During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Flight Lieutenant Bharat Bhushan Soni was serving with Fighter Squadron. During an enemy air raid on the airfield he took off and engaged one F-104 aircraft after it had attacked the airfield. He flew his aircraft at almost supersonic speed at low level and shot down the enemy aircraft.

In this action, Flight Lieutenant Bharat Bhushan Soni displayed gallantry, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.

During the operations against Pakistan in December, 1971, Wing Commander Hersern Singh Gill was commanding a Fighter Squadron in the Western sector. He led several operational missions on air defence, close support and counter air operations during the period 3rd December, 1971 to 13th December, 1971. He set an inspiring example to his pilots with his fearless approach, flying skill and dedication to his duties. His Squadron shot down one enemy F-104 aircraft over Jamnagar and hit another F-104 aircraft on 11th and 12th December 1971 respectively. Disregarding his personal safety and with great courage and skill, he undertook strie mission over the Badin Signals Unit Complex in the face of intense enemy Anti-Aircraft fire. On the 13th December 1971 he undertook another strike mission on the same target. During this attack his aircraft was shot down by the enemy Anti-Aircraft fire.

Throughout these operations, Wing Commander Hersern Singh Gill displayed gallantry, leadership and professional skill of a very high order.

Squadron Leader Hersern Singh Gill was one of the first pilots to be selected to fly a highly sophisticated aircraft introduced in the Indian Air Force. Since then, he has been actively connected with this aircraft either a Flight Commander or as a Staff Officer. He holds a Master Green instrument rating on the aircraft, and is an Instrument Rating Instructor. Due to his efforts, his Squadron attained 100% instrument rating and a very high operational state on the new type of aircraft. He was selected by Air Command to give a low level aerobatic demonstration on the aircraft on two occasions during the visits of foreign dignitaries.

Throughout, Squadron Leader Hersern Singh Gill displayed professional skill, leadership and devotion to duty.

Wing Commander Manmohan Singh Vasudeva was commissioned in May, 1961. During the past twenty years he has achieved fully operational status on three different fighter aircraft, namely Hunter, Gnat and MiG-21. The officer has more than 800 accident-free flying hours on MiG-21 aircraft. He has served in four MiG squadrons as senior pilot, Flight Commander and subsequently as Squadron Commander. Also, he has spent over a year and half on production testing flying five types of aircraft, including transport type. He has, in addition, successfully completed the Defence Services Staff College and Surface to Air Guided Weapon courses and is a Fighter Combat Leader of recognized repute.

In January, 1978, the officer was posted to a forward base as Chief Operations Officer. Undaunted by the handicap of being the only officer posted to Ops wing he undertook with drive and determination, the reorgisation of the entire Ops Wing to gear it to undertake fighter operations, continuing the air maintenance operations from the base amounting to the total task of the entire Air Command. Initially single-handed and later aided by another officer posted in as Station Flight Safety Officer, he set up the Base Ops Complex, including Strike Cell, Intelligence Room and Ground Liaison Section, initiated provisioning of arrester barriers and laying of soft ground arresters, and forced the pace for completion of the Airfield Lighting. The fact that the newly arrived fighter squadron won the Inter Unit Gunnery and Air Force Instrument Flying Trophy in that first year of its stay at the base speaks volumes for Wing Commander Vasudevas's exceptional Organisational ability, leadership and managerial skills.

Subsequently in November, 1979, he was appointed Squadron Commander of the same squadron. During his tenure in 1980 the Squadron with only half the strength of a fighter aircraft achieved the same amount of annual flying as in the previous three years. This noteworthy achievement was possible due to Wing Commander Vasudeva's personal example, great enthusiasm for flying his unlimited capacity for hard work and his outstanding leadership in the air and on the ground. In addition, there has been no aircraft accident on the Station during his tenure as COO, and in the squadron during his tenure as officer commanding. Considering the fact that nine different types of aircrafts operate daily from this base, this is an achievement worthy of special mention. Also, he has been responsible for the activation of the nearby Air to Ground Firing Range for night armament firing and has successfully trained many pilots in the difficult and specialized night strike role.

