Name Muhammad Zafar Masud
Date of Birth 17-10-1927
Date of Commission 25-2-1946
Date of Demise 07-Oct-2003
Masud joined RIAF and got commission on 25 Feb 1946. At the time of Independence, Zafar Masud opted for Pakistan and thus became the youngest pioneer of the newly born Royal Pakistan Air Force. In 1948, Flt Lt Zafar Masud was posted at Dhamial Army Air Base where he was in-charge of air campaigns during the Kashmir War. As the war intensified, Zafar Masud was sent to Skardu Airport where he took active part in air missions under the command of Sqn Ldr (Later Air Cdre) Mukhtar Dogar. In 1948, after the war, Masud joined the RPAF College where he imparted flying training to young cadets of PAF.
In 1958 A.M Asghar Khan chose Wing Commander Masud to organize, train and lead an aerobatic team of 16 Saber jets that later set a world record, validating the PAF’s place among the well-regarded air arms of the world. ‘Flight’ , an international aviation magazine of great credibility and reputation, published an article praising PAF for the exceptional world record.
In 1965, Gp Capt Zafar Masud became a war hero for his courageous leadership as commander of Pakistan’s key air base at Sargodha. The team of officers and men under Masud fought with skill, discipline and confidence and punished IAF in combat zones and assisted in halting the Indian Army from Sialkot to Kasur.
The Indian authors, Pushpindar Singh, Ravi Rikhye & Peter Steinemann in their book ‘Fizaya’ have acknowledged the role played by PAF commanders in thwarting way.
The post war analysis of the war reflected that 33 IAF attacks on Sargodha caused negligible damage only. The IAF was defeated in the battle for Sargodha and lost the battle for air superiority and the urge to fight the PAF in the air.
As commanding Officer of the most important operational station of the Pakistan Air Force, Group Captain Muhammad Zafar Masud showed great qualities of leadership, devotion to duty and organizing ability in the conduct of air operations against the enemy. On the day and night of 7th Sep, 1965 in particular, when the enemy made five successive attacks, the determination with which the whole station faced the attacks and heavy damage inflicted by its fighters on the enemy aircraft clearly indicated the high morale and professional efficiency achieved by the station personnel under the command of Group Captain Masud. For his contribution during the war, Group Captain Muhammad Zafar Masud was awarded HJ.
By the late 1960s, Masud , now an Air Cdre, was widely respected and regarded as probable future Air Force Chief. In April 1970, he was assigned to Dacca as the top PAF Commander.
One of the PAF’s most courageous leaders, Air Cdre M Zafar Masud breathed his last on 7 Oct 2003 due to a cardiac arrest. The great warrior, epitome of leadership was laid to rest with full military honours at PAF graveyard in Chaklala.
