Vir Chakra (VrC)

Flight Lieutenant Purshotam Lal Dhawan carried out 144 sorties in Kashmir operations. Despite heavy enemy fire he carried out a number of supply-dropping sorties over our besieged and hard-pressed garrisons at Nowshera, Jhangar, Mirpur, Kotli, Poonch and Baramula. His aircraft was damaged many a time by enemy fire but he carried on through sheer determination and will to defy the enemy. He was also one of the leaders who took part in night bombing (in Dakota aircraft) of the enemy positions with great success. Being bold, loyal and courageous, this officer always exhibited during operations a high sense of duty, morale and fighting spirit in spite of the heavy odds he had to meet with.