Vir Chakra (VrC)

Wing Commander Anthony Ignatius Kenneth Suares was commanding officer ofthe Canberra unit operating with the UN forces in the Congo. On 6 December 1961, he and his navigator, Flight Lieutenant Takle, were on an air-to-ground enabling operations strafing sortie against an enemy airfield and other installations in Katanga. These officers carried out the attack despite intense enemy fire from the ground and destroyed the target thus enabling the ground forces to achieve their objective. Anumber ofbullets hit the aircraft. One of them hit the navigator in the thigh and he began to bleed profusely. Disregarding his own safety, Wing Commander Suares set the aircraft on autopilot and rendered first aid to the navigator and helped save his life. 

In doing this wing Commander Suares showed courage in keeping with the highest traditions of the Air Force.