Vir Chakra (VrC)

During the operations against Pakistan in December 1971, Flying Officer Sankaranarayanan Balasubramanian was serving as a pilot with a fighter bomber squadron. On 4 and 5 December, he flew deep day penetration operational missions to an enemy airfield and caused extensive damage to the airfield and its installations despite heavy ground fire.

In this action, Flying Officer Balasubramanian displayed gallantry, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.