Part 9: Pictorial History of Pakistan Air Force From the Brush Strokes of Hussaini - - 1968-1977 And The War of '71 (P-1)

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: Nov-71

Artwork Located:
Private Collection

Description:
Three F-86Es returning to their home base at Masroor after a training flight.

Size: 3ft x 8ft Oil

Date: 15-Apr-71

Artwork Located:
Office if tge Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee

Description:
This was a joint services operation carried out at Bhairab Bazar where the largest and the only leftover reserves of food grain were preserved in the silos. The silos were located at the bank of the river and were occupied by the Indian infiltrators. The storage was recaptured after a well coordinated attack by the three forces. The Pak Navy brought the army troops in the small makeshift boats, mostly with outboard engines and fitted with machine guns. (The larger boats could not operate in this area because of the shallow water). The F-86s from No 14 Squadron Dhaka strafed and rocketed the strong hold of the enemy, while the army moved forward. The army heliborne contingent was led by the late Brigadier Tariq Mehmood, affectionately known as "T. M.", who was then a Major.

Mission Leader Squadron Leader Abbas Khattak
No. 2 Flight Lieutenant Khalid Mehmood Khalid
No. 3 Flying Officer Shafqat Mehmood
No. 4 Flying Officer Qazi Javed

Size: 6ft x 4ft Oil

Date: 4-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
Vice Chief of Air Staff's Office

Description:
The painting depicts Flying Officer M Shamsul Haq destroying one of the 4 SU-7s attacking Tejgaon airfield with his wing man Flying Officer Shamshad giving chase to a second SU-7. This is the beginning lof the greatest air battle of the day - led by Flying Officer Shams with the very young but spirited Flying Officer Shamshad on his wing immediately after they were scrambled at 0845. just as their wheels were locking up, 2 of a flight of 4 approaching SU7s fired their rockets at the F-86s, which were barely 200 ft above the trees. Shams broke into them and shot down one of the nearer pair of Sukhois with a Sidewinder, cheered by the squadron airmen watching from below. The remaining SU-7s turned tail but seconds later, Shams and Shamshad were directed by the Controller towards 4 approaching IAF Hunters. In the ensuing air battle, both pilots downed a Hunter each with their guns. Shamshad then returned to land but Shams spotted another Hunter over Tejgaon and fired his second Sidewinder at such close range that before its guidance system could take over, themissile streaked straight into the Hunter's tail pipe and blew up the engine. The Indian pilot's descent by parachute was in full view of many ground observers around the airfield. But now Shams, who had no ammunition left, was in trouble; he was suddenly surrounded by 4 Mig-21s which began to attack him in turn, driving him into a tight corner. The quick-thinking Shams immediately whipped into a max-rate steep turn at treetop height, with the Dhaka TV tower in the centre of it, jinking wildly as he turned. The Migs' attack pattern was effectively disrupted and, short of fuel, they soon exited the scene.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 26 Feburary 1971

Artwork Located:
PAF Art Collection

Description:
The painting shows a jet Provost trainer of the British Royal Air Force - piloted by Pakistani Flight Cadet Saeed Ahmad - as it passes over the RAF College, Cranwell, from where Saeed would soon get his wings. On graduation day, he became the first Asian cadet pilot to win the coveted'Battle of Britain Aerobatics Trophy' at the world's oldest flying institution. By a rare coincidence, he received the trophy from another Pakistani, Air Marshal A Rahim Khan, C-in-C, PAF who had been requested to review the graduation parade. The Air Marshal was in England at the time on a goodwill visit, touring various RAF establishments.