The Fearless Warriors of Pakistan

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NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION F-86F SABRE

(1955-1980)


The North American Aviation F-86 Sabre (sometimes called the Sabre jet) was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. The Sabre is best known for its Korean War role where it was pitted against the Soviet MiG-15 and obtained UN air superiority. Although developed in the late 1940s and outdated by the end of the 1950s, the Sabre proved adaptable and continued as a front line fighter in air forces until the last active front line examples were retired by the Bolivian Air Force in 1994.


In 1954, Pakistan began receiving the first of a total of 120 F-86F Sabres. Many of these aircraft were the F-86F-35 from USAF stocks, but some were from the later F-86F-40-NA production block, made specifically for export. Many of the -35s were brought up to -40 standards before they were delivered to Pakistan, but a few remained as series -35s. The F-86Fs was operated by nine Pakistan Air Force squadrons at various times: Nos. 5, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 26 Squadron.

Sabres were armed with 6 × 0.50 in (12.7mm) M2 Browning machine guns and could also carry a variety of rocket launchers; e.g: 2 × Matra rocket pods with 18× SNEB 68 mm rockets each or
2× AIM-9 Sidewinders or 2,400 kg of payload on four external hard points. (bombs, drop tanks, napalm.)

During the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 the F-86 became the mainstay of the Pakistan Air Force. The Canadair Mark-6 Sabres (quantity 90), acquired from ex-Luftwaffe stocks via Iran, were the once again the mainstay of the Pakistan Air Force's day fighter operations during the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War.

Pakistan slowly phased out its F-86 Sabres and replaced them with Chinese Shenyang F-6 and Dassault Aviation Mirage III/V fighters. The last of the Sabres were withdrawn from service in PAF in 1980.

F-86 Sabres nevertheless remain a legend in Pakistan and are seen as a symbol of pride for the nation. They are now displayed in Pakistan Air Force Museum and in the cities to which their pilots belonged.





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Air Commodore Władysław Turowicz

Polish World War II fighter pilot became a national hero in Pakistan, Pakistan’s Polish Patriot Air Commodore Władysław Turowicz


Air Commodore Wladyslaw Turowicz (Second from right), Mrs Zofia Turowicz (Third from left) with other officers and cadets (1954, Chaklala)

Air Commodore Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz (23 April 1908 – 8 January 1980), usually referred to as W. J. M. Turowicz, was a Polish-Pakistani aviator, military scientist and aeronautical engineer.

Turowicz was the administrator of Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) from 1967 to 1970. He was one of forty five Polish officers and airmen who joined RPAF on contract in the early fifties. After completion of his initial contract, Turowicz opted to stay on in Pakistan and continued to serve in PAF and later, SUPARCO.
Turowicz made significant contributions to Pakistan's missile/rocket program as a chief aeronautical engineer. In Pakistan, he remains highly respected as a scientist and noted aeronautical engineer.

Turowicz was born to an aristocratic family in the village of Wadziejewsko in Siberia (Russia) in 1908, where he graduated from high school. The Polish name of the village may suggest it was inhabited by Poles who were exiled or imprisoned by the Tsar, as it was unusual for Polish aristocrats to live in Siberia for non-political reasons. From an early age on, Turowicz was fascinated by aviation technology and had collected different models of aircraft. Due to this passion, he moved to Warsaw where he attended the most prestigious engineering institute, the Warsaw University of Technology(WTU) in 1930, majoring in aeronautical engineering; upon graduation, he received his PhD with honours in 1936. While at Warsaw University of Technology, Turowicz joined and became a pioneering member of a Aeroklub Polski (better known as Polish Aero Club) where he had previliged to study and work with noted Polish engineers to the field of aerospace engineering. A distinguished member of Polski Club, he had an opportunity to study and work with Ryszard Bartel, Jerzy Drzewiecki, Henry Millicer, to name a few. It was here at the Aero Club that Turowicz met his future wife, Zofia Turowicz[4] with whom he would have 4 children. In addition, he completed an MSc in astrodynamics in 1937 from the same institution.[3] He joined the Polish Air Force as an aeronautical engineer and fighter pilot, but later emigrated to United Kingdom where he joined the Royal Air Force in 1939 as a reservist Polish pilot.

