PAF Squadrons History

[Baibars_1260]

there is some media on the forum. pafwallpapers.com also had a good collection of media from this time period, including stills from Sqn Ldr Badar Islam's gun can but unfortunately the website has been down for a while now.

Thanks.
I couldn't find it. Don't know if forum members could request for official PAF archives to release the information.
There is very little public information available for such significant incidents of air combat.

The Soviet Union never initially acknowledged their losses and release of information from Pakistan was low key.
Downing Mig 23s and Su 22s that were possibly backed by A-50/ A-71 AWACs; using just ground control and WVR air to air missiles is an unparalleled feat of valor. In my humble opinion these achievements exceeds those that happened recently with our eastern enemy.

Political compulsions may have been necessary at that time to hold the media spotlight on these events. It is time to remember and salute our heroes who fought an adversary far stronger than our eastern neighbor and won.

 

[CT-9914 "Snoop"]

Thanks.
I couldn't find it. Don't know if forum members could request for official PAF archives to release the information.
There is very little public information available for such significant incidents of air combat.

The Soviet Union never initially acknowledged their losses and release of information from Pakistan was low key.
Downing Mig 23s and Su 22s that were possibly backed by A-50/ A-71 AWACs; using just ground control and WVR air to air missiles is an unparalleled feat of valor. In my humble opinion these achievements exceeds those that happened recently with our eastern enemy.

Political compulsions may have been necessary at that time to hold the media spotlight on these events. It is time to remember and salute our heroes who fought an adversary far stronger than our eastern neighbor and won.

Squadron Leader Badar Islam and his stills from his HUD

Afghan MiG-21 (currently at PAF Museum) and Su-22 after defecting to Pakistan

Squadron Leader Abdul Hamid Qadri with part of the wreckage of a Su-22 he downed over Parachinar

 

[ghazi52]

Thanks for reminding.
We are so focused on our eastern enemy that we tend to forget the heroic defense of our western borders.
Fighting the VVS of the Soviet Union was no mean feat.
Do we have pictures and video footage of the captured Russian pilot and downed aircraft? This would be a great addition to the forum media library.

On sep 29, 1989, Capt. Jalal Uddin Wardak (Afghan Air Force) flying a MiG-21bis defected from Afghanistan to Pakistan.

Afghan AF Su-22M4 "804" along with MiG-21bis "957" fled to Pakistan.

Former Afghan Air Force Antonov A-26 Curl (Tail.No. 276) after being restored at PAF Museum. This An-26 was operated by the PAF's No. 12 Squadron at Chaklala for a short duration.

 

[ghazi52]

An Afghan Air Force MiG-21bis Fishbed-L '957 Red' flown to Pakistan in October 1989 by its defecting pilot. This was the fourth MiG-21 to arrive by the same method since 1986.

An Afghan Captured Su-22 - "A disillusioned young Afghan Air Force fighter pilot defected to Pakistan with this 'fitter-K'."

 

[ghazi52]

Defected Afghanistan Air Force Mig-21 at static display at PAF museum Karachi.

It defected to Peshawar during the Afghan Crisis.

An-26 Defected From Afghan Air Force In Service With Pakistan Air Force.

 

[ghazi52]

8 Sqn Pioneers 1983.

(In Vee Form) L-R: Flight Lieutenant Abbas Petiwala, Squadron Leader Arif Moeen, Squadron Leader Aurangzeb Khan, Squadron Leader Kaiser Tufail. Squadron Leader Noorullah Afridi, Wing Commander Khalid Sattar, Flight Lieutenant Babar Hasan, Flight Lieutenant Riaz Shah, Squadron Leader Masood-ul-haq, Squadron Leader Maghfoor Shah, Squadron Leader Inamullah.

© K. Tufail

 

[Baibars_1260]

Wow !
Pakistan, got a windfall of intact Warsaw Pact aircraft for the USA to study.
I wonder how close the Mig 21's were to their Indian counterparts at that time.
Remarkably the Soviet Union didn't come back for vengeance as they usually did. After their severe initial losses ( and shock ! ) to Israel when flying proxy for the. Egyptian Air Force in 1973-74 the Soviets returned to engage the IDF again in a battle of attrition causing Israel to loose more aircraft. Israel then signed a ceasefire and the Camp David accord returning Sinai to Egypt.,
Remarkably this didn't happen to Pakistan. Except for one fratricide incident no Pakistani aircraft were lost the Soviet VVS or AfAF.

 

[Reichmarshal]

Russian pilots were flying regularly along and into our air space, which resulted in quite a few engagements.
the most notable of which was when a Su-25 piloted by future Russian vice president Alexander Rutskoy led a night ground attack on a Miranshah refugee camp on August 8, 1988,he was shot down and taken prisoner.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[Baibars_1260]

Russian pilots were flying regularly along and into our air space, which resulted in quite a few engagements.
the most notable of which was when a Su-25 piloted by future Russian vice president Alexander Rutskoy led a night ground attack on a Miranshah refugee camp on August 8, 1988,he was shot down and taken prisoner.

