Our Heroes need their identity back

[ghazi52]

DG ISPR
@OfficialDGISPR

Today we remember supreme sacrifice of Pilot officer Rashid Minhas Shaheed (Nishan-e -Haider) in the line of duty. Pilot officer Rashid Minhas lived up to great traditions of Pakistan Air Force serving the motherland. #OurMartyrsOurHeroes


3:29 PM · Aug 19, 2020·

 

[ghazi52]

Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas (17 February 1951 – August 20, 1971) is the youngest and the only Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officer to ever receive Pakistan’s highest valor award, the Nishan-e-Haider.


He is remembered for his martyrdom on 20th August 1971 in a jet trainer crash while he was struggling to regain the controls from a defecting pilot: Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman. Indian supported insurgency in former East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, was at its peak.

The failed attempt, by Flight Lieutenant, Matiur Rahman, to defect to India took place few months before India formally attacked former East Pakistan in December 1971. The plane, a T-33 Trainer jet, crashed in Thatta District in Sindh, Pakistan. Rashid Minhas was born on February 17, 1951, at Karachi, to a Muslim Rajput family of the Minhas clan.

Rashid Minhas spent his early childhood in Karachi. Later, the family shifted to Rawalpindi. Minhas had his early education from St Mary’s Cambridge School Rawalpindi. Later his family shifted back to Karachi. Minhas was fascinated with aviation history and technology. He used to collect different models of aircraft and jets since childhood.


He also attended St Patrick’s High School, Karachi, where he did his O-levels and A-levels. His father, Majeed Minhas, wanted him to follow in his footsteps by attending the engineering university after finishing his high schooling in Karachi.

Against the wishes of his father, however, Rashid entered in the PAF School in Lower Topa in 1968 (Air Force’s officer candidate school) and moved to Pakistan Air Force Academy in 1969 to complete his training. Having joined the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Minhas was commissioned on March 13, 1971, in the 51st GD(P) Course.


RASHID MINHAS SHAHEED NH LAST WORDS ” I WONT LET THE PLANE TO GO IN THE HANDS OF THE EMEMY ,PLEASE CATCH FRIENDS OF THE INSTRUCTOR WHO ARE BEHIND THE HIJACKING ” SUBHANALLAH !!! WHAT PATRIOTIC THINKING & TAKING INSTANT ACTION AGAINST THE HIJACKER (TRAITOR) #RASHIDMINHAS PIC.TWITTER.COM/DMEP61SLQX



Minhas was only 20 when he died in the T-33 crash that happened when he was trying to wrest control of the plane from his senior, Matiur Rahman. Shortly after taking off from Karachi he had radioed PAF Base Masroor with the message that his plane was being hijacked.

The air controller requested that he resend his message, and he confirmed the hijacking. Later investigation showed that Rahman intended to defect to India to join his compatriots in the Bangladesh Liberation War, along with the jet trainer.


In the air, Minhas struggled physically to wrest control from Rahman; each man tried to overpower the other through the mechanically linked flight controls. Some 32 miles (51 km) from the Indian border, the jet crashed near Thatta. Both men were killed.

Minhas was posthumously awarded Pakistan’s top military honor, the Nishan-e-Haider. No living person has ever been awarded this highest award which makes it all the more unique. Similarly, Matiur Rahman was later honoured by Bangladesh with their highest military award, the Bir Sreshtho.

It is believed that Matiur Rahman’s attempted defection with the plane was not his individual act but was part of the overall Indian plan to support the insurgent sentiment with a series of acts to create a narrative. After his death, Minhas was honored as a national hero.

The Pakistan Air Force base at Kamra was renamed PAF Base Minhas in his memory, often called Minhas-Kamra or Minhas Base. In Karachi, he was honoured by the naming of a main road, ‘Rashid Minhas Road’. Pakistan Post also issued a two-rupee postage stamp bearing his image in December 2003.

 

[ghazi52]

Salute....................

 

[ghazi52]

F-86

 

[ghazi52]

Excited to put flowers on baba's grave

To Allah we belong and to Him we return. May Allah place light in Zeeshan's grave until it shines, and may the door of paradise always open for him..Aameen
Proud Son of Lt Cdr Zeeshan Shaheed..

Lots of love and prayers for you Little Champ..

 

[Reichmarshal]

Excited to put flowers on baba's grave

View attachment 665861

Wt a bad thing to say.....
you getting kicks out out of a little kids misfortune........would have liked to see your joy had you been in the kids place.

 

[ghazi52]

Run … it's a F-104 (3rd September 1965)

Sqn. Ldr Brijpal Singh Sikand, Commander of an Indian fighter squadron, surrenders to a PAF F-104 in combat.
The F-104 was flown by Flight Lieutenant Hakimullah who became the air chief two decades later. Sikand was taken prisoner and later rose to be an IAF Air Marshal.
This encounter was the most unusual event of the 1965 Air War.

 

[ghazi52]

Flt Lt Mahmood A Butt Shaheed 1965 war. He embraced shahadat on 17th September 1965 during mission against India.

 

[ghazi52]

Box Formation led by Lockheed F-104A Starfighter followed by Martin B-57B Canberra on high element and North American F-86F Sabre on low element. On low low element is the Lockheed T-33A. This was PAF's aircraft strength in the 1965 war.

 

[ghazi52]

On 6 September 1965, as Company Commander in the Burki area of the Lahore sector, Major Bhatti chose to move with his forward platoon under incessant artillery and tank attacks for five days and nights under the defense of the strategic BRB (Bambawali-Ravi-Bedian) canal.

