Cecil Chaudhry (Late), Pakistani Christian pilot

[Maxpane]

Amazing

 

[uzbi aka viper]

he told us a story once in the assembly time of our college , he quoted: that once i met my indian fellow pilot, he asked me cecil" do you know how many of our aircrafts you people have destroyed in your famous air raid at pathankot? in 1965 war " cecil replied : "more than 10"
indian pilot smiled and said "more than 17 !shhhhhh!"

 

[SecularNationalist]

he told us a story once in the assembly time of our college , he quoted: that once i met my indian fellow pilot, he asked me cecil" do you know how many of our aircrafts you people have destroyed in your famous air raid at pathankot? in 1965 war " cecil replied : "more than 10"
indian pilot smiled and said "more than 17 !shhhhhh!"

Can anyone on this forum verify this claim of cecil chaudhary or this too is unsubstantiated?

 

[Psychic]

Can anyone on this forum verify this claim of cecil chaudhary or this too is unsubstantiated?

Pathankot raid was carried out by 8 F-86s of No 19sqn (Peshawar) led by Sqn Ldr Sajjad Haider. They were escorted by two sidewinder carrying F-86s acting as top cover led by Wg Cdr M G Tawab.
After they had made their gun passes, Wg Cdr Tawab counted 14 fires on the airfield, hence PAF claimed 14 aircraft destroyed. This was a solid claim based on witnesses, gun-film and corroborated by Indian admission of the loss of 10 aircraft(Indo-Pak air war of 1965 by Chopra and Mohan).
Cecil didn't take part in the strikes since he was in No 5sqn not in No 19sqn. Now someone might have told him 17, in that case Indians might be hiding their losses but after a lapse of half a century, this seems weird. Moreover, the book Indo-Pak air war of 1965 gives credit to PAF where it is due, so it is doubtful that they hid the loss of further 7 aircraft.

 

[alikazmi007]

We should dedicate the name of a base/facility, to honor Cecil. A great patriot such as him deserves more from his fellow citizens.

 

[SecularNationalist]

Funeral

 

[araz]

We should dedicate the name of a base/facility, to honor Cecil. A great patriot such as him deserves more from his fellow citizens.

Cecil has gotten what he deserved from the PAF. He got a good send off and honour which is entirely appropriate. Any more is not required. He has a contribution in the field of education as well and needs merit and respect for that. As to honour there are many silent giants who have died for their nation or spent their lives being greatly productive and no one even knows their name.
Regards
A

 

[Falcon26]

Can someone make a thread about PAF gun camera footage from previous wars @Windjammer

 

[MastanKhan]

Cecil has gotten what he deserved from the PAF. He got a good send off and honour which is entirely appropriate. Any more is not required. He has a contribution in the field of education as well and needs merit and respect for that. As to honour there are many silent giants who have died for their nation or spent their lives being greatly productive and no one even knows their name.
Regards
A

Hi,

What a disgusting comment regarding a great warrior---.

Shows your hatred for the non muslims---.

As a matter of fact---Rafuiqi air base's name needs to be abolished and named after Cecil

 

[Corona]

Cecil has gotten what he deserved from the PAF. He got a good send off and honour which is entirely appropriate. Any more is not required. He has a contribution in the field of education as well and needs merit and respect for that. As to honour there are many silent giants who have died for their nation or spent their lives being greatly productive and no one even knows their name.
Regards
A

He might have gotten what he deserved as a soldier from PAF and I'm sure for him, that's enough. The Airforce, as an institution, cannot prioritize anyone over others excessively since to them, all pilots are equal in caliber.

However, as citizens, one should uphold the exceptional actions of the few to inspire others. If Pakistan was fortunate enough to have someone like that, I don't see any reason why people shouldn't celebrate it.

 

[Windjammer]

Can someone make a thread about PAF gun camera footage from previous wars @Windjammer

Someone already has assembled a decent collection of this.

 

[araz]

He might have gotten what he deserved as a soldier from PAF and I'm sure for him, that's enough. The Airforce, as an institution, cannot prioritize anyone over others excessively since to them, all pilots are equal in caliber.

However, as citizens, one should uphold the exceptional actions of the few to inspire others. If Pakistan was fortunate enough to have someone like that, I don't see any reason why people shouldn't celebrate it.

Dont disagree with you on that, but the point is in the Subcontinent people are either forgotten or revered as Idols. Needless to say Cecil got a good run and recognition out of what he did. I will leave it at that.
A

 

[alikazmi007]

Cecil has gotten what he deserved from the PAF. He got a good send off and honour which is entirely appropriate. Any more is not required. He has a contribution in the field of education as well and needs merit and respect for that. As to honour there are many silent giants who have died for their nation or spent their lives being greatly productive and no one even knows their name.
Regards
A

Dude, what were you thinking! I'm disappointed at your response. There is no such thing as, "he got what he deserved'. WE CAN NEVER HONOR OUR HEROES TOO MUCH.
Guys like him lay their lives on the line to defend folks like you every day. Just don't dishonor them with your comments like this.

Someone already has assembled a decent collection of this.
View attachment 463707

All we need is the context for each of these shots. I do recognize some of these though.

 

[ghazi52]

(L to R) - Flight Lieutenant Cecil Chaudhry, Wing Commander Muhammad Anwar Shamim and Flight Lieutenant Imtiaz Bhatti with an F-86 Sabre photographed during 1965 war.


Mr Chaudhry was born on Aug 27, 1941, in a Christian (Roman Catholic) family of Dalwal village located in the Salt Range. Son of veteran photo-journalist F.E. Chaudhry, Cecil joined the PAF on March 12, 1958, and got commissioned in the GD (P) branch on June 26, 1960.

During his career, he commanded two Mirage squadrons and Combat Commanders School. After his retirement in 1986, he became an educationist and rights activist. He served as principal of St. Anthony College for several years. Later, he was appointed principal of St. Mary Academy at Lalazar, Rawalpindi. He retired from this post in July and joined the Punjab Education Foundation as its director.

Mr Chaudhry worked for the betterment of special children and for education reforms. He remained affiliated with the National Commission for Justice and Peace, and played a key role in the 14-year campaign that led to the restoration in 2002 of the joint electorate system for minorities.

The PAF chief said Mr Chaudhry participated in several aerial battles during the 1965 and 1971 wars with India. He was credited with several air-to-air kills and was one of the distinguished Pakistani strike and fighter pilots of that time. Group Captain Chaudhry displayed outstanding professionalism, unflinching devotion and exemplary courage during the two wars.His services were beyond the call of normal duty and he made significant contributions to the air superiority that the PAF achieved during the 1965 war. He was part of the famous attack formation which was responsible for the destruction of Halwara airfield and the Amritsar radar in the 1965 war. In recognition of his meritorious services, he was awarded Sitara-i-Jurat and Sitara-i-Basalat.

 

[Falcon26]

Someone already has assembled a decent collection of this.
View attachment 463707

Do you have a link?