Would love to see a video of Alexander Rutskoy having tea .

 

[ghazi52]

No. 15 Squadron

During the expansion of the PAF following the mutual assistance agreement with the USA, No 15 Squadron was formed on 5th June 1956 at PAF Base, Mauripur; it was designated as a tactical attack squadron. A Cobra was chosen as the squadron insignia. Flight Lieutenant S N Hassan was the first officer posted on the strength of 15 Squadron on 25th May 1956. By the middle of June the squadron had received its first aircraft, a T-33, allotted for transition and instrument flying. The first F-86s were received on 20 July. It was on 4th September that the first of the legendary F-86s lifted into the skies of Pakistan and 15 Squadron is proud that the aircraft belonged to it. On 5 September Squadron Leader S M Ahmed, the Squadron Commander, became the first pilot to cross the sound barrier and create a sonic bang in Pakistani airspace. On 22nd December 1956 the F-86s of Nos 11 and 15 Squadrons took part in the first formation aerobatics demonstration on Sabres, which was witnessed by the visiting Chinese Premier Mr. Zhou Enlai. History was created on 2nd February 1958, when 16 Sabres performed a loop in close formation. This unprecedented event was witnessed by King Zahir Shah of Afghanistan along with President Iskander Mirza. A number of 15 Squadron pilots, including its CO, belonged to this historic 'Falcons' team. On 11th February 1958 the squadron bid farewell to Mauripur and moved to Peshawar. 10th April 1959 was a special Eid for No 15 Squadron. On that day of festivity two Cobras were scrambled at 0715 hours to intercept an intruding aircraft which upon being identified as an IAF Canberra was shot down. Flight Lieutenant Yunis of 15 Squadron created history by being the first Pakistani pilot to shoot down a hostile aircraft. The squadron moved to Samungli in July 62, and then to Sargodha in October 1963. Here the squadron once again showed its mettle when on 1st September 1965 Flight Lieutenant Imtiaz Bhatti shot down two IAF Vampires in the Chamb sector, for which he was awarded Sitara-i-Juraat. 15 Squadron flew a number of strike, close 1965 War. In July 1973, the unit was re equipped with the F-6. In recognition of its commendable performance over a span of twenty years, the squadron was presented with a colour by the President of Pakistan, Mr. Fazal Elahi Chaudhry at an elegant ceremony held at PAF Base, Peshawar on 9th January 1976. The role of the squadron was also changed at that time to that of an air superiority squadron.​

 

[ghazi52]

No. 15 Squadron

The Cobras continued to defend the western borders and faced Afghan intruders boldly until the end of the war. They flew innumerable scrambles as well as CAP missions throughout the conflict. The squadron got relocated to Minhas in June 1989. In July 1993, the squadron bade farewell to its aging F-6 aircraft and was re-equipped with the Chinese F-7P fighter interceptor aircraft. In the same year, in August, Skardu was activated and safe operations were conducted despite inclement weather and problems associated with high altitude operations. The squadron continued to participate actively in the PAF, like DACT Camps, High Mark exercises and Saffron Bandit. The squadron flew the maximum number of sorties in High Mark-95. It created a new record in the PAF's history by scoring an 'A' in the air-to-air firing camp held at Masroor in January 1996. The aircrew displayed their professional skills during the Pakistan Day Fly-Past in 23 March 1997 and won the Best Formation Trophy. Officers of No. 15 Squadron with their Officer Commanding Wg Cdr Humayun - 1996. As a consequence of the PAF force re-structuring programme, the squadron was number plated on 31 August 1997 and the F-7P aircraft on its inventory were distributed among other F-7 operating units. The unit will re-equip with the ex-French Mirage aircraft and is scheduled to be reformed at its new location at Rafiqui. The squadron will then take up the role of a tactical attack squadron.​

 

[ghazi52]

No. 15 Squadron Commanders

Rank Name Date Wg Cdr Tariq Awan Jul-1987​ Ateeb Siddiqui Dec-1988​ S A Mudassir Dec-1990​ Rao Qamar Suleman Jan-1992​ Mohammed Hassan Dec-1993​ Humayun Khursheed Jun-1995​ Altaf Saleemi Jan-1997​ Khalid Mehmood Jun-2000​ Zaheer A Babar Dec-2003​ Wasim A Khan Jul-2005​

 

[ghazi52]

Pilots Of The No. 14 Squadron Pose For The Camera Early 1990's.

© B Shahid

 

[ghazi52]