Death Anniversary Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry April 13th

[Burhan Wani]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1294847350542538

LAHORE, April 13: Group Captain (retd) Cecil Chaudhry, a veteran fighter pilot of Pakistan Air Force and a war hero, died here on Friday.

He was 70.

Mr Chaudhry was suffering from lung cancer and was under treatment at the Combined Military Hospital where he passed away.

Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, Chief of the Air Staff, has expressed his extreme grief on the death of the PAF legend.

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’s College for several years. Later, he was appointed principal of St. Mary’s 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.

He leaves behind three daughters and a son – Michelle Chaudhry, Carol Hay, Merlyn Khan and Cecil Chaudhry Junior.

Funeral service will be held at Lawrence Road’s Sacred Heart Cathedral on Sunday. He will be buried at the Jail Road’s cemetery.

In a statement, the air chief extended his deepest sympathies and profound condolences to the bereaved family over the death of the great fighter pilot and a true patriot. Mr Chaudhry was taken as the beacon of inspiration for the rank and file of Pakistan Air Force, he said.

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. — Staff Reporter

LAHORE, April 13: Group Captain (retd) Cecil Chaudhry, a veteran fighter pilot of Pakistan Air Force and a war hero, died here on Friday. He was 70. Mr Chaudhry was suffering from lung cancer and was under treatment at the Combined Military Hospital where he passed away. Air Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt, Chief of the Air Staff, has expressed his extreme grief on the death of the PAF legend. 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’s College for several years. Later, he was appointed principal of St. Mary’s 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. He leaves behind three daughters and a son – Michelle Chaudhry, Carol Hay, Merlyn Khan and Cecil Chaudhry Junior. Funeral service will be held at Lawrence Road’s Sacred Heart Cathedral on Sunday. He will be buried at the Jail Road’s cemetery. In a statement, the air chief extended his deepest sympathies and profound condolences to the bereaved family over the death of the great fighter pilot and a true patriot. Mr Chaudhry was taken as the beacon of inspiration for the rank and file of Pakistan Air Force, he said. 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.

 

[Burhan Wani]

@Windjammer @Horus @Slav Defence @Zibago @Akheilos @Moonlight @Zarvan @DESERT FIGHTER @WAJsal @Side-Winder @Khafee @django @Muhammad Omar @Imran Khan @Max Pain

 

[django]

@Windjammer @Horus @Slav Defence @Zibago @Akheilos @Moonlight @Zarvan @DESERT FIGHTER @WAJsal @Side-Winder @Khafee @django @Muhammad Omar @Imran Khan @Max Pain

His son was recently on CNN stating that his father was not given the relevant recognition for his services and that the state is discriminatory to masih and other minorities. lets hope any discrimination is removed and our heroes recognised irrespective of their creed.kudos bhai and nice share

 

[SQ8]

His son was recently on CNN stating that his father was not given the relevant recognition for his services and that the state is discriminatory to masih and other minorities. lets hope any discrimination is removed and our heroes recognised irrespective of their creed.kudos bhai and nice share

That is total BS. As far as the PAF is concerned, his achievements were actually overstated and many have questioned his wartime accounts but that is due to the fact that he was known to fib from time to time. That being said, such colorful characters are everywhere and as an officer he was considered good. He rose through the ranks and did well where he could and when he could.

Unfortunately, even our minorities are Pakistani in nature and tend to blame others or some conspiracy for their own missed opportunities when given the chance. There are discriminations at times but the PAF was rare in never doing so. A member of the Qadiyani faith was even pushed to be air chief to appease them when in reality the fellow was completely unqualified; the result was the PAF being nearly ruined. The man kept blaming his "minority" status to this day but there are VERY, and I mean VERY few PAF senior pilots who will even forgive , let alone speak good of his tenure.

On the other hand; there are very few who will not praise Grp Gapt Middlecoat regardless of the circumstances of his demise.

It is nothing to do with their faith as these people claim at many times , but due to them simply not being upto par or having certain disparaging qualities.

THAT BEING SAID, Grp Capt Cecil was not one of them nor did he utter such in his lifetime. He was still a gung ho pilot and a patriot.

 

[django]

That is total BS. As far as the PAF is concerned, his achievements were actually overstated and many have questioned his wartime accounts but that is due to the fact that he was known to fib from time to time. That being said, such colorful characters are everywhere and as an officer he was considered good. He rose through the ranks and did well where he could and when he could.

