Part 16: Pictorial History of Pakistan Air Force From the Brush Strokes of Hussaini - - 1978-1987 and the Afghan Conflict (P-1)

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: Jun-87

Artwork Located:
Office of the AOC Northern Air Command

Description:
Aircraft on Air Defence Alert (ADA) during a cockpit stand-by on a hot summer day at Chaklala.

These specially equipped F-6s cannot be seen anywhere in the world other than the PAF. The pilot is wearing an American helmet and is sitting on the Martin Baker (British) ejection seat. The aircraft is fitted with specially manufactured Pakistani drop tanks for long range operations. The circuitry has been modified by Pakistani technicians to make it capable of firing the deadly American Sidewinder missiles. The electronic countermeasure system fitted in the aircraft is of French origin and the auxiliary power unit which gives quick start to the aircraft on order for scramble, is of Chinese make. This aircraft has been turned by the PAF engineers into a highly destructive weapon, and used very effectively by the pilots throughout. Note the locally manufactured umbrella over the cockpit.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 8-Jul-76

Artwork Located:
Air Headquarters Officers Mess

Description:
In the rough summer seas off Karachi an H-43B Huskie helicopter from PAF Base Masroor carries out a memorable rescue at sea. The Huskie scrambled on an SOS call from Merchant Vessel "Latakia"', an Egyptian ship foundering in the Arabian Sea. All on board the "Latakia" were winched up safely before it sank. Egyptian and Pakistani newspapers gave wide coverage to this challenging rescue mission.

The H-43 aircrew :

Pilot
Wing Commander Hamid Masood

Copilot
Flight Lieutenant Ansari

Crew Chiefs
Warrant Officer Shaban
Chief Technician Fateh

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date:

Artwork Located:
Presented to the Chief of Army Staff (1996)

Description:
The painting shows a formation of A-5s attacking an enemy convoy near a battlefield. Although the A-5 is restricted strictly to visual roles, it is equipped with western avionics and provides Pakistan with a tactical strike capability it needs today. The configuration of the PAF's A-5s differs considerably from that of their Chinese counterparts, because several design features have been introduced at the request of the PAF.

Size: 6ft x 4ft Oil

Date: 17-May-86

Artwork Located:
Ministry of Defence

Description:
The painting shows Squadron Leader A Hameed Qadri of No 9 Multi Role Squadron of F-16s having a close look at the SU-22 which has just turned into a ball of fire after being hit by his AIM-9L missile while his No 2 Squadron Leader Yousuf Chaudhry is trying to get behind the other SU-22. The encounter took place at 16,000 feet over Parachinar, during the Afghan War, 1979-1988.

Part 15: Pictorial History of Pakistan Air Force From the Brush Strokes of Hussaini - - 1968-1977 and the War of '71 (P-7)

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 1971

Artwork Located:
"Army Staff College, Quetta"

Description:
During the 1971 War, different types of fighters from some friendly countries were temporarily transferred to the PAF. Of these groups, a formation of three F-5As with PAF markings are shown here entering the Pakistani territory. The pilots who ferried the F-5s:

Squadron Leader Tahir Kheli Zaigham
Flight Lieutenant Ai~ad Bilal Khan

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 17-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
Headquarters Air Defence Command

Description:
The last aerial encounter of 1971 War turned out to be a dog-fight between a supersonic MiG-21 and the relatively slow and much older F-86 Sabre. The F-86 flown by Flight Lieutenant Maqsood, Amir emerged as the victor and the Indian Mig-21 pilot Flight Lieutenant Tejwant Singh who ejected after being hit, was taken prisoner. Squadron Leader Rab Nawaz was the Radar Controller for this interception.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 1968

Artwork Located:
Chief of the Air Staff's Conference Room

Description:
The French Mirages are high-speed, all weather, delta wing, long range fighter-bombers which can also be employed in the interceptor role. The Mirages entered service with the PAF in 1968. In the 1971 War, these aircraft were effectively used for day and night air defence as well as offensive roles. The Mirage has a maximum speed of Mach 2.2 and a service ceiling of 54,000 feet. The painting shows PAF Mirages releasing cluster bombs during a low level attack.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date:

Artwork Located:
"Air Headquarters Officers Mess, Islamabad"

Description:
Dissimilar Air Combat Training is an essential feature of a Pakistani fighter pilot's training. The painting shows an F-6 of the Combat Commanders' School manoeuvring against two PAF Mirages in simulated air combat. The main objective of the Combat Commanders' School is to provide fighter pilots with comprehensive courses in combat leadership and advanced fighter tactics.

