Wing Commander Hrushikesh Moolgavkar commanded No.1 Operational Wing of the IAF in Kashmir from September 1948 to May 1949. Inspite of having to plan out as well as conduct operations from both Jammu and Srinagar, this officer made time to take the air whenver the more difficult and dangerous commitments had to be carried out.

In these tasks, he showed great leadership, by his selfless devotion to duty and fearless readiness for offensive action against the enemy. This leaer inspried great confidence in his Squadron commanders and pilots.

The air attack on the well defended Domel Bridge and the Uri and Saadabad sectors was led and directed by Wing Commander Moolgavkar personally. When the defences around Uri presented severe obstacles in the way of operational flight on that area, he evolved a plan and attacked the Uri guns in conjuction with one of his Squadron Commanders. This attack not only exposed them to the fire of the anti-aircraft guns but also brought him within the dangerous probability of their aircraft entering the 'Compressibility Zones' with a risky load of bombs at high altitudes.

The final link-ups with Poonch, Kargil and Leh were established during the period he was in command of No.1 Operational Wing. The effective support that the IAF was able to render the Army during these operations was in no small measure due to his determination, initiative and drive in planning and coordinating the offensive to success.

Air Marshal Hrushikesh Moolgavkar was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in November, 1940. During World War II, he served with two Fighter Squadrons and saw action on the Burma Front. Soon after the Pakistani Aggression in J & K in 1947 he took over command of the Operational Wing at a forward base. He planned and directed the Air Operations and personally led a number of operational missions against the enemy with outstanding success. For his acts of gallantry during these operations, he was awarded the Maha Vir Chakra. Air Marshal Moolgavkar has held with distinction important appointments of Air Adviser to our High Commission in the United Kingdom, Senior Staff Officer at Western Air Command, Director of Policy and Plans at Air Headquarters, Air Officer-in-Charge Western India, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Central Air Command and Commandant, National Defence College. In all these assignments, he has displayed outstanding qualities of leadership and dedication and has set high standards in raising the operational efficiency in the Service. At National Defence College he introduced many developments in the teaching curriculum and studies to give this institution the prestige and honour that it enjoys today.

In April, 1973, Air Marshal Moolgavkar took over as Air Officer Commanding-inChief, Western Air Command, and by his untiring efforts brought about improvements in combat efficiency of the units and stations placed under his Command. His sense of dedication and involvement has been a source of inspiration to all his commanders. It was during his tenure as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, that the Western Air Command produced spectacular results in the field of Flight Safety. In most of his assignments, Air Marshal Moolgavkar had to undertake pioneering work either in establishing new organisations intimately connected with the operational role of the Air Force or in bringing about improvements in the conduct of operations in a new theatre of responsibility.

Throughout, Air Marshal Moolgavkar rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.