aircraft was available for the operational missions.

In this action Sergeant Sohan Lai Pal displayed courage, leadership, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Sergeant Satish Kumar Soni was serving with an operational Squadron in the Eastern Sector. He was airlifted to Tezpur and Gauhati for servicing of aircraft needed for urgent reconnaissance commitments. On both the occasions he, by working day and night, serviced the aircraft at these locations, and thus enabled all the aircraft to complete the missions successfully.

Throughout, Sergeant Satish Kumar Soni displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

Captain Lakshminarayan Padmanabhan has been serving as a Pilot in our Air OP Flight since December, 1969. During the operations, against Pakistan in December, 1971, he was operating in the Chhamb Sector. In this Sector the enemy had heavily concentrated his armour and guns and the Sector was his main axis. Between 6th and 17th December, 1971 Captain Padmanabhan carried out a total of 31 Operational Sorties in the face of heavy ground opposition. He successfully directed the fire of our own Artillery guns and was instrumental in the destruction of several enemy tanks, ELMS and vehicular convoys.

Throughout, Captain Lakshminarayan Padmanabhan displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Wing Commander Vijay Chand Mankotia was the Station Commander of a Transport Base. He provided such remarkable facilities at his Base that the fighter operations during the conflict went through with exceptional smoothness and success. He ensured that all the needs of the fighter force, both administrative and operational, were fully met. In addition, he converted a transport aircraft for operations in bombing role. This employment of a transport aircraft, the first mission of which he himself led, played an important part in the harassment role over enemy airfields at night and in the strike role over defended targets by day.

Throughout, Wing Commander Vijay Chand Mankotia displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Squadron Leader Trevor Joseph Fernandez was the Flight Commander of a Fighter Bomber Squadron. He flew fourteen operations missions in support of our ground forces and was responsible for the destruction of one tank, four vehicles and one enemy gun position He successfully attacked the Sulemanki Head Works scoring direct bomb hits which contributed significantly in halting the enemy Armour. In addition, he also successfully bombed Zaffarwal and Norowal Railway yards and attacked the Radar Unit at Walton.

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

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Warrant Officer Rangappa Rangaswamy was serving as a Flight Gunner with a Transport Squadron. He undertook a number of bombing missions. During a night bombing mission on the 3rd December, 1971, his aircraft encountered intense and heavy ground fire. The aircraft sustained a number of direct hits and bullets passed through the gunner's cabin. He, however, effectively suppressed the ground fire, by engaging with his guns and inflicting casualties on the enemy. Unmindful of his personal safety, he performed his duties on all missions with a high sense of devotion to duty and courage.

Throughout, Warrant Officer Rangappa Rangaswamv displayed courage, professional skill and devotion to duty.

Squadron Leader Subhash Madanmohan Hundiwala has been commanding a helicopter unit since February, 1971. In April, 1971, he was assigned an important and difficult task which necessitated airlifting of men and stores at a very short notice. Nearly 600 hours of flying effort was put in by his Detachment within a short span of 40 days, of which over 400 hours were flown during the first 15 days. In carrying out a task of such magnitude, he displayed leadership, organizing ability and exceptional devotion to duty.

Wing Commander Ramesh Krishnarao Na garkatti took over command of Navigation and Signals School in May, 1970. With his resou rcefulness and effective management, he was able to overcome many difficulties confronting the unit. As a result, he achieved the completion of all the courses on schedule with good results. His constant exhortation and personal example let to the upgrading of the transport categories of pilots, navigators, signallers and the instructional categories of qualified navigational instructors. He has flown over 4,500 hours, of which nearly 1,300 are by night. It was largely due to his untiring efforts and personal supervision as a Commander as well as a highly skilled navigator, that the Navigation and Signals School had a perfect flight safety record during 1970.

Wing Commander Dayashanker Mishra was posted to a Base Repair Depot in January, 1970, and was entrusted with the task of organising the major servicing of certain types of aircraft and helicopters. The Depot was required to shoulder a commitment far in excess of its approved task. He made a realistic appraisal of the whole situation and planned the aircraft production sections on modern lines to meet the increased com mitment. He evolved certain repair and servicing schemes and planned the re­sequencing of various technical activities and processes so as to cut down turn-round time. This greatly accelerated the aircraft production programme. He also launched a drive for utilisation of indigenous items and the reclamation of parts in short supply. As a result, the Depot not only exceeded its production task but has also been placed on a more sound footing.

Wing Commander Rajagopal Shriramulu Naidu took over the command of an operational squadron in April, 1970. The squadron was faced with a number of maintenance problems and at the same time was allotted a significant increase in its flying task. By intelligent planning, hard work and effective supervision, Wing Commander Naidu ensured the completion of the allotted task. In addition to this, he was assigned the task of planning and execution of certain exercises and displays. In this also, he showed excellent results. He has a total of 8,125 hours of flying to his credit, of which more than 1,000 hours have been by night. He is also a very successful flying instructor.

Wing Commander Sandip Sen has been commanding an operational squadron since September, 1968. During 1969 and 1970, the Squadron was required to complete an operational task as well as an important training assignment. At the same time, the squadron's resources of aircraft had to be heavily curtailed. That the Squadron met both these important tasks successfully is an indication of the inspiring leadership and professional competence of Wing Commander Sen. He has flown 5,678 hours including over 1,500 hours on operations. He is also an experienced flying instructor.