Part 14: Pictorial History of Pakistan Air Force From the Brush Strokes of Hussaini - - 1968-1977 and the War of '71 (P-6)

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 14-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
Presented to the Chief of Army Staff (1992)

Description:
During a major assault in the Shakargarh area on 14 December 1971, PAF fighters were called in for air support. The painting shows one of the supporting F-6s bearing down on enemy armour, while another one has just pulled off. The aircraft belonged to No 23 Squadron. Apart from being effective in the air defence role, the F-6s (introduced into the PAF in 1966) provided valuable air support to Pak Army in the 1971 War.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 14-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
National Defence College

Description:
A flight of F-6s (Chinese built Mig-19s) from No 11 Squadron was on a search and destroy mission over the Shakargarh salient when Flight Lieutenant Aamer Ali Sharieff spotted four manoeuvring Mig-21s, much superior in performance to Aamer's F-6. Quickly sliding into the blind zone of the trailing Mig-21, Aamer launched his Sidewinder. The Mig-21 burst into flames and crashed.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 15-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
Office of the Commandant Combat Commanders School

Description:
F-86E of No 19 Squadron Masroor, gets behind an IAF Hunter in the Thar desert. Within a few seconds the Hunter went down in flames.

Pilot : Flight Lieutenant Farooq Qari

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 16-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
"Army Staff College, Quetta"

Description:
F-86s from No 19 Squadron strike a battalion of Indian Army in the Thar desert. The napalm and strafing attacks were led by Flight Lieutenant Aliuddin.

Part 13: Pictorial History of Pakistan Air Force From the Brush Strokes of Hussaini - - 1968-1977 and the War of '71 (P-5)

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 14-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
Private Collection

Description:
The pilot of the Gnat going down in flames, Flying Officer Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon, was posthumously given the Param Vir Chakra, India"s highest gallantry award. Nirmaljit had taken off behind his group from Srinagar (in the background) to intercept the approaching air strike of four F-86s with two escorts. Before being shot down with a gun burst by Flight Lieutenant Salim Beg Mirza (leader of the escort F-86 pair), Nirmaljit was claimed by the IAF to have scored hits on two of the six F-86s but in fact all of them had returned to Peshawar without a scratch. The painting shows Salim and his wingman in the foreground. Two of the four strike F-86s can be seen at a distance, attacking their targets at the Srinagar air base, through the bursting ack ack shells.

Strike Element

Wing Commander S A Changezi
Flying Officer H K Dhotani
Flying Officer Amjad Endrabi
Flying Officer Maroof Mir

Escorts
Flight Lieutenant Salim Beg Mirza
Flying Officer Rahirn Yousefzai

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 13-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
Private Collection

Description:
Preparing to launch a piercing attack towards Hyderabad, the Indian Army was stopped in its tracks astride the KhokraparChor railway line. The air campaign involved several missions and a mix of combat aircraft from Masroor Air Base. The painting shows one of these missions that employed 5 F-86s and 4 T-33s. It was led by Group Captain Wiqar Azim seen here in the F-86. At some distance are the T-33s that were led by Wing Commander Asghar Randhawa. The lone escort was flown by Flight Lieutenant Kamran Qureshi.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 12-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
National Defence College

Description:
Timely photo reconnaissance about where the enemy was gathering his armour provided precious intelligence on which the Pakistan Army developed its own battle plans. The painting depicts such a mission during the 1971 War. The high speed cameras in the photo recce Mirage-II1RP, flown by Squadron Leader Farooq Umar (foreground) brought back that afternoon's scene at the Mukhtasar railway yard. Indian tanks were loaded and ready to move towards the Pakistan border. In the background is the escorting Mirage, flown by Wing Commander Hakimullah (later CAS, PAF).

