During the operations against Pakistan in December 1971, Flight Lieutenant Aruna Kumar Datta flew several operational missions. On 12 December, while he was escorting a strike mission, the leader of the mission spotted two enemy F-104 aircraft constituting direct threat to our strike force. Both the enemy aircraft were immediately engaged by Flight Lieutenant Datta and his leader. Flight Lieutenant Datta got behind one of the enemy aircraft but it rolled out and attempted to escape. With great skill, he maneuvered his aircraft behind the enemy and fired both his missiles and destroyed the enemy aircraft.

In this action, Flight Lieutenant Datta displayed gallantry, professional skill and devotion to duty of a high order.