Throughout, undaunted by constant fire from enemy shell arms, tanks and artillery, he organized the defense of the canal, directing his men to answer the fire until he was hit by an enemy tank shell which killed him on 10 September 1965.






Sq. Ldr. Mohammad Mehmood Alam

Source: avmfarooqumar.com

On 6th September, 1965, during an aerial combat over enemy territory, Squadron Leader Mohammad Mahmood Alam, the pilot of an F-86 Sabre Jet, shot down two enemy Hunter aircraft and damaged three others. On 7th September, 1965, in a number of interception missions flown by him against the enemy aircraft attacking PAF Station, Sargodha, Squadron Leader Alam destroyed five more enemy Hunter aircrafts in less than a minute, which remains a record till today. For the exceptional flying skill and valor, he was awarded with Sitara e Juraat

Sq. Ldr. Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui


On 6th September, 1965, he led a formation of three F-86 aircraft on a strike against Halwara airfield. Soon after crossing the Indian border he had been warned about a large number of enemy interceptors being in the air by the leader of a returning F-86 formation. He, however, continued his mission single-minded. On the way back, the formation was intercepted by about ten Hunter aircraft out of which he accounted for one in the first few seconds.

After he shot down one Hunter aircraft, his guns jammed due to a defect and stopped firing upon which he refused to leave the battle area as he would have been perfectly justified to do; he, instead ordered his No. 2 to take over as leader and continue the engagement with the enemy. He himself now took up a defensive position in the formation in an attempt to give it as much protection as was possible by continuing fighting maneuvers in unarmed aircraft whilst the remainder proceeded to give battle to the enemy.

This called for a quality of courage and dedication on the part of Squadron Leader Rafiqui equal to the best in the history of air-fighting. The end for him was never in doubt. His aircraft was shot down and he was killed but not without his action enabling his formation to shoot down three more Hunter aircraft. He thus provided exemplary leadership in battle and displayed outstanding courage. For this and his earlier exploits, he is posthumously awarded Hilal e Juraat



Aircraftman Anwar Hussain

He was on duty at a vital point. His position was rocketed by enemy aircraft and the place caught fire. He was the only person on duty over there. He fought the fire with the available fire and managed to control it thus saving expensive equipment. His death is an example of courage and unfaltering devotion and his duty to his service as well as to the country. He was awarded Tamgha e Juraat.



Squadron Leader Alauddin Ahmed

He led his squadron in twenty combat missions against the Indian ground and air forces. In his last sortie, he attacked and blew up an important ammunition train at Gurdaspur rail-head in complete disregard to his personal safety. During this attack on September 13, his aircraft was damaged and was reported missing over enemy territory. Subsequently, it was confirmed that the officer died in this action. For his exemplary leadership, courage and valor, he was awarded Sitara e Juraat

 

[ghazi52]

BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY

6th September the martyrdom anniversary of Pakistan's national hero Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui Shaheed (Hilal-i-Jurrat).

On 6th September, 1965, Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui led a formation of three F-86 aircraft on a strike against Halwara airfield. Soon after crossing the Indian border Squadron Leader Rafiqui had been warned about a large number of enemy interceptors being in the air by the leader of a returning F-86 formation. He, however, continued his mission single-mindedly.

On the way back, the formation was intercepted by about ten Hunter aircraft out of which Squadron Leader Rafiqui accounted for one in the first few seconds. After Squadron Leader Rafiqui shot down one Hunter aircraft, his guns jammed due to a defect and stopped firing upon which he refused to leave the battle area as he would have been perfectly justified to do; he, instead ordered his No. 2 Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry to take over as leader and continue the engagement with the enemy. He himself now took up a defensive position in the formation in an attempt to give it as much protection as was possible by continuing fighting maneuvers in unarmed aircraft whilst the remainder proceeded to give battle to the enemy.

This called for a quality of courage and dedication on the part of Squadron Leader Rafiqui equal to the best in the history of air-fighting. The end for him was never in doubt. He chose to disregard it and in the process, his aircraft was shot down and he was killed but not without his action enabling his formation to shoot down three more Hunter aircraft.



Squadron Leader Rafiqui thus provided exemplary leadership in battle and displayed outstanding courage in the face of exceptionally strong opposition. His inspiring leadership and selfless example significantly affected the subsequent course of the air war in which the P.A.F. never failed to dictate terms to an overwhelmingly larger and better equipped enemy. Squadron Leader Rafiqui's conduct was clearly beyond the call of duty and conformed to the highest tradition of leadership and bravery in battle against overwhelming odds. For this and his earlier exploits, he is posthumously awarded Hilal-i-Juraat.

 

[ghazi52]

MM Alam Getting Off His Sabre After His Sorte.

Pakistan’s Hero Of War, He Ruled The Skies In 1965.

The original picture of PAF Piot MM Alam as printed In news papers, during 1965 war.

 

[ghazi52]

Indo-Pakistani War Of 1965.

The F-86F Sabre Served As The Main Workhorse For The Pakistan Air Force And Virtually Ruled The Skies During The War.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[ghazi52]

No 5 Sqn "Falcons" at Sargodha

Fourth from right Squadron Leadee Sarfaraz Rafiqui Hilal-e-Jurat Sitara-e-Jurat 6 September 1965 downed over Halwara AFB

Second from left Squadron Leader Muniruddin Ahmed Sitara-e-Jurat 11 September 1965 downed over Amritsar Radar Statio.