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: Dec-71

Artwork Located:
Private Collection

Description:
Devoted and skilled technicians have always represented the backbone of all combat operations of the PAF. Here they load gun ammunition and refuel an F-86E of No 18 Squadron. The squadron provided extremely useful air support to Pakistan Army during the war, specially in the Chamb Sector.

Part 12: Pictorial History of Pakistan Air Force From the Brush Strokes of Hussaini - - 1968-1977 and the War of '71 (P-4)

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 11-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
Office of the Assistant Chief of Air Staff Plans

Description:
Two F-104 Starfighters flown by Wing Commander Arif lqbal and Squadron Leader Amanullah are seen carrying out a surprise attack on an IAF desert base at Utterlai. An IAF HF-24 fighter is seen destroyed on the taxi track, after a gun attack by Squadron Leader Amanullah. The second of the two HF-24s, scrambled to intercept the starfighters, was shot up by Wing Commander Arif Iqbal, also by gun attack.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 10 Dember 1971

Artwork Located:
"Army Staff College, Quetta"

Description:
Mirages from 5 Squadron Sargodha strike IAF Base Pathankot. Apart from the damage inflicted in the technical area by the bombing runs of the formation, the leader Squadron Leader Akhtar Rao (seen in the foreground pulling away after firing his guns) also destroyed two Hunters lining up for take off.
Escorts:

Strike Force:

Squadron Leader Aftab Alam
Squadron Leader Arif Manzoor
Squadron Leader Akhtar Rao (Leader)
Flight Lieutenant Shafique Haider
Flight Lieutenant Farooq Zapata
Flight Lieutenant Hameed Malik

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 7-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
PAF Art Collection

Description:
As a fierce ground battle raged in the Shakargarh salient below, 4 F-6s from Sargodha challenged 5+ intruding SU-7s of the IAF. Soon, one of the SU-7s began to disintegrate under a burst of 30 mm shells from the F-6 formation leader, Flight Lieutenant Atique Sufi. In the melee that followed, Flight Lieutenant Mushaf Mir sent one more SU-7 down. The remaining SU-7s quickly retreated as they were pursued by the other two F-6 pilots, Flying Officers Salim Arshad and Riaz Sarwar.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 7-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
Office of the AOC Southern Air Command

Description:
The painting shows the two-seat B-57C bomber trainer (No 846) of No 7 Squadron on a daylight raid against the Indian Army units massing up along the Khokrapar-Chor railway line leading into Hyderabad. Affectionately nicknamed "Baba"', the B-57 followed its bombing attacks by several strafing runs on the freight wagons lined up below. "Baba" and its two F-86 escorts from No 19 Squadron (top left) stayed over the target for over 30 minutes. A series of such missions from Masroor Air Force Base forced the enemy to abandon its planned offensive.

B-57 Aircrew

Flight Lieutenant Shabbir A Khan (Pilot)
Squadron Leader Shoaib Alam Khan (Navigator)

F-86 Escorts

Flight Lieutenant Mushtaq A Laghari (Leader)
Flight Lieutenant Khalid Mehmood Khalid (No 2)

Part 11: Pictorial History of Pakistan Air Force From the Brush Strokes of Hussaini - - 1968-1977 and the War of '71 (P-3)

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 5-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
Office of the DG Air Intelligence

Description:
On the night of 4 December 1971, Indian Osa missile boats attacked the Pakistan Navy, hitting a destroyer and a minesweeper southeast of Karachi. The menace of Indian missile boats was a very serious threat not only to the Navy but also to other Pakistani ships in the Arabian Sea and in the Karachi harbour. Pakistan retaliated by causing extensive damage through a single B-57 attack on Okha naval base in India. The bombs scored direct hit on fuel dumps, ammunition dump and the missile boats jetty. The missile boat attacks on Pakistani naval installations ceased thereafter.

The Pilots

Pilot Navigator
Flight Lieutenant Shabbir A Khan
Flight Lieutenant Ansar

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 4-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
National Defence College

Description:
Flight Lieutenant Sajjad Noor being rescued after ejecting from his disabled F-86 during the last dog-fight of No 14 Squadron over Dhaka. Noor had parachuted down across the river Buri Ganga, close to an Indian Army unit that was advancing toward Dhaka. An Alouette helicopter was immediately airborne and the downed pilot was picked up in a daring rescue - in which Helicopter Pilots PAF ground combatteres exchanged fire with the enemy troops that were trying to capture Noor.