Wing Commander Manmohan Singh Vasudeva has thus displayed high professional competence and exceptional devotion to duty.

Wing Commander Vishwanathan Pasupathi (10887) Flying (Pilot) was posted as the Officer Commanding of a fighter squadron with effect from 05 Mar 86. The Squadron was then equipped with Badal aircraft and Located in Eastern Sector. The Squadron was subsequently selected to convert into Baaz aircraft in Oct 86 and he was retained as the officer commanding.

On his return from the USSR in Mar 87, he planned and executed move of the Squadron from Eastern Sector to South Western Sector in such a smooth and professional manner that the Squadron was able to commence acceptance of Baaz aircraft from Base Depot in a short period of less than a month. In spite of the fact that all the Standard Operating Procedures and training syllabi had to be prepared under his supervision, he was able to bring up the operational status of the Squadron to a state wherein the first detachment for operational trials could be successfully moved out to another wing.

Under his dynamic leadership the Squadron continued its operational training including integrated training with Vajra, Vikram and Shamsher aircraft.

Wg Cdr Vishwanathan Pasupathi, as the first commanding officer of a Baaz Squadron, was greatly responsible for smooth induction of this modern and high performance interceptor in the IAF and subsequent achievements of the Squadron which were attained without any serious accident.

For his sincere and hard work, dedication to service and professional excellence, the President is pleased to award Vayu Sena Medal to Wg Cdr Viswanathan Pasupathi.

Wing Commander Arup Raha was commissioned as a fighter pilot on 14 December 1974. He has served as an instructor at both Flying Instructors School and at Tactics and Combat Development Establishment (TACDE). He is currently an Examiner for awarding instrument rating on MiG-29 aircraft. Trained in Russia, he has contributed immensely towards operational utilisation of the MiG-29 aircraft. He is also a graduate of Defence Services Staff College.

Wg Cdr A Raha was appointed the Commanding Officer of a MiG-29 Squadron (Sqn) in June 1992. On taking over Command, he faced the problem of poor operational status of aircrew and lack of supervisory pilots, compounded by reduced flying effort due to lack of spares. With thorough planning and sustained effort, within a period of one year his squadron achieved fully operational status for all aircrew. The Sqn currently boasts of 10 supervisors and 10 Trainer Captains with 100 percent instrument rated status which is an exceptional achievement.

Wg Cdr A Raha ensured a very high serviceability state of aircraft despite the nonavailability of critical spares from Russia. The officer's exceptional professional competence has helped in evolving sound operational tactics for the MiG-29 aircraft in Air Defence role. The current tactics for the aircraft in intercept role were formulated by him. He has flown more than 700 h/1250 sorties on MiG-29 aircraft, possibly the highest in the IAF. He has to his credit 3300 hrs of accident free flying.

For exceptional devotion to duty the President is pleased to award 'Vayu Sena Medal' to Wg Cdr Arup Raha.

Wing Commander S Harpal Singh (16071) Flying (Pilot) has been in command of a front line fighter squadron since 04 May 09.

During the last two years, the squadron, under the command of Wg Cdr Harpal Singh has done 3155 h of accident-free flying. For the past 12 months, the Squadron has had an incident-free record barring two cases of material failure and one of technical defect. DASI visited the Station on two occasions and on both occasions, the Unit performed creditably, getting an overall grading of Average Plus. The Squadron was entrusted with several professional tasks during his tenure such as the formulation of Communication Jamming operating procedures, certain new intercept procedures and air to ground attack procedures, which were carried out in a most professional manner. During 'Op Safed Sagar', the Squadron was tasked with an Air Defence missions in the valley and gave a good account of itself. Throughout the period of Kargil Ops, the Unit operated from two different locations, and met all assigned tasks despite the shortage of manpower and equipment.