Wing Commander Vaidyanathan Krishnamurthy has been serving as the Chief Instructor at a Transport Training Wing since November, 1969. On the 1st March, 1971, he was detailed as Captain of an aircraft which was on a special mission to Jaypor Airfield. About two minutes after passing over the town of Rayaguda, Wing Commander Krishnamurthy saw smoke coming from the cowling of the port engine. Oil was also pouring out of the engine. He immediately reduced power on the affected engine and abandoned the climb. He noticed that the reduction of power also reduced the flow of smoke and oil. He thereupon decided to make an emergency landing at Rayaguda landing strip. Despite the defective engine, the difficult approaches and the short length available for the landing run, he made a safe landing, without any damage to the aircraft and its occupants.

Wing Commander Ramanathan Sundaresan has been commanding an operational training unit since July, 1969. During the period of his Command, he demonstrated his flying skill under extremely hazardous conditions on several occasions. Under his inspiring leadership, the unit has achieved the remarkable utilisation figure of 100 hours per month per aircraft. In spite of the long working hours involved in achieving this task, Wing Commander Sundaresan maintained the morale of the personnel of his unit at a very high level.

Wing Commander Allan Albert D'Costa took over command of a Fighter Squadron, which was being equipped with a new type of aircraft. He organised the squadron on sound lines, ensuring that the administrative and maintenance echelons were geared up to meet the heavy training commitments necessary for achieving combat preparedness at an early date. While he himself flew more than 400 sorties, involving over 300 hours on the new type of aircraft, he ensured that all the pilots in the Squadron were also adequately trained and made ready for combat.

Wing Commander Vidya Sagar Chadha took over the Command of an Operational Squadron in November, 1969. Under his leadership, the Squadron achieved a very high degree of combat preparedness in a short time. This was demonstrated in mid1970, when the Squadron won the Command Combat Efficiency Trophy. Wing Commander Chadha led a group of supersonic fighters in the Inter-Command Weapons Meet in 1970. His group's results were the best for their category. He has 4,000 hours of accident free, single-engine flying to his credit, out of which nearly 3,500 hours are on Jet aircraft. Throughout his tenure as Squadron Commander, he has displayed exceptional devotion to duty and has set the finest standards in flying and airmanship for the younger pilots to emulate.

Squadron Leader Manohar Lal Behl has been serving as Flight Commander in an Operational Squadron since December, 1969. Under the general supervision of the Squadron Commander, he was responsible for planning and execution of all operation and training commitments of the Squadron. By his untiring efforts, he brought about considerable improvement in the Squadron's operational capability. In spite of difficult conditions, all operational tasks were fulfilled. He has 6,040 hours of accident free flying to his credit.

Squadron Leader Hallowin Kailasam is serving as a Flight Commander in the Air Force Flying Instructors School. He has 4,200 hours of flying to his credit, of which more than 2,600 hours are on instructional flying. The introduction of a new type of training aircraft at the Flying Instructors' School called for the formulation of an entirely new training programme. This included conversion of the staff of the School, compilation of new syllabi, pilots' notes and revision of the Instructors' handbook. He carried out intensive day and night flying on the new aircraft, collected valuable data, and compiled comprehensive notes which are pf considerable help in the conduct of training on this type at aircraft.

Squadron Leader Gurbachan Singh has been serving as the Chief Instrumentation and Electrical Officer at an Aircraft and Armament Testing Unit since May, 1969. He was largely responsible for the successful development of a number of aircraft instruments and aids. These tasks were undertaken by him in addition to the normal heavy commitment of flight trials systems assessment and flight test instrumentations. He has worked as the Chief Project Officer of the Unit and in this capacity has been responsible for the planning and execution of some flight trials programmes. He kept himself well informed about modern developments in aircraft system, and is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

Squadron Leader Minoo Vania has been a Parachute Jump Instructor since 1959. He is the first Indian to complete 500 live descents. He has jumped at places ranging from the mountains of Ladakh to the breaches of the South and from jungles of NEFA to the deserts of Rajasthan. Over the last 12 years, he has been associated with series of paratrooping trials. As the Chief Instructor at the Paratroopers Training School, he has rendered commendable service.

Squadron Leader Philip Philip has been on the strength of an Operational Squadron since May 1967. He is an experienced transport Pilot and a flying instructor and has flown over 4,950 accident free hours. Of these, 1,572 hours were on operational missions over mountainous terrains. Beside his normal flying duties, he has made an outstanding contribution as the Squadron Training Officer, in successfully converting a large number of pilots on to the type of aircraft with which his Squadron is equipped. In addition, he has been responsible for raising the Squadron categorization status and the percentage of his aircrews holding valid categories has doubled in a little over a year. Largely as a result of this, the Squadron has been able to meet all its operational commitments. In February 1969 when no information about a rowing boat which was in the Bay of Bengal was forthcoming, Squadron Leader Philip Philip embarked on a search and rescue mission. Although the capability of his aircraft for maritime reconnaissance was limited he successfully traced the boat in about two hours. Having located the boat, he guided a pilot vessel towards the boat, and continued circling to ensure that the pilot vessel reached it. On three occasions while carrying out operational flights, his aircraft suffered airborne emergencies. On each occasion, he took prompt action and brought the aircraft back to safety.

Squadron Leader Nestor Joseph De Conceicao is serving as a Flight Commander in an Operational Squadron. He has flown over 5,140 hours without an accident, including 1,475 hours of instructional flying and 1,338 hours on operational missions. He has been responsible for training and supervision of pilots in the air maintenance role. Recently, on an air maintenance mission to an advanced landing ground, his aircraft had an engine failure. He took correct and timely action in the emergency and landed the aircraft safely.