The information is updated till end 1988. i would request members to update the squadron information with current status, a/c, ops, squadron commanders etc.
No 11 Squadron
No 11 sqdn, known as the "Arrows" has the singular distinction of being the first jet squadron of the PAF. the sqdn occupies a glorious place in the annals of PAF history. it is credited with the highest number of "kills" in the two wars the country has fought and the famous PAF ace S/L MM Alam belongs to this family of air warriors. the sqdn was also honoured in 1983 by being the first PAF unit to be equipped with the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
No 11 sqdn was first formed as a light bomber unit on 1 January 49 at RPAF Station Mauripur; it was to be equipped with twin-engined Brigand aircraft. however, the first Brigand crashed on its way to Pakistan and procurement of these a/c was cancelled; the sqdn was number-plated in Feburary 49. two years later, in June 51, the unit was revived under its first Sqdn Cmdr, S/L A Rahim Khan, with the new role of fighter interceptor and this time it had the priveledge of being equipped with the first jet fighter in the PAF inventory, the Supermarine Attacker. it remained the only jet sqdn in the PAF until the large scale induction of F-86F Sabres in the mid-50s.
The unit was re-equipped with Sabres on 18 January 56, and its role was changed from fighter interceptor to that of fighter bomber sqdn. in 1965 the sqdn was a part of the elite 33 Wing at Sargodha. after proving its mettle in the 1965 india-pakistan war the sqdn was re-equipped in 1966 with the Shenyang F-6 (Chinese built MiG-19) and its role was changed to air superiority. the sqdn shifted to PAF Base Rafiqui in January 71 and remained stationed there till January 83. in between it operated during the 1971 war once again from Sargodha. in January 83 the sqdn was moved back to Sargodha to be re-equipped with F-16s; its role was then changed to that of multi role sqdn.
No 11 sqdn can boast of many distinguished pilots and sqdn commanders, three of its commanders reached the top leadership of the PAF: A Rahim Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Khan and M Anwar Shamin. S/L FS Hussain its sqdn cmdr in the year 1953 became a legendary figure in the PAF for his highly professional and daring aerobatic displays. MM Alam became a household name in pakistan after his unprecedented achievements in the 1965 war.
Operating from Sargodha in September 65 the sqdn flew 227 sorties in the seventeen day war with india. the unit was employed on air defence duties as well as in support of the army. it was credited with shooting down 10 Hunters and 3 Gnats and damaging 3 Hunters, together forming a significant proportion of total PAF victories. S/L Alam claimed 9 a/c in only three sorties and also had the singular distinction of shooting down 5 Hunters in a single combat sortie. Flt/Lt's Jilani, Yousaf Ali, and Saad Hatmi shot down 1 Gnat each. only 1 a/c was lost due to enemy action and the pilot, F/O Shaukat, flying as Alam's wingman on a fighter sweep over india was taken PoW. the officers who were awarded combat decorations in the 65 war, included S/L MM Alam (SJ with Bar)(=DFC) and Flt/Lt's SA Hatmi and Yousaf Ali Khan (both SJ = DFC).
The sqdn again located at Sargodha for the 1971 war during which it flew several air defence and close support missions. during these operations the "Arrows" were credited with two kills; Flt/Lt Atiq Sufi shot sown a Su-7 and Flt/Lt Aamer Ali Sharieff a MiG-21. only 1 a/c was lost in action and its pilot Flt/Lt Wajid A. Khan was taken PoW.
Formal recognition of 11 sqdn acts of valour and meriteous services in defence of the fatherland came in the form of a colour presentation on 18 November 74 at PAF Base Rafiqui-the colour was presented by the Prime Minister, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. the battle honours inscribed on one of the scrolls of the banner reads: Sargodha 65. the sqdn crest consists of an arrow encircled by eleven stars signifying the persuit of professional excellence.
In 1981, No 11 sqdn won the professionals trophy for its performance in excercise jetstream.
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