The Pilots

Squadron Leader Sultan Khan
Flight Lieutenant Hamid Masood
On board Guards Airmen of the GC Wing, Dhaka

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 4-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
Chief of the Air Staff's Office

Description:
A Mianwali F-6 meets an IAF Hunter at dusk over lake Khabakki near Sakesar. The Hunter was gunned down, its pilot ejected and was taken POW. The F-6 was piloted by Flight Lieutenant Qazi Javed.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 4-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
Air War College - PAF Faisal

Description:
Flight Lieutenant javed Latif destroys an IAF SU-7 over the railway line near Faisalabad. In the background is Flying Officer Riffat Munir, giving a chase to another SU-7. The F-6s belonged to No 23 Squadron deployed at Risalewala during the war.

Part 10: Pictorial History of Pakistan Air Force From the Brush Strokes of Hussaini - - 1968-1977 and the War of '71 '65 (P-2)

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 4-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
Private Collection

Description:
Flight Lieutenant Salim Beg Mirza of No 26 Squadron destroys an IAF Hunter near Pimple Hill, west of the Peshawar runway. The Indian pilot did not survive.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 4-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
"Army Staff College, Quetta"

Description:
The 1971 India-Pakistan War in the West began on 3 December 1971 and Pathankot airfield, located at the junction of Punjab and Kashmir, became the lynch-pin for all crucial land and air operations. It was bombed and pinned down by the PAF Mirage aircraft during the day and by the B-57s at night. The painting shows Pathankot airfield camouflaged with nets and camouflage paint, due to which the details merged very well with the surrounding terrain and were difficult to spot from the iisual distance by an attacking pilot. Here Squadron Leader Farooq Umer is manoeuvring and aligning his Mirage fighter recce aircraft to photograph this heavily defended IAF airfield after an earlier air strike by the PAF.

Visible at the beginning of the runway are two Indian aircraft burning on the main runway. Clearly visible on the parallel taxi tracks (on the left of the main Runway) are three grey patches indicating the points at which the taxi track has been freshly repaired, to recover from the damage caused by PAF strikes of the previous day.

Size: 28in x 40in Oil

Date: 1971

Artwork Located:
Presented to the President of Pakistan (1984)

Description:
A highly versatile and capable cargo aeroplane, PAFs C-130s have carried out many crucially needed tactical airlift, supply drop and para-trooping missions in support of Pak Army during both the 1965 and 1971 Wars. In peace time they have been used extensively for disaster relief and other humanitarian missions.

The painting depicts a Commando Assault in the midst of a battlefield during the 1971 War in East Pakistan.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 4-Dec-71

Artwork Located:
Office of the Deputy Chief of Air Staff Operations

Description:
The last encounter

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.

Part 8: Pictorial History of Pakistan Air Force From the Brush Strokes of Hussaini - - 1958-1967 and the War of '65 (P-3)

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 1-Sep-65

Artwork Located:
Officer's Mess Headquarters 10 Corps

Description:
PAF scored its first victories in 1965 on 1st September when four Indian Vampire fighters which were attacking Pakistani troops in Chamb were shot down by two F-86 Sabres flown by Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Rafiqui and Flight Lieutenant Imtiaz Bhatti, two by each pilot. No Vampires were seen again for the remainder of the 1965 War. Controller on radar during this interception was Flight Lieutenant Farooq Haider from Sakesar.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 3-Sep

Artwork Located:
Office of the AOC Central Air Command

Description:
Squadron Leader Brijpal Singh Sikand, Commander of an Indian fighter squadron, surrenders to a PAF F-104 in combat. The painting shows him landing his Gnat fighter at Pasrur, a Pakistani airfield near Gujranwala. The F-104 was flown by Flight Lieutenant Hakimullah who became the air chief two decades later. Sikand was taken prisoner and later rose to be an IAF Air Marshal. This encounter was the most unusual event of the 1965 Air War.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 6-Sep-65