Though initially joining the Polish Air Force, Turowicz enlisted as a Royal Air Force reservist during World War II. He was immediately sent to Great Britain where he flew the British-built Handley Page Halifax during the war. Later, he was transferred into the Royal Air Force Aeronautics division where he served as Technical Inspector, and was put in charge of aircraft electrical and system information, organising, testing, and evaluating aircraft. After World War II, Turowicz did not return to Communist Poland due to the official negative attitude towards those who had served with the Allied Forces during the war.

As the political situation in Poland got worse, many Polish Air Force officers began to move to United States, Australia, Norway and Canada. Turowicz and 45 of his colleagues opted to move to Pakistan in 1948 on a three-year contract.
Turowicz set up technical institutes in Karachi. He taught and revitalised Pakistan Air Force Academy, where he worked as a chief scientist. He initially led the technical training in the airbase and a part of the Polish specialists in the technical section in Karachi.
In 1952, Turowicz was promoted to the rank of wing commander. In 1959, Turowicz was promoted in the rank of group captain. In 1960, he became an air commodore and an assistant chief of air staff, in charge of PAF's Maintenance Branch.

In 1966, the Government of Pakistan transferred him to SUPARCO, Pakistan's national space agency, where he worked there as a chief scientist and an aeronautical engineer. He, along with noted Pakistani theoretical physicist, Dr. Abdus Salam, who later won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979, met with President Khan where he successfully convinced him of the importance of a space program for a developing country like Pakistan after Soviet Union's launch of Sputnik.

He along with Dr. Salam travelled through to the United States to reach a space-co-operation agreement. He successfully convinced the United States Government to invest and train Pakistan's scientists in the field of rocket technology.

Turowicz was appointed head of SUPARCO in 1967 by the Government of Pakistan. As the administrator, he revitalised and initiated the space program as quickly as possible. As a noted aeronautical engineer, Air. Cdre. Władysław Turowicz upgraded Sonmiani Satellite Launch Centre in which he was responsible for installing Flight-Test Control Command, Launch Pad Control System and System Engineering Division.
Turowicz started a project for the fabrication and launch of a Pakistani satellite. As a result, Pakistan mastered the field of rocket technology by the end of the 1970s. He also set up the educational engineering institute at the SUPARCO.
Zofia, Turowicz's wife, and his two daughters joined him in Karachi in 1949, where a third daughter was born. Between 1950 and 1954, Zofia taught gliding to the Shaheen Air Cadets in Karachi and Rawalpindi. Two of his daughters married Pakistanis while the third daughter married a Bangladeshi. His widow, Zofia Turowicz, who died in 2012, was awarded the Pride of Performance and Sitara-i-Imtiaz, and taught applied mathematics and particle physics at the Karachi University. Turowicz's son is currently working at the SUPARCO as an aerospace engineer and chief scientist.[5]Turowicz's grandson has completed a PHD in quantum physics from Brown University and is currently running the AI statistical modelling division at JP Morgan.

Air. Cdre. Turowicz was involved in a car accident on 8 January 1980 along with his driver. He was quickly taken to the military hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was buried in the Christian Cemetery in Karachi with full military honours. Both Polish, including the Consul-General of Poland in Karachi Mr. Kazimierz Maurer, and Pakistani military and civilian personnel attended his funeral in Karachi. The Government of Pakistan issued a condolence letter to his family, stating that Turowicz was not only an outstanding Air Force officer, but also a scientist, and had served in the country's space program.

Awards
Sitara-e-Pakistan (1965)
Tamgha-i-Pakistan (1967)
Sitara-i-Khidmat (1967)
Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam (1971)
Sitara-e-Imtiaz, (Mil) (1972)
Abdus Salam Award in Aeronautical Engineering (1978)
ICTP Award in Space Physics (1979)

Turowicz with other officers (Chaklala, 1954) -Photos by Tahir Jamal/White Star. Courtesy Pakistan Air Force Museum.

Turowicz being decorated by President Ayub Khan in 1966 for meritorious service to the Pakistan Air Force -Photos by Tahir Jamal/White Star. Courtesy Pakistan Air Force Museum.

Turowicz is buried at the Karachi Christian Cemetery -Photos by Tahir Jamal/White Star. Courtesy Pakistan Air Force Museum.

