The Rocket-Missile Man of Pakistan: Air Commodore Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz

[Zibago]

The Rocket-Missile Man of Pakistan: Air Commodore Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz

The Rocket-Missile Man of Pakistan: Air Commodore Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz
Ever since Pakistan got independence she saw hundreds of faces that served the country to their best, played more than just a vital role in its development and made the country proud by all means. One of such names is Air Commodore Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz. Air Commodore Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz was a prominent and distinguished Polish Pakistani military scientist and aeronautical engineer who is looked up to as one of the chief architects of Pakistan’s Space Program.
Born in 1908 in Serbia, Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz has a unique kind of fascination for aviation technology, rocket science and aircraft designs. At the age when other children collect marbles and play with cars Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz had a hobby of collecting different kinds of aircraft models only. Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz graduated from Serbia’s most prestigious institute of that time- Warsaw University of Technology in 1920 with a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering and later earned his PhD degree from the same institute.



During his time at Warsaw University of Technology he along with his friends, university fellows, teachers and other eminent scholars of the field laid foundation of Aeroklub Polski where he did extensive research in the field and got the golden chance of working in close collaboration with Polish aeronautical engineers of that time.
Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz after earning his PhD degree joined Polish Air Force in the capacity of an aeronautical engineer and fighter pilot. He later migrated to GreatBritain where he was immediately accepted to serve in Royal Air Force as Reservist Polish Pilot. He served Royal Air Force in critical times of World War II and as the situation got worse many members of Royal Air Force were sent to different countries. Pakistan was fortunate that Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz along with 29 more Polish pilots, engineers and scientists migrated to Pakistan.
In Pakistan he was deployed at Karachi airbase where his primary responsibilities include train our fighter pilots and play a role in setting up technical institutes. During the first three years of his tenure, he served Academy of PAF as chief scientist too. After building capacity of members of PAF he was transferred to Peshawar airbase where his job responsibilities were even more critical.
Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz was a fighter, a brave warrior who not only fought courageously during World War II, but defended Lahore during Indo-Pak war of 1965. The nation’s asset also held the key position of PAF’s Air Marshal.
The mission of Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz’s life was to establish grounds for space engineering and he worked day and night for that in Pakistan. Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz worked closely with Dr. Abdus Salam, the only Noble prize winner of the country and was among those few people who convinced President Ayub Khan that how important it is for Pakistan to have space and nuclear program. As a true patriot Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz had all of his faith in Pakistan’spotential to grow as the strongest nation of the region. He believed that that day is not far away when Pakistan will haveits own nuclear and space program which will help the country maintaining peace and sovereignty. His dream came true, but he wasn’t able to see its realization. Pakistan launched its firstdigital communication satellite in 1990 that was exactly 10 years after the demise of the prodigious scientist and engineer. He was also involved in the launch of Rehbar-1, Pakistan’s first rocket. Rather, he is believed to be the chief designer and developer of the program. Towards the end of his career he was serving Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) of Pakistan as administrator.









Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz met an unfortunate deadly accident on January 8, 1980 leaving a legacy of intellectualism and technological advancement behind. He was buried in Christian Cementary in Karachi with full military honor. His name is engraved on a memorial there along with other Polish scientists that served the country, at Monument of General Władysław Turowicz in PAF Museum Karachi and as General Władysław Turowicz at Space Complex (SUPARCO), Lahore Center. As an individual he has received many honors like Sitara-e-Pakistan, Tamgha-e-Pakistan, Sitara-e-Khidmat, Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Abdus Salam Award in Aeronautical Engineering and ICTP Award in Space Physics.

The Rocket-Missile Man of Pakistan: Air Commodore Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz | Think Twice Pakistan

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@Shamain @Azad-Kashmiri @friendly_troll96

 

[Zibago]

His wife Zofia Turowics was the first female pilot of Pakistan

• • Zofia and Władysław Turowicz – Pakistanis By Choice

Mar 3rd, 2012 | By Agnieszka Piasecka | Category: Latest, Pakistan, Social
I, the author of this memorial, am a 31 years old urban female who lives in a big developed capital city of the 18thwealthiest economy in the world and every single day I am fed with stories of blasts and bombings and picture of hostile Muslim world, especially Pakistan.