Artwork Located:
Air War College - PAF Faisal

Description:
Dawn over Wazirabad. Flight Lieutenant Aftab Alam Khan in an F-104A Starfighter destroys a Mystere IV and damages another, to mark the start of the India-Pakistan war. India launched the war over West Pakistan with an attack by a formation of four Mystere IV aircraft. The Mysteres crossed the international border to attack a Pakistani train near Wazirabad. Flight Lieutenant Aftab Alam Khan was on a routine morning combat air patrol in the Chamb/Mangla area. He was directed by the Controller at Sakesar, Flight Lieutenant Farooq Haider, to intercept the intruders. First contact with the enemy was made as the F-104 passed head on through the Mystere formation. In the ensuing combat at tree top level, he skillfully outmanoeuvred the opponents to destroy one Mystere and damage another. The remaining members of the formation managed to slip away in the poor light conditions, only to tell the tale of the "dreaded F-104 and the deadly Sidewinder". Apart from being the first encounter to start the war in earnest, the engagement was also significant in other respects. It marked a new era of dog-fighting at very low altitude. It was also the first combat kill by any Mach-2 aircraft, and the first missile kill for the Pakistan Air Force.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: Sep-61

Artwork Located:
Presented to the Chief of the British Royal Air Force (1992)

Description:
In 1961, Flight Lieutenant Hameed Anwar, a young PAF Officer on exchange posting with the British Royal Air Force, brought distinction to his parent Service by being selected as a member of the RAF's official display team. Hameed, a veteran of the PAF's own formation aerobatic team, was eagerly welcomed into the "Blue Diamonds".

The painting shows the team of sixteen Hawker Hunters performing at the Farnborough Air Show.

Size: 12ft x 4ft Oil

Date: 2nd Feburary 1958

Artwork Located:
Air Headquarters Officer's Mess Islamabad

Description:
2nd February 1958 was a significant day in the history of aviation as well as that of the Pakistan Air Force. On that day, for the first time a formation of 16 fighters (F-86 Sabres) performed a loop during an air display at Masroor Air Base at Karachi. The painting is partly symbolic, depicting the leading elements of the 16 "Falcons" (their call sign) taking off from the runway at Masroor. In the background is an impression of the 16 Sabres in immaculate formation as they looked after having joined up, climbing vertically for a loop. The team was led by the renowned fighter pilot and wartime leader of the Air Force, Wing Commander M Z Masud, who was later awarded Hilal-e-Jurat in the 1965 War.

The Team

Wing Commander M Z Masud
Squadron Leader Nazir Latif
Squadron Leader S U Khan Ghulam Haider
Squadron Leader S M Ahmad Aftab
Squadron Leader Ahmad M Sadruddin
Flight Lieutenant Sajjad Haider
Flight Lieutenant A U Ahmad
Flight Lieutenant Hameed Anwar
Flight Lieutenant Muniruddin Ahmad
Flight Lieutenant M Arshad
Flight Lieutenant Jamal A Khan
Flight Lieutenant A M K Lodhie
Flight Lieutenant Wiqar Azirn
Flight Lieutenant M L Middlecoat

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 1965

Artwork Located:
Auditorium Gallery - Air Headquarters

Description:
Squadron Leader Muhammad Mahmud Alam emerged from 1965 War as Pakistan's top scoring fighter ace. The painting shows him in his favourite F-86 F-35-NA with the victory tally marked alongside the aircraft. (Nine kills and two probables). Squadron Leader Muhammad Mahmud Alam, Commander of No 11 Squadron in 1965, was already a notable leader and highly experienced pilot. He also excelled in gunnery competitions - a skill that no doubt contributed greatly to his becoming the first and only jet ace in one mission. This Pakistani Squadron Commander established a combat record which has few equals in the history of jet air warfare.