 

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NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION F-86 SABRE
(SILVER FINISH)
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NORTH AMERICAN AVIATION F-86 SABRE

(SPECIAL COLOUR SCHEME)

 

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LOCKHEED F-104 STAR FIGHTER

(1960-1972)


The Lockheed F-104 Star Fighter was an American single-engine, high performance, supersonic Interceptor aircraft that served with the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1958 until 1967

USAF F-104Cs saw service during the Vietnam War, and F-104A aircraft were deployed by Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971with great success. F-104s were armed with 1 × 20 mm (0.79 in) M61 Vulcan Gatling gun, tip-mounted Sidewinder missiles and could carry 1814 kg combination war load on 7 hard points (4 × AIM-9 Sidewinder, bombs, rockets, or other stores).

In all twelve F-104As and two F-104Bs were transferred to Pakistan Air Force; equipping
No. 9 Air Superiority Squadron.

F-104s were highly dreaded by the Indian Air Force (IAF). On 3rd September, 1965, even before the War began, an Indian Gnat surrendered to an F-104 which forced it to land at the abandoned airfield of Pasrur (in Pakistan). Its pilot Squadron Leader Brijpal Singh Sikand became a POW.


On 6 September 1965, two Starfighters were sent on dawn patrol from Sargodha. They were vectored by Sakesar Radar towards 4 IAF Mysteres engaged in bomb and rocket attacks against a stationary passenger train at Gakkhar railway station. One of the F-104 pilots was forced to return to base with a radio failure but the other pilot, Flight Lieutenant Aftab Alam Khan dived his F-104 with full after burners, going supersonically through the Mysteres formation which promptly scattered. The Indian aircraft tried to escape at about 50 feet above the ground but they were no match for the Starfighter. Aftab Alam destroyed one Iadian Air Force Mystere with his Sidewinder missile thus achieving one of the world’s first kill by a mach 2 combat aircraft, and the first missile kill for Pakistan Air Force.





Aircraft were decommissioned in1972.

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[Muhammad Burham]

 

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SHENYANG F-6
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(1965-2002)

The Shenyang J-6 (designated F-6 for export versions) was the Chinese built version of the Soviet MiG-19 "Farmer" fighter aircraft.

Although the MiG-19 had a comparatively short life in Soviet service, the Chinese came to value its agility, turning performance, and powerful cannon armament, and produced it for their own use between 1958 and 1981. F-6’s airframe makes up the Chinese made ground attack version the Q-5/A-5, which still flies for numerous nations including Pakistan’s Air Force.

The J-6 was considered "disposable" and was intended to be operated for only 100 flight hours (or approximately 100 sorties) before being overhauled. Pakistan Air Force was often able to extend this to 130 hours, with diligent maintenance.

In addition to the internal cannon armament of 3 x 30 mm Nudelman-Richter NR-30 cannons, most F-6 fighters have provision for four wing pylons for up to 250 kg (550 lb) each, with a maximum ordnance load of 500 kg (1,100 lb). Typical stores include unguided bombs, 55 mm rocket pods, or PL-2/PL-5 (Chinese versions of Soviet K-13 (NATO AA-2 Atoll) air-to-air missiles.

First 2 F-6s arrived at Sargodha Airbase on 20 December 1965, aircraft were equipped with VHF radios and Soviet style instruments/equipment. Induction started 30 December 1965 with 72 delivered initially.

The F-6 was flown by the Pakistan Air Force from 1965 to 2002, and around 140 modifications were made to increase effectiveness in interception and close air support roles. F-6s were also modified for carriage of AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles

Pakistan Air Force F-6 fighters participated in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan, scoring approximately 6 confirmed aerial victories. These included one Indian MiG-21, which was believed by many to be a superior aircraft to the F-6 at the time.

In the hands of Pakistan Air Force pilots it proved its worth against considerably more modern and more costly opponents, with agility in combat which would do credit to contemporary air superiority fighter (Mig-21) in Indian Air Force inventory. The three Pakistani F-6 squadrons flew nearly a thousand sorties during 1971 war.

After the war Pakistan Air Force felt the F-6s had acquitted themselves well and expanded their fleet. Further deliveries bringing total to 253 aircraft. Initial batch of 60 aircraft were delivered free of cost.

During the Afghan War, Pakistani F-6s would scramble to deal with incursions of Soviet and Afghan aircraft into Pakistani airspace.