Unfortunately, even our minorities are Pakistani in nature and tend to blame others or some conspiracy for their own missed opportunities when given the chance. There are discriminations at times but the PAF was rare in never doing so. A member of the Qadiyani faith was even pushed to be air chief to appease them when in reality the fellow was completely unqualified; the result was the PAF being nearly ruined. The man kept blaming his "minority" status to this day but there are VERY, and I mean VERY few PAF senior pilots who will even forgive , let alone speak good of his tenure.

On the other hand; there are very few who will not praise Grp Gapt Middlecoat regardless of the circumstances of his demise.

It is nothing to do with their faith as these people claim at many times , but due to them simply not being upto par or having certain disparaging qualities.

THAT BEING SAID, Grp Capt Cecil was not one of them nor did he utter such in his lifetime. He was still a gung ho pilot and a patriot.

You seem to know more about the achievement of Cecil sahib than I, I am merely quoting what his son said, and you can not deny their is discrimination in some quarters against minorities though perhaps not in the airforce.kudos

 

[SQ8]

You seem to know more about the achievement of Cecil sahib than I, I am merely quoting what his son said, and you can not deny their is discrimination in some quarters against minorities though perhaps not in the airforce.kudos

It would be incorrect that is was not done so in the Air Force because discrimination depends upon attitudes and attitude is specific to person. A bigoted Wing Commander of the engineering branch can be harsh towards his Shia subordinates and deliberately try to sabotage their careers, or a Shia Navy Admiral can prefer his own relatives or sect-mates in awarding contracts and so on.

Again, the system has a mixed track record of weeding out such damaging personalities but history is testament that such people have managed to sneak past or wiggle their way towards more influential positions and in cases where they managed to create cabals; caused much damage to the country.
This is not confined to just religion, but ethnicity, social status etc etc etc.

 

[third eye]

Unfortunately, even our minorities are Pakistani in nature and tend to blame others or some conspiracy for their own missed opportunities when given the chance

Interesting statement.

A member of the Qadiyani faith was even pushed to be air chief to appease them when in reality the fellow was completely unqualified

Are Chiefs also appointed to appease communities ?

 

[SQ8]

Interesting statement.



Are Chiefs also appointed to appease communities ?

Yes they were, are is a unknown. Political aspirations have led to many such decisions?
What drives your irk on my statement? Something bad or deriding to say about Muslim Pakistanis that you cannot hold back?

 

[third eye]

What drives your irk on my statement? Something bad or deriding to say about Muslim Pakistanis that you cannot hold back?

Which part of my post gave you the impression of being irked ?

 

[Zahoor Raja-Jani]

His son was recently on CNN stating that his father was not given the relevant recognition for his services and that the state is discriminatory to masih and other minorities. lets hope any discrimination is removed and our heroes recognised irrespective of their creed.kudos bhai and nice share

To correct the records its not true but I would must admitted that we Pakistani as a nation more to praise army or you can say that we are aware of army more. Reasons are obvious that we like macho type heroes example Shaheed Shabeer Sharif who fight hand to hand with Indians and defeated the opponent and man sitting / flying in a jet not much suited in that scenario but our young lads and who have knowledge of armed forces do recognize / acknowledge services from other braches of armed forces as well.

 

[Zibago]

His son was recently on CNN stating that his father was not given the relevant recognition for his services and that the state is discriminatory to masih and other minorities. lets hope any discrimination is removed and our heroes recognised irrespective of their creed.kudos bhai and nice share

What a load of rubbish

Notable awards Sitara-e-Pakistan (1965)
Tamgha-i-Pakistan (1967)
Sitara-i-Khidmat (1967)
Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam (1971)
Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Mil) (1972)
Abdus Salam Award in Aeronautical Engineering (1978)
ICTP Award in Space Physics (1979)
――――――
Our armed forces are among the few institutions where minorities have gone upto top posts and they have made their mark
The story of Christian martyrs
Noel Israel Khokhar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[All-Green]

Cecil Chaudhry has always been a respected name within the PAF.
May he rest in peace.

He was awarded multiple military awards for his military contribution and was also given one of the top civilian awards (pride of performance) posthumously for his social contribution.
I would say that he was honored a lot by Pakistan.

 

[SQ8]

Which part of my post gave you the impression of being irked ?

The interesting observation. What could possibly be so interesting of something so common? Has it never happened before in the world?

 

[Vapnope]

A member of the Qadiyani faith was even pushed to be air chief to appease them when in reality the fellow was completely unqualified; the result was the PAF being nearly ruined.

So PAF has to appease a minority less than 2% of the total population? And btw Qadiani is a pejorative of Ahmadi.

 

[third eye]

The interesting observation. What could possibly be so interesting of something so common? Has it never happened before in the world?

I still dont see anything that reflects annoyance / irritation / irksome in my observation .

I do find your remark about minorities in Pak interesting & thats my view.