The squadron has constantly maintained a high serviceability to aircraft and avionics and achieved 100% serviceability in Aug 99. The squadron has developed software for Flight Data Recorder analysis, which overcomes several shortcomings of the present system.

As a professional, Wg Cdr S Harpal Singh has a wide and varied experience. He has flown all the MiG aircraft on the inventory of the IAF except the MiG-25 and has a total of 2468 hrs of accident free flying. He has led his Unit from the front in all aspects, be it professional, social or on the sports field. The work environment of the Unit has undergone steady change for the better. Under his leadership, the Squadron operated as wellknit team and was adjudged the best fighter Squadron of WAC for the year 1998-99.

For displaying exceptional devotion to duty, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vayu Sena Medal' to Wing Commander S Harpal Singh.

Wing Commander Praveen Keshav Vohra (19162) F (P) was commissioned in Indian Air Force on 19 Dec 87 as a pilot in the fighter stream. He has completed 18 years of service having flown 3350 hours on various aircraft without a single accident or incident. He has flown over 1000 hours on the MiG29 aircraft. During this time he has served as an operational pilot in frontline fighter Squadrons of the IAF flying the MiG-21 and MiG-29 aircraft, been a founder member of the elite 'SURYAKIRAN' Formation Aerobatic Team of the Indian Air Force, held the appointment of Flight Commander of a MiG-29 fighter Sqn and of the prestigious Flying Instructors' School. He is an A-2 flying instructor and a graduate of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington.

During his tenure with the Suryakiran acrobatic team his excellent performance as a professional earned him a Commendation by the Chief of Air Staff in 1998. As a Flight Commander of a MiG-29 Sqn in 2002 he was once again commended by the Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Western Air Command IAF.

The officer was the Commanding Officer of a MiG- 29 Sqn from 19 Jul 04 to 15 May 06. He has led his Squadron from the front having set a perfect example of discipline, competence and professional standard for the rest of the air warriors to emulate. During the period of his command the Unit trained for and achieved a very high state of preparedness to undertake its operational tasks. He has raised the threshold of flying training to new levels having himself led the most demanding of the training missions. He has marshalled all the human and material resources placed under his command deftly and economically ensuring that the Squadron achieved its operational and training commitments in an exemplary and safe manner during the last two years.

He as a commander has worked relentlessly, always placing the interest of the service and air warriors above all else. This has resulted in exceptionally high morale and motivation level amongst all personnel of the squadron.

For exceptional devotion to duty, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vayu Sena Medal' to Wing Commander Praveen Keshav Vohra.

Flight Lieutenant Geerpuram Nadathur Sundar as Engineering Officer of an operational squadron produced indigenous know-how for the servicing of a complicated component which was earlier serviced outside the country.

Awarded Vishisht Seva Medal for making a significant contribution towards improved maintenance in the Air Force.

Sqn Ldr Raj Karan Singh Shera has been on the posted strength of a fighter squadron in the IAF.

Sqn Ldr Shera is one of the few engineers trained in USSR on MiG-29 aircraft. He was posted to a combat Sqn, the first squadron to get converted to MiG-29. With his professional approach, he efficiently handled the complex task of setting up the first MiG-29 Squadron DSS. The proof of his efforts, especially in terms of planning and organising, was evident from the fact that within no time the squadron could commence operations in an organised fashion. He also was instrumental in the pioneering work of making 1st line servicing schedules and ORP procedures.

Due to inadequate spares support from USSR, the unserviceability of avionics spares had been affecting the serviceability of MiG29 Fleet, which had come down to 45%. At that stage, repair of avionics LRUs was thought of. The task was very challenging as no expertise, publications, circuit diagrams etc. were available. Inspite of these handicaps, Sqn Ldr RKS Shera accepted the challenge and started the repair work which was a total pioneering effort at field level. His dedicated effort resulted in recovery of LRUs. He also ventured into indigenisation of certain critical spares, thus saving huge amount of foreign exchange.

For his distinguished services of very exceptional order, the President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Sqn Ldr RKS Shera.