- By: Ibn-e Taha
- Khan_adnan040@yahoo.com
After the Pehelagam incident on 22 April, anti-Pakistan propaganda on social media had declared, Bharat may attack Pakistan any time where 26 innocent people were murdered. Allegations are based on assumptions as usual, of sponsored terrorism with simultaneous scolding for dire consequences. Unfortunately, some of these channels spreading disoredr in the ranks are operated by Pakistanis. News on social media also announce arrival of Israeli advisors in Kashmir for probable assiatance.Only factor which stops aggression agains Pakistan is its’ armed forces especially, Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Air Marshal Nur Khan volunteered to serve in the allegiance of Arab countries’ Air Forces. He served in many aerial missions and witnessed the dogfight with Israeli IAF whose pilots noted his aerial skills during the conflict. He was decorated with Order of independence and “National Order of the Cedar” by Lebanon Govt. PAF is the only air force whose pilots have shot down Israeli pilots in air. Israeli commander of Air
Force Ezer Wiseman who later served as Defense Minister and President of Israel wrote about Pakistani Pilot Noor Khan (Later Commander-in-Chief of PAF) in his autobiography, “I was glad he was a Pakistani pilot and not an Egyptian”.
During the same war, in 1967, Flight Lieutenant Saif-ul-Azam opened account of shooting down Israeli aircraft during 1967 Arb-Israel war. He acheived this honour on 5 Jun, 1967 when he shot one aircraft and sent another trailing smokes, while flying Jordanian Hakwer Hunter. Israelis attacked Jordanian base “Mafraq” and Saif had to be deployed in a western Iraqi base. On 7 Jun, 1967, Israelis attacked Iraq and Saif again shot down two Isralei aircraft in air. Saif was awarded bravery awards by Jordan and Iraq respectively. He earned Jordanian Wisam-ul-Istaqlal and Iraqi honour of Nawat-ul-Shuja.
Legacy of bravery continued during 1973 Arab-Israel war and Flight Lieutenant Abdus Sattar Alvi, while flying Syrian aircraft shot down an Israeli pilot on 19 April, 1974. It was despite the fact, Pakistani pilots faced following challenges:
A. Pakistani pilots had no experience of flying aircraft operated by Arab countries
B. Operating surfaces and climate were new to them, making it difficult to breath, operate and acclimatize
C. Operations, Air Defence and airmen-ship procedures were totally different
D. Most of their colleagues could hardly speak English and converse with Pakistani pilots
E. Israelis could jam and also listen to Pakistani pilots’ communication
Pakistani pilots nonethelss, immediately adopted to new place, new environment, new air space, tactics and new enemy. They also learnt various operating procedures in Air defence Alerts (ADA), Air tactics, Air defence and Combat Air Patrol (CAP) making them fearless and chivalric.
Narrating events of 1973 Arab-Israel war, Alvi remembered, Israel Air Force was constantly engaged in hostilities inclusive of radio jamming for the aircraft flown from Arab side. Pakistani contingent had pledged not to be shot by the intruder Israelis though survival in a radar jammed environment was biggest threat. Pakistanis were surprised when heavily Punjabi invectives hurled on their radio communnication. Abdus Sattar Alvi, recalled, they had selected their call sign as “Shahbaz”. Their eight aircraft formation was led by Squadron Leader Arif Mnazoor. Alvi narrated, on 19 April, 1974 air raid sirens were blown at the air base. PAF pilots rushed for an ADA mission on their Mig-21s. Limited flying time of 30 minutes had almost exhausted and these eagles started heading back to Dumayr base (Syria) for landing. Suddenly the Pakistani air defence controller Sqn Ldr Saleem Metla reported two Foe aircraft approaching from Southern side (Israel). The intruder enemy aircraft started jamming the communication of
the PAF pilots. Sattar could see two Israeli F-4 Phantom head on but did not seem interested for an aerial engagement. Sattar Alvi was positioned last in this Shahbaz formation of eight Mig 21s. Just after the sight of these Phantoms Sattar Alvi saw a formation of two aircraft heading towards them. He immediately recognized them as Mirage III and recalled lessons taught by his instructors in Pakistan that Mirage cannot match a Mig-21 in a close dogfight. Rush of blood forced him to engage this Mirage formation, staying away with his other 7 formation partners. He reduced his speed to zero and by the time he could adjust one of the Israeli Mirages overshot him, leaving Sattar to face the second Israeli Mirage aircraft. Sqn Ldr Arif Manzoor the leader was concerned about the safety of Sattar Alvi and gave constant radio calls to ask about his location. On hearing no reply, it was assumed Sattar Alvi is in trouble.
When the second Israeli Mirage saw a Syrian Mig challenging an Israeli, Sattar could instantly judge the opponent’s surprise “How the hell on earth a Syrian, challenges an Israeli”. Sattar said it was one-on-one match, either he could have shot me or I would have won the duel. Fear of short on fuel did not deter him of a possible ejection in case of consuming all the fuel. The first Israeli Mirage which had overshot him, turned in air and aimed for Sattar, who did not take time to launch a K-13 missile against the second opponent right ahead of him. Till the opponent could recover from shock Sattar Alvi proved a victor. Myth of Israeli air force of being non-invincible was tattered in air by a Pakistani pilot for the first ever time. Israeli pilot captain Lutz of No 5 Air wing ejected and was taken a prisoner. On seeing the plight of his duo’s complement, the first Mirage fled the battlefield. Sattar Alvi than proudly announced the kill in air. Hearing the news of shooting down an Israeli aircraft, radio comm
unication went vibrant both in air and ground. He recalled his fuel warning lights were on and could barely manage to return on a the fuel vapours in the fuel tank. Syrian brothers were overjoyed and sweets were distributed in Syria. Schools were also closed for one day to mark the occasion. Sattar and the formation commander Squadron Leader Arif manzoor were honored with a title of real brother and decorated with Syrian highest awards of gallantry i.e. Wisam-e-Faris and Wisam-e-Shujaa’t. Govt of Pakistan also decorated both of these pilots with gallantry award of Sitar-e-Jurrat.
PAF has already sent a message across the world on 27 Feb, 2019 when they shot intruder Abhi Nunden over Kashmir. Present Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar had pivitol role in arranging tactics in shooting down this intruder. Undoubtedly, under the able leadership of present CAS, PAF stands between aggressors and Pakistani aerial defence as a lead barrier. Pakistani nation can sleep tight as their air force and spirit of Shahbaz is alive.