The Vayusena Medal is an India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

n military decoration

Military decoration

A military decoration is a decoration given to military personnel or units for heroism in battle or distinguished service. They are designed to be worn on military uniform....

, usually awarded in peacetime for a job well done. However it has been granted during times of conflict for acts of gallantry in the face of enemy, though not in the same numbers as the Vir Chakra

Vir Chakra

Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. Award of the decoration carried with it the right to use Vr.C. as a postnominal abbreviation Vir Chakra is an Indian gallantry award presented for acts of bravery in the battlefield. Award of the decoration...

.

Posthumous awards may be made and a bar is authorized for subsequent awards of the Vayu Sena Medal.

The VM was established on 17 June 1960 by the President of India

President of India

The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...

 and awards have been made from 1961 onwards. Awards over the past decade or more have been classified into two categories. One is Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) and the other Vayu Sena Medal (Devotion to Duty).

Description

Obverse: A four-armed silver star with the points shaped like lotus blooms. In the centre, the national emblem. Suspended by a straight bar suspender and normally named and dated on the edge.

Reverse: A Himalayan Eagle with wings spread, and the legend, above and below, in Hindi "Vayu Sena Medal" or "Air Force / Medal".

Ribbon: 30 mm, alternating 2 mm diagonal (lower left to upper right) stripes of grey and orange-saffron. The ribbon has an overall "woven" appearance.

Examples of recipients

To understand the award better, a sample recipient would be that of the second-award bar to Squadron Leader

Squadron Leader

Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...

 Harchand Singh Gill, Indian Air Force

Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...

:

"In October 1953, a composite column of Assam Rifles and a Civil Administrative party was attacked by armed Tagins

Tagin (people)

Tagin refers to a tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, which is a member of the larger designation of Tani Tribes. Most Tagins are concentrated in Daporijo, Upper Subansiri district but some are also found in adjoining parts West Siang. In 1971, about 20,000 claim to be of Tagin ethnicity...

 and some officers and men were killed. Sqn-Ldr. H. S. Gill was in command of the detachment of Dakotas

C-47 Skytrain

The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...

 for the airlanding

Airlift

Airlift is the act of transporting people or cargo from point to point using aircraft.Airlift may also refer to:*Airlift , a suction device for moving sand and silt underwater-See also:...

 of troops. The work of airlanding personnel and supplies on the two small available landing grounds

Airport

An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...

 was difficult. Notwithstanding the difficulties Sqn.-Ldr. Gill with his keen enthusiasm, boundless energy and courage personally carried out the major portion of the landings at Doporijo. By his tireless work, the airlift which had appeared impossible, became a reality. He showed courage and devotion to duty of the highest order."

Sqn-Ldr. H.S. Gill was born in Mullanpur, Punjab, India. He was born on March 25, 1925.