Air Vice Marshal Yeshwant Vinayak Malse was commissioned in the Air Force in 1940. He has held important appointments in Air Headquarters as well as in the Command of various Air Force units. He attended the Staff College Course at Quetta in 1947; Senior Air Support Course at Land/ Air Warfare School, Old Sarum (U.K.) in 1951 and the National Defence College Course in 1962-63. He also served as Senior Directing Staff at National Defence College. He was appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command on 1st October, 1964. During his tenure, the Command undertook a number of important operations and consolidated operational bases to face threat from China and Pakistan. The Command also undertook airlift tasks to support the Army located in the border areas. The extensive air support given after the insurrection in the Mizo Hills was handled by him with promptness and precision. Under his able guidance, the Command assisted the Assam Government in airlift and other tasks. He personally supervised these operations and, at times, participated in them himself.

Air Vice Marshal Kanianthra Alexander Joseph was commissioned in the Air Force in 1944. He has held important appointments in Air Headquarters as well as in the Command of various Air Force Units. He attended many administrative and technical courses in the U.K. and also a Radar Course at Bangalore. He also attended Defence Service Staff College Course at Wellington. He took over the appointment of Director of Signals at Air Headquarters in March, 1966. The Air Force has had serious handicaps to overcome in the matter of radar coverage and airborne and ground communications. Despite many difficulties, Air Vice Marshal Joseph took great initiative and with the help of his own men, improved the radar coverage and communication links.

Air Commodore Gurbachan Singh was commissioned in the Air Force in 1941. He has held important appointments in Air Headquarters and in the Command of various Air Force Units. He attended the Defence Services Staff College Course, at Wellington in 1952-53. He took over the appointment of Director of Equipment at Air Headquarters in December, 1962. Under his able guidance, the equipment staff ensured even flow of equipment and fuel to the operational units in the forward areas during September, 1965 operations on our borders. With the procurement of new types of aircraft and equipment, it became necessary to assess our requirement for spares and this task has been performed by him creditably.

Group Captain Raj Kumar Singh Marya was commissioned in the Air Force in 1944. He has held important appointments in Air Headquarters as well as in the Command of various Air Force Units. He has attended a course of Ground Training on Hunter Aircraft in the U.K. in 1957-58. He also attended the National Defence College in 1964. He has been in command of a Base Repair Depot since January, 1965. He reorganized the Depot despite many handicaps and succeeded in raising production at a steady pace. During the conflict with Pakistan in 1965, when it was necessary to promptly replace losses in operations, this Depot, under the able guidance of Group Captain Marya, achieved a record production of aircraft and aeroengines.

Air Commodore Frederick Van Allen Scudder was commissioned in the Indian Army in 1941 and was seconded to the Indian Air Force in 1943. He has attended the Defence Service Staff College Course at Wellington. He has attended the National Defence College Course. He has held important appointments in Air Headquarters and in various Air Force units. Soon after he took over as Director of Air Force Works at Air Headquarters in October 1962, he had to face many important problems connected with the expansion of the Air Force. By working long hours with determination, he tackled all the problems successfully and ensured completion of all tasks satisfactorily and in time.

Group Captain Jai Singh Ram Singh was commissioned in the Air Force in 1943. He has held important appointments in Air Headquarters and in various Air Force units. In August, 1963, he took over the command of a Base Repair Depot and immediately set himself to the task of reorganising it with a view to increasing the output. It was due to his initiative, perseverance and resourcefulness that during the hostilities with Pakistan all the urgent demands were met within a short time. Under his able guidance, the depot carried out a number of modifications on various ground equipment for aircraft, thereby saving considerable foreign exchange.

Group Captain Krishna Mohan Ram was commissioned in the Air Force in 1945. He attended the Defence Services Staff College Course at Wellington and the Flying Instructors Course in the United Kingdom. After holding various appointments in Air Force units and in Air Headquarters, he took over the appointment of Air Adviser to the Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan in July, 1964. During his tenure there, he rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order in that he had helped the Pakistan Air Force and the Indian Air Force to sort out a number of problems.

Wing Commander John Charles Plainer was commissioned in the Air Force in 1954. He has held important appointments in various Air Force Units. He attended Flying Instructors Course at F.I.S., Ambala and took training on Caribous aircraft in U.S.A. He has been commanding a newly formed transport squadron of Caribous in the eastern sector since 1963. He was faced with the tremendous task of conversion training of pilots of his squadron on the new aircraft as well as of training them for overseas ferrying duties. He himself ferried four aircraft across the North Atlantic without any previous experience. He was responsible for improving the accuracy of supply dropping on this new aircraft. He inspired his men to work round the clock and to keep the supply lines to Army and Border Roads Organisation open throughout tile year. He has retired from the Air Force in December, 1966.