Replacement by Chengdu F-7P began in late 1980s to mid 1990s. Retired in 2002 when squadrons 17 and 23 were re-equipped with the Chengdu F-7PG, formally retired on 27 March 2002.

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He was not only the best person in his field but also a real man of action and a brave hero. Following is an incident of his bravery during his tenure in the civilian outfit of PIA.


January 20th 1978
Time 10:00 HRS

Flight No. F-27, PK-543 took off from Sukkur air port towards Karachi. Flight was on its routine when a middle aged man rose up from the middle seats, raising his hands and showing a 0.32 bore revolver shouted, “This flight has been hijacked, if any one of you even tried to move, I shall blow his head”. All the passengers and cabin crew were stunned at the moment.

Hijacker then opened the cockpit door and entered the cockpit. “Don’t move, the hijacker shouted at the pilots.”

The flight In-charge Captain Khaldoon Ghani understood the situation with in seconds that the plane has been hijacked.

”Don’t worry, we are not going to do anything”, replied the Captain.

”Land the plane on the Karachi Air Port and don’t even think to be clever”, The Hijacker warned to cockpit crew.

Meanwhile the Security Assistant attempted to overpower the Hijacker, but missed. Hijacker fired a shot, which nearly missed the eye of Captain and breached the sealing of plane. Now the situation was really tough.

Pilot established contact with ATC and told that the Flight No. PK-543 has been hijacked. The Situation was really tense among the concerned authorities.

”What’s your demand?” asked the ATC.

”My name is Nazeer Ahmed, I want Ten Million Pakistani Rupees, One Million US Dollar and a safe access to India, where I can be treated, I am a cancer Patient. Hijacker demanded.

”This is me, M.D PIA talking to you, release the passengers and surrender, I offer you a safe exit from here”, a voice appeared on the cockpit speaker.

”I am never going to do that”, the Hijacker replied. “Fulfill my demands or I am going to kill a hostage after every one hour”.

The negotiation longed for hours. The discussion continued for hours. On the demand of the Hijacker, M.D had to come to the cockpit to negotiate with the Hijacker. M.D told Hijacker that his demands can not be furnished as the banks were closed because of Friday and it was also the night time. But the helicopter can be arranged for him.

“If it is necessary for you, take me as hostage and release the passengers”, M.D said and tried to step towards cabin door.

Stop and come back immediately, Hijacker shouted at the M.D.

Ok I am coming back, M.D said to the Hijacker. When he turned back, suddenly he grabbed the armed hand of Hijacker and tried to catch the pistol.

Suddenly, there was a bang in the small cockpit and every thing seemed to be shaking. M.D had been shot and blood was oozing profusely from his chest but the Hijacker was lying on the floor and M.D had still had his one hand on the revolver and the other on the throat of Hijacker. The Pilot and the flight engineer ran towards them and controlled the situation. Hijacker was immediately bonded and an ambulance was called for M.D. When ambulance reached the spot, the medics tried to put him on the stretcher, but he refused, stepped down the ladder on foot and went to ambulance. Later it was found that the 0.32 shot had just passed an inch from his spine. He kept fighting his wound and instead of taking rest of months, the M.D defeated his injury just in a few weeks.
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Today, the world knows this Brave M.D as Air Marshal Noor Khan (A.K.A General Khan)

Hilal-e-Jurrat
Hilal-e-Shujaat
Hilal-e-Quaid e Azam
Sitara-e-Pakistan

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=3619345594750236

 

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PAF Air Display 1964

https://www.facebook.com/

 

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BOEING 707-320

(1986 till date)

The Boeing 707 is a four-engine commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". Boeing delivered a total of 1,010 Boeing 707s.

Although it was not the first commercial jet in service, the 707 was among the first to be commercially successful. Dominating passenger air transport in the 1960s, and remaining common throughout the 1970s, the 707 is generally credited with ushering in the jet age. It established Boeing as one of the largest makers of passenger aircraft, and led to the later series of aircraft with "7x7" designations.

The 707-320 Intercontinental is a stretched version of the turbojet-powered original model, powered by JT4A-3 turbojets producing 15,800 lbs each. The interior allowed for up to 189 passengers due to a 100-inch (2,500 mm) stretch, while a longer wing carried more fuel, increasing range by 1,600 miles (2,600 km) and allowing the aircraft to operate as true transoceanic aircraft.

