Flt. Lt Saiful Azam - Bengali Fighter Ace
Flt. Lt Saiful Azam was an ace fighter who fought for three different counteries during three different wars and emerged as the only fighter pilot in the world who has been awarded a state medal by three different countries - Pakistan (Sitara-e-Jurat, 65 war), Jordan (Husame Isteqlal, 67 Arab-Israeli war) and Iraq (Noth-es-Shuja, 67 Arab-Israeli war).
During the September 1965 India-Pak War, Azam was flying F-86 Sabres with 17 Squadron from PAF Base Sargodha. On September 19, 1965, after successfully executing a ground attack strike, his four ship formation led by Sqn Ldr. Azim Daudpota was "bounced" by Indian Air Force Gnats. In the ensuing fight, Azam shot down one of the two attackers, a Folland Gnat, and let the other aircraft go after sensing it had surrendered. The pilot of the Gnat, F/Off. V. Mayadev, ejected safely to become a PoW.
In November 66, he was deputised along with another PAF pilot Flt.Lt. Sarwar Shad, to fly Hunters with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, when the 67 Arab-Israeli War broke out. On June 5, 1967, while flying from al Marfaq, he shot down two israeli Mystere IVs, distinguishing his abilities in the air.
Two days later, on June 7, 67, after being seconded to the Iraqi Air Force, the israelis struck H-3, an airfield in western Iraq where he was based. This time flying an Iraqi Hunter, he downed a Israeli Mirage III and later a Vautour bomber. He was so close to the Vautour when he shot at it, bits from the aircraft were embedded in the Hunter. Many of the Iraqi air crew at his base, when he returned, believed he had rammed the aircraft!
From: AFM, April-09