Squadron Leader Rajendra Singh Bishnoi was commissioned in the Air Force in 1950. He was Chief Instructor at the Paratroopers Training School, Indian Air Force, in 1963-64. He has to his credit a total of 265 parachute descents. In October, 1963, he led the I.A.F. parachute jumping team which was conducting for the first time trials over a dropping zone at an altitude of 13,000 feet above sea level. He was the first person to jump with an indigenous parachute and the first Indian to jump from Caribou aircraft. Throughout his tenure in the Training School, be displayed leadership and determination in carrying out live jumps at high altitudes with new parachutes from new types of aircraft.

Squadron Leader Nijram Satramdas Bhagwanani was commissioned in the Air Force in 1953. He attended many important military medical courses and held important appointments in the various Air Force Hospitals. He was selected as a member of the Indian Medical Team in Laos in September, 1965. During his tenure there, on many occasions, he has saved lives by carrying out successful operations with scanty surgical appliances and under adverse operating conditions. On 27th May, 1966, after hearing that some villages were threatened with an epidemic of diphtheria and two children had already died, Sqn. Ldr. Bhagwanani disregarding his personal comforts, went through waist­deep water in the night, and working non­stop throughout the night and the next day, was successful in immunising the entire children population of these villages, as a result of which there was no further casualty. Again, during the floods in September, 1966, in Laos, he worked day and night and rendered medical assistance to the flood-stricken people.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Signaller/Air

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wing Commander Gopal took over the station equipment section at one of the operational wings in May, 1964. This section was then considered to be the weakest link in the efficient functioning of the station.

Within a few weeks, Wing Commander Krishna Gopal Pillai reorganized the section on a more rational basis thereby almost doubling the output. Under his firm and efficient supervision and expert guidance, the Station Equipment Section became one of the most efficient sections on the station within a few months time. The varied demands of the squadrons based at this operational wing were promptly met. The resultant increase in aircraft serviceability was the result of the efficient working of the equipment section. The operational preparedness of the units based at this Wing during the trying periods of hostilities against Pakistan in 1965, was due entirely to the personal contribution of Wing Commander Krishna Gopal Pillai and the efficient manner in which he carried out the reorganization of his section. In addition to his basic duties as the senior Equipment Officer, he cheerfully volunteered for many other secondary duties and carried them out to the utmost satisfaction of the station commander.

His capacity for hard work, organizing ability and unflattering devotion to duty were a source of inspiration not only to the personnel serving under him, but even to others who came in contact with him. Unfortunately, this dedicated officer died in June, 1966.

Wing Commander Vettakkorumakankav Sivrama Narayanan has been engaged in the Planning and implementation of advanced electronic systems in the Indian Air force since October, 1957.

When Canberra bombers were introduced in the Indian Air Force, this officer was entrusted with the task of planning, organizing and commissioning the system of blind bombing with this aircraft. He was also instrumental in setting up the bombing range for Canberra aircraft at Bambina where the complete blind bombing system was put to trial. He also organised the systematic training of personnel in the planning and computations for this new bombing system.

In early 1962, he was intimately associated with the planning and formation of new Air Defence Ground Environment System for India together with a multi-channel communication system. This plan formed the basis of the subsequent discussions with the officials from the United States and United Kingdom for improving the air defence system and communication facilities of this country. However, during the Indo-Pak conflict in September, 1965 when U.S assistance was suddenly withdrawn, it was discovered that there were still many deficiencies which were vital for the operations of the new Air Defence System. The most important of them was the Manual Central Office Equipment require for the internal, point-to-point and air-to-ground communications and radio equipment for air-to-ground communication facilities. With remarkable initiative and inventive genius Wing Commander Narayanan planned, coordinated and established the required facilities entirely with indigenous equipment. Subsequently, with his characteristic confidence and resourcefulness, he successfully completed the installation programme with our own personnel and resources.

Wing Commander Narayanan has also been responsible for the development of a Line Unit for use with Teletype equipment. Large numbers of these units are required, and they used to be imported from abroad. The equipment developed by this officer has functioned efficiently and is now under production in the Indian Telephone Industries, Bangalore thus resulting in considerable saving of foreign exchange.

The contributions made by Wing Commander Vettkakorumakankav Sivarama Narayanan have been significant and farreaching.

Master Warrant Officer (Honorary Flying Officer) Gabriel Patrick has been on the posted strength of Air Headquarters Communication Squadron for the last 10 years. During his stay in this unit he has been responsible for servicing and maintenance of Viscount aircraft used for conveying Indian as well as visiting foreign dignitaries. During this period the Viscount aircraft of this squadron have operated at the best possible standard of serviceability and safety. There has not been a single known case of delay on account of an engineering defect. The accident-free record of Viscount operations in this squadron during the last 10 years, has been a proud achievement of this unit. This has been primarily due to the substantial contribution made by Honorary Flying Officer Gabriel Patrick through his high level of professional skill and efficient personal supervision.