Two Boeing 707-320 freighters were transferred to Pakistan Air Force from Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in 1986. Conversion to aerial refuelling tankers considered but never implemented. A third aircraft in VVIP transport configuration was delivered in 1987.

 

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The Dragon Fly “Mitty Masud”

(This historic photo is from the collection of historian Nasim Yousaf. Mr. Yousaf received this photo from a former Air Chief Marshal of the Pakistan Air Force. In this picture, legendary fighter pilot Wing Commander (later Air Commodore) M. Zafar Masud is standing in front of his Sabre jet with helmet (at the bottom of the photo). The pilots shown are lined up on Feb 02, 1958, prior to flying the sixteen Sabres loop formation, which set a world record.)

One of the PAF’s most courageous leaders Air Commodore Mohammad Zafar Masud HJ, SBt,1923 – October 7, 2003; widely knew as Mitty Masud, was a high-ranking air force strategist and air commander of the Eastern Air Command during the East Pakistan war, prior to 1971.

Masud was born in Gujranwala, British Punjab State in 1923. Having joined the Royal Air Force in 1943, Masud was sent to Royal Air Force College Cranwell, Great Britain where he did his BSc in Strategic studies and also received a diploma in fighter pilot training. He did a staff college course in United Kingdom from which Masud returned with the best foreign student award. Upon his return to British Indian Empire, Mitty Masud opted the Pakistani citizenship as the Jinnah led the creation of Pakistan. Mitty was by 1947 already an air force pilot and became the youngest pioneer of the newly born Pakistan Air Force.

In 1947, Flight-Lieutenant (Captain) Mitty was deployed in Dhamial Army Air Base where he was put in charge air campaigns during the 1947 Kashmir War. As the war intensified, Mitty was sent to Skardu National Airport where took active participation in air missions under the command of Air-Commodore (Brigadier-General) Ahmad Mukhtar Dogar. In 1948, After the war, Mitty joined the Pakistan Air Force Academy as a research associate and gained MSc in Counter-insurgency in 1952. In 1952, he was promoted to Squadron Leader (Major) rank, and played an instrumental figurative role in the development and establishment in PAF's prestigious combat flying institution Combat Commanders School (CCS), PAF's Top Gun. In 1958, Commander-in-Chief Air-Marshal Asghar Khan chose (then) Wing-Commander (Lieutenant-Colonel) Mitty Masud to organise, train, and lead an aerobatics team of 16 F-86 Sabre jets that set a world record, validating the PAF's place among the well- regarded air arms of the world. Masud organised and sat up the first aerobatics unit as he served its first Commanding officer. In 1972, the Pakistan Air Force officially gave commissioned to Pakistan Air Force Sherdils in an honour of Mitty Masud, who first presented the squadrons its flying colours.
In 1964, Mitty was promoted to Group-Captain (Colonel) in the Air Force, and was made Commanding officer of the Sargodha Air Force Base. Mitty served under the Command of Air-Vice Marshal (Major-General) Eric Gordan Hall during the 1965 India-Pakistan war. As commanding officer of the Sargodha Air Force Base, Mitty's leadership and devotion to duty led to a successful aerial missions against the Indian Air Force (IAF). On the day and night of 7 September 1965, the IAF made five successive attacks on Pakistan Air Force facilities, and PAF's installations with Canberra bombers, Hunter and Mystere fighter bombers. Under the command of Mitty Masud, the PAF was retaliated, though the IAF heavily damaged the Air Force Base, PAF responded back with series of counter missions. After the war, Group Captain Mohammad Zafar Masud was honoured and awarded Hilal-i-Jurat in a colourful public ceremony by President Ayub Khan, for his active participation during the conflict.

Air Commodore Masud was very happily married to his devoted wife, Elizabeth, for 45 years and their son Salaar works as a software analyst in Europe. Elizabeth Masud, a German lady, speaks Urdu fluently and has, despite her own frail health, lovingly remained by her husband's side, including his long and difficult battle with Parkinson's disease. Masud died in Karachi on 7 October 2003, due to a Cardiac arrest. Mitty received a Guard of honour from the Pakistan Air Force, and was honorarily buried in Karachi Military Graveyard, next to his wife.

Air Commodore M. Zafar Masud was grand-nephew of Allama Mashriqi.

 

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Pakistan Air Force Falcons in 1960's