Flying an F-86F Sabre over the battle lines on September 6, Alam
first engaged a flight of IAF Hunters. In the ensuing dog-fight, he scored two kills. On September 7, he led an intercept mission against IAF Hawker Hunters that were attacking Sargodha airfield. When the six Hunters broke, Alam loosed a Sidewinder missile at their "'tail-end Charlie". The missile quickly found its mark and blew the Hunter out of the sky. The Hunter pilots also saw the F-86s, and all five broke left in a line-astern formation, crossing in front of Alam's guns. Alam then performed a virtuoso, but well-dQcumented feat of gunnery by shooting down four of the Hunters in rapid succession. In action again on the 17th, Alam bagged another brace of Hunters to bring his final score to nine confirmed kills and two probables.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 10-Oct-65

Artwork Located:
Entrance - Directorate of Plans

Description:
No 24 Squadron of the PAF operated the GD/ Martin RB-57Fs, the highly specialised ultra high altitude reconnaissance aircraft. Their enormous 122 ft wing span earned them the name of 'Droopies'. The RB-57F could cruise comfortably at 80,000 ft out of the reach of any fighter or SAM of that time. They were in PAF service during the 1965 War and overflew most of the IAF airfields at heights up to 67,000 ft or more. During one of the post-war reconnaissance missions, the 'Droopy' shown in the painting was badly damaged by 3 Russian supplied SA-2 SAMs. The aircraft was hit when it lost some height over Ambala during a turn towards its home base. The fragments of exploding SAMs around the aircraft caused major structural damage and almost knocked out the vertical stabilizer and one of its auxiliary turbojets, which hampered its accurate flight. Despite the intense enemy activity, the skilful handling of the situation both by the pilot and the navigator made it possible for the aircraft to land back at Peshawar. The aircraft skidded along the runway with its nose wheels jammed before it came to a final halt.

The Pilots

Pilot Navigator Squadron Leader Rasheed Meer
Flying Officer Sultan Malik

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: Nov-65

Artwork Located:
Private Collection

Description:
The painting shows a pair of No 15 Squadron Sabres near the K-2 peak. The tail fins of the squadron F-86Fs carry the unit's emblem - a cobra poised to strike. Until the Base Commander ordered it off the air base, a fully grown cobra mascot and its basket were kept for a time in the flight commander's office, and fed by volunteer pilots.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 20-Dec-65

Artwork Located:
Officer's Mess PAF Sargodha

Description:
The first two F-6s (Mig-19s made in China) arrive at Sargodha Air Base. The pilots flew over the Karakorams directly from the Chinese airfield at Hotian. The F-6 carried VHF radios, Soviet style instruments and many pieces of equipment that were strange to the PAF pilots and technical hands. The Pakistani markings were not yet painted and the pilots wore leather helmets and throat mikes. Many officers and men of Sargodha gathered near the runway to watch the landings.

Pilots

Squadron Leader M Sadruddin
Flight Lieutenant Khalid lqbal

Part 7: Pictorial History of Pakistan Air Force From the Brush Strokes of Hussaini - - 1958-1967 and the War of '65 (P-2)

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 1965

Artwork Located:
PAF Academy Risalpur

Description:
The painting depicts the last of several air strikes by PAF aircraft on the Amritsar radar installation during the 1965 War. Wing Commander M Anwar Shamim, who led this mission on 11 September, is seen pulling up after his strafing attack. The leader's No 2 was Squadron Leader Muniruddin Ahmed, who attained Shahadat when his aircraft was hit by a heavy ack ack shell. Following behind and faintly visible are his No 3 and No 4, Flight Lieutenants Imtiaz Bhatti and Cecil Chaudhry.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 14-Sep-65

Artwork Located:
Headquarters Air Defence Command

Description:
Flight Lieutenant Altaf Sheikh had just pulled up his B-57 after his dive bombing run over the heavily defended Adampur airfield when it received direct hits from the IAFs medium ack ack guns. As the B-57 began to lose control, the pilot ordered his navigator Flight Lieutenant Bashir Chaudhry to eject and then fired his own seat out of the cockpit. Both landed in the close proximity of the airfield and while attempting to escape, were surrounded by Indian police. They were to become the first prisoners of the war.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 19-Sep-65

Artwork Located:
PAF Academy Risalpur

Description:
The painting depicts a publicly witnessed dog-fight over the city of Lahore on the afternoon of 19 September 1965. The F-86 Sabre is pulling up after a kill. In this encounter four PAF Sabres were pitched against eight enemy aircraft - four Hunters and four Gnats. Two IAF Hunters were destroyed. The F-86 formation pilots were Squadron Leader S A Changezi (Leader), and Flight Lieutenants A H Malik, S N A Jilani and Amanullah Khan. Air Defence Controller for the mission was Flight Lieutenant Ijaz A Khan from Sakesar radar.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 21-Sep-65

Artwork Located:
PAF Academy Risalpur

Description:
In the closing days of the September 1965 War an Indian Canberra on a night bombing raid against Sargodha was shot down by an F-104 near the border and its pilot who ejected was captured.