Master Warrant Officer Sadhu Singh Dogra was posted as Machine Tools Safety Operator at the Repair and Manufacturing Depot on 13th Apr, 1965. On taking over the appointment he found that there was a considerable backlog of manufacturing task in the machine shop and many tasks were held up for lack of spare parts, which are imported items. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Master Warrant Officer Dogra, with his vast experience in technical field, got down to manufacture indigenously the spare parts of aircraft components and ground equipment. He also devised a method for reclaiming several components like piston tube of Vampire Oleo Legs which resulted in the clearance of A.O.G demands and this factor directly helped the operational potential of the Vampire fleet of the I.A.F.

So far the Hunter power control pattern and sleeves were being sent to U.K. for reclamation. Master Warrant Officer Dogra, with his ingenuity, initiated the idea of reclaiming these items with the use of the "DO ALL" lapping machine. This will result in considerable saving of foreign exchange.

Master Warrant Officer Dogra has consistently displayed a high degree of professional skill, ingenuity, an extraordinary capacity for hard work and rendered invaluable service beyond the call of normal duty to his unit and, in turn, to the Air Force. By his personal contribution, he has helped to improve the Engineering Section at the Repair and Manufacturing Depot and thus made a direct contribution to the operational preparedness and potential of the force.

Master Warrant Officer Shanty Sarup Kapoor has been posted as the officer i/c of a Provost and Security Flight at one of the operational wings near our Northern Borders. Soon after his arrival he established cordial relations with Intelligence Bureau, Civil Investigation Department and high ranking Civil Government Officials. The good relations thus established benefited the station in many ways.

Due to shortage of Officers M.W.O. Kapoor was called upon to perform the secondary duty of the Station Security Officer. Immediately on appointment, he started organizing the security section and tightening up the security measures. Its location and the environmental conditions rendered this station vulnerable to various security risks and during the operations against China, the problem of security assumed greater magnitude. Working hard, M.W.O. Kapoor pooled all his resources and reinforced security measures against infiltration, sabotage and espionage. He took pains to initiate a number of minor and major works and assisted the administration to get the works executed within the shortest possible time through personal approach to the various officials connected with the works. The completion of these tasks improved the security of the station.

Master Warrant Officer Kapoor prepared many security lectures and trained all personnel to be security minded. Although the strength of security personnel was inadequate, he judiciously deployed the available strength to maintain the security of the station. With the passage of time, the security organisation of this station has grown in size as well as in efficiency and this has been mainly due to the hard work and resourceful of this Master Warrant Officer.

In August and September, 1965 when the security of the station was threatened due to the approach of Pakistani infiltrators followed by enemy air attack, this Master Warrant Officer effectively implemented the ground defence and air raid precaution schemes with all the available resources in a very efficient manner. He rendered valuable service throughout this period thereby ensuring security of the station and its personnel.

Master Warrant Officer Shanty Sarup Kapoor has served for over 24 year and has rendered invaluable service to the Air Force.

Corporal Arungottukara Veraraghava Subramanian is a Wireless operator Mechanic. Till about April 1963, the teleprinter channel between Air Force Signals Centre and Headquarters Training Command was working as a simplex channel, each unit taking turns to transmit its messages. The rate of clearance of traffic was therefore rather slow.

On 30 the April, 1963 heavy traffic was pending on both sides of the teleprinter circuit and it was considered impossible to clear all the traffic in simplex system. On the initiative of Corporal Subramanian, the channel was changed to work on duplex system. This was accomplished by Corporal Subramanian by giving instructions on telephone to the machines at Air Force Signal Centre, New Delhi. The inventive genius and resourcefulness of this non-commissioned officer enabled the teleprinter channel to handle twice as much traffic as would have been possible on a simplex system.

On his own initiative and enthusiasm Corporal Subramanian has developed and assembled a line unit for use with the Hindustan Teleprinters. His invention enabled the use of the machine for duplex or simplex system and also for the purpose of testing locally or by distant station in a very simple manner. Without the aid of this modification these operations would have taken about 20 minutes even for an experienced mechanic. The Line Unit designed and developed by Corporal Subramanian has thus provided a time saving measure for changing of any system of operation or for testing to be conducted on the teleprinter lines. The Indian telephone industries have taken the idea from this Non-commissioned Officer for the development of a Line Unit for teleprinters. When this unit goes into production, it will save about a thousand rupees per unit in foreign exchange, apart from the saving of time as mentioned above. The very high degree of inventive skill shown by this young non-commissioned officer in the field of creative thinking has contributed substantially toward improve ment of communication facilities not only in the Air Force but in the country.