On May 8, 2010, Wg Cdr Chaturvedi saved the life of one J&K police personnel who was evacuated out of deep jungles of Lar in the Mahore-gulabgarh area at 9500 ft density altitude. Considering the degree of difficulty of landing at an unprepared area in dusk period and evacuating from an inhospitable terrain infected with anti-national elements, Wg Cdr Chaturvedi displayed exceptional courage and professional acumen in the face of challenging odds to save valuable lives.
Ahead of the IAF’s fire power display at Pokharan on February 27, 2010, Wg Cdr Sidhu was a formation member of the IAF’s helicopter display team – Sarang, practicing their aerial routine. Towards the end of their routine, Wg Cdr Sidhu encountered loss of effectiveness of collective, the control that offers power to the helicopter to remain airborne. The emergency is potentially catastrophic and the recovery actions have not been specified even by the manufacturer. With exceptional flying skill, he controlled the helicopter with help of rudder touched down in a flat area in an otherwise undulating terrain with minimum damage to the helicopter.
59 Air Warriors Honoured for Distinguished Service and Devotion to Duty
On the eve of Republic Day 2011, six Air Marshals are among the top IAF officers awarded with the Presidential awards of Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) for distinguished service of an exceptional order.
12 other senior IAF officers including two Air Marshals, five Air Vice Marshals and five Air Commodores have been awarded Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for distinguished service of a very high order.
The Vayu Sena Medal (VM) for devotion to duty have been awarded to 14 officers whereas the Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) awardees include 25 officers and two personnel below officers rank for distinguished service of a high order.
The PVSM recipients include Air Mshl Sumit Mukerjee, AOC-in-C, Southern Air Command, Air Mshl Paramjit Singh Bhangu, former AOC-in-C, South Western Air Command who retired on December 31, 2010, Air Marshal Gurdip Singh Kochar, AOC-in-C, Central Air Command, Air Mshl Kishan Kumar Nohwar, AOC-in-C, Eastern Air Command, Air Mshl Nirdosh Vatsayan Tyagi, Deputy Chief of Air Staff and Air Mshl Puthiyaveettil Madhusoodanan, former Director General Medical Services (Air).