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.

A Recent Visit to Lahore: The Land of Hazrat Ali Hajveri, Also Known As Data Ganj Bakhsh (Data Sahib)

Recently, I got a chance to visit the historical city of Lahore; which is also a capital of Punjab province.

The city is famous for its historical buildings of Mughals Era. The city as we know it today, reached its peak of glory during the Mughal rulers, especially in the reign of Akbar the Great, who made it the capital of his kingdom. His son, Jehangir, is buried in its outskirts and his mausoleum is one of the places frequently visited by tourists and Lahorites alike. Close by is the mausoleum of the famous Mughal Empress, Noor Jehan, who is known for introducing the rose plant and for initiating several cultural movements in the Sub-Continent.

The British during their reign (1849 -1947) compensated Lahore, by harmoniously combining Mughal, Gothic and Victorian styles of architecture. Victorian heritage is only next to Mughal monuments. The GPO and YMCA buildings built to commemorate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria - an event marked by the construction of clock towers and monuments all over India. They built some important buildings, like the High Court. the Government College, the Museums, the National College of Arts, Montgomery Hall, Tollinton Market, the Punjab University (Old Campus) and the Provincial Assembly. At one end of The Mall stands the University - perhaps the largest center of education in Asia. The city has built a new Campus in the quieter environments on the Canal Bank, but the old University buildings are still functioning.

Lahori's (People of Lahore) used to say "Lahore Lahore Hai" (Lahore is Lahore) because of its rich cultural heritage. Apart from everything in Lahore, from Mughal architecture to British monuments, whenever I got a chance to visit Lahore; I tried my best to visit the shrine of Data Ali Hajveri (Data Sahib) for spiritual peace and serenity.

And Almighty Allah gave me this chance again in this recent visit of Lahore. The peace and serenity; one finds sitting in front of Data Sahib, can't be found anywhere in Lahore. I captured few moments of my visit in my mobile camera to share with my readers to pass on a bit of peace and serenity I got from that visit.

The Entrance of Data Darbar (Shrine of Hazrat Ali Hajveri)

Meal (Langar) is Being Distributed outside the Shrine (Data Darbar)

People and visitors walking along the Bazaar.

Close views of main Sabz Gumbad (Green Dome) of Shrine.

Grassy sitting area for visitors in the premises of Shrine.

Few more images of Data Darbar.

I hope my readers and lovers of Data Ali Hajveri would love to see the recent pictures of the Holy Shrine of Data Sahib. I will try to share more of such visits with my readers very soon.

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.