The painter chose the only moment of the episode when some details could have become clearly visible on an otherwise dark night. The area was brightly lit up when the burning, spiralling Canberra, hit at 32,000 feet, reflected light off a layer of clouds at 10,000 feet. The pilot of F-104 was Squadron Leader Jamal A Khan (later Chief of the Air Staff) and the Controller Squadron Leader Anwar Ahmad from Sakesar Radar.

This is said to be the only confirmed missile kill at night in actual combat by an F-104 Starfighter anywhere in the world.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 21-Sep-65

Artwork Located:
Headquarters Air Defence Command

Description:
By modifying the rear loading ramp of the Lockheed C-130 so that it could be opened in the air above the normal speed limit of 150 knots, the PAF converted this cargo aircraft into night bombers during the 1965 War, for neutralizing moderately defended targets. Each Hercules could carry 24,000 lbs of HE bombs which were rolled out of the rear ramp on wooden cradle pallets. Very precise low level approach and pull up was required over the target to deliver the bomb carpet accurately.

The painting shows a C-130, piloted by Wing Commander ZAhid Butt on the night of 21 September 1965, on its bombing run over an Indian artillery regiment deployed along the BRB canal. More than 40 out of 72 heavy guns were completely destroyed, thus foiling Indian attempts to concentrate the fire of their heavy guns on the city of Lahore in the closing stages of the war.

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 7-Sep-65

Artwork Located:
Chief of the Air Staff's Office

Description:
The painting shows 2 of the 5 Dhaka-based F-86 Sabres attacking the IAF bomber station at Kalaikunda. The Sabre pilots, quickly overcoming their initial surprise at finding so many bombers neatly lined up, wasted no time in making the best of it. Formation leader was Squadron Leader Shabbir H Syed with Flight Lieutenants Abdul Baseer, Tariq Habib, Abdul Haleem and Flying Officer Afzal Khan in his formation.

In his memoirs written after the 1965 India-Pakistan War, Air Chief Marshal P C Lal, Chief of the Air Staff, IAF, conceded the losses suffered by the IAF during this daring attack. He wrote:"A sharp lesson ... was taught by the PAF in an attack on an IAF base near Kharagpur (Kalaikunda). In one raid that it mounted, it destroyed several Canberra bombers and Hunter fighters aircraft on the ground."

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 10-Sep-65

Artwork Located:
Base Commander's Conference Room PAF Minhas

Description:
4 F-86Fs, from No 14 Squadron Dhaka, strike IAF Base, Bagdogra. Four enemy aircraft were destroyed on ground and damage inflicted on the ATC building and hangars.

Pilots

Leader : Squadron Leader Shabbir H Syed
No. 2 : Flying Officer Salim
No. 3 : Flight Lieutenant Farooq F Khan (later CAS, PAF)
No. 4 : Flight Lieutenant Hasan Akhtar

Size: 2ft x 3ft Oil

Date: 13-Dec-65

Artwork Located:
Headquarters Air Defence Command

Description:
On 13 September 1965, four Sabres led by Squadron Leader Alauddin "Butch" Ahmad on their second offensive patrol over Indian lines of communication, attacked a long line of freight wagons at Gurdaspur railway yard. The Sabres' rockets and guns soon yielded some spectacular explosions as the ammunition wagons received direct hits. Squadron Leader Ahmad's F-86 was struck by fragments of an exploding train after he had fired a salvo of rockets. Despite a radio call from him that he was ejecting from his disabled F-86 this superb, intrepid pilot never returned from this mission. He was awarded a posthumous Sitara-e-jurat for his exemplary aggressiveness, combat leadership and valour.