Vir Chakra (VrC)

Flight Lieutenant Dil Mohan Singh Kahai was the deputy leader of a Mystere formation, which carried out a daring daylight raid on the heavily defended Sargodha airfield on 7 September 1965. Despite the intense anti-aircraft fire, he dropped his bombs on four parked aircraft (one F-104 and three F-86) on the operational readiness platform. Then he strafed another two F-86 aircraft and one F-104 parked on another operational readiness platform. On 11 September, he flew as No. 2 in a two-aircraft bombing mission over artillery bunkers in the Lahore Sector. The bombs dropped by him exploded directly over the bunkers. As a result they were destroyed. On 18 September, flying again as deputy leader in a four-aircraft formation, he scored a direct hit on a gun position near Lahore airfield with rockets and knocked it out. On 19 September, he led a two aircraft formation and destroyed a Bailey Bridge over the Ichhogil Canal. The officer also flew a number of strike support missions in which he inflicted damage to enemy equipment and casualties on enemy troops. He also carried out armed patrol sorties near the airfield.

The calmness and resolute courage displayed by Flight Lieutenant Kahai during all these operational missions were a source of inspiration to other pilots and were in the best traditions of the Air Force.