However I am an orientalist focused on East Asia and a traveller. So my mind embraces the core of the matter and not just the media image. Yet I humbly admit that I was always reluctant and afraid to go to Karachi or Islamabad having impression that I will be either abducted or killed in an ambush as a foreigner.

My surprise however was big when today on the radio I heard about the death and burial of Zofia Turowicz. Both she and her husband left Poland in 1939 to join the battlefield of the Second World War. The political changes on the map of Europe never allowed them to go back because Stalinist regime hunted down intellectuals and officers of pre-war independent Poland. Mrs Turowicz or Turowiczowa how her last name is gendered in old-style Polish, was one of the first ever Pakistani gliding teachers who created gliding training programme, the basis for later military pilots, as early as in 1950. She stopped military career in 1957 and later worked at the American School and the University of Karachi where she taught applied mathematics and other core subjects.

Her husband Władysław Turowicz died in 1980 after long term career in Pakistani military aviation industry and forces. He came to Pakistan in 1948 and his wife joined soon after for the three-year contract with Pakistan Air Force which aimed to transform Pakistan Air Force into permanent and effective Air Force of the region. Turowicz set up technical institutes in Karachi. He taught and revitalized Pakistan Air Force Academy as its chief scientist. He initially led the technical training in the airbase and a part of the Polish specialists in the technical section in Karachi. However, they were transferred and accommodated in Peshawar.

In 1952, Turowicz, along with several Polish fighters, were promoted to the rank of Wing Commander. He was also promoted to the rank Lieutenant Commander when he became an Air Force Commander of Pakistan Air Force’s Chaklala Airbase. Promoted several times again along with other Polish Air Force general, became an Air Commodore and a Deputy Chief of Air Staff, in charge of Pakistan Air Force Training Department.

Turowicz was involved in building the face of what is called modern Pakistan. His service added to the pride of the new nation and likely added Polish sense of being statesman to the military and scientific personnel he trained over the years.

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Turowicz along with other Polish pilots rose to prominence and fame as they helped in successfully defending Lahore and Pakistan. Turowicz, Squadron Leader Anotnii Zbigniew Jedryszek, and other Polish pilots were awarded the Sitara-e-Pakistan. Honorary Pakistani citizenship was also bestowed upon Turowicz, as well as, some other Polish pilots by the President of Pakistan, Ayub Khan.

Turowicz was actively and heavily involved in Pakistan’s space program. According to his close sources, Turowicz was passionate and fascinated with the Russian and American space program. In 1966, the Government of Pakistan transferred him to SUPARCO, Pakistan’s national space agency, where he worked as a chief scientist and an aeronautical engineer. Together with noted Pakistani theoretical physicist, Dr. Abdus Salam, who later won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979 convinced president Khan to launch space program for peaceful purposes. He was sure that Pakistan will develop rocket technology and launch its first satelite due course of time. He insisted on sufficient funds for research and development of this sector. His prediction came true, when 10 years after the death of Air. Mar. Gen. Władysław Turowicz, Pakistan launched its first indigenously developed experimental digital communication satellite from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China aboard a Long March 2E. His vision did come true but unfortunately, he wasn’t there to see it.

He successfully convinced the United States Government to invest and train Pakistan’s scientists in the field of rocket technology. He is widely credited with setting up the rocket fuel factories and rocket technology laboratories and research institutes in Pakistan. He was one of the chief designers of Sonmiani Satellite Launch Centre.

He did not stop with Space Programme though. Turowicz initiated himself Nuclear weapons programme in 1970 and laid foundation of research and production that led to Pakistani independent source of Nuclear military potential.

His entire family lived in Pakistan ever since they have entered the country in 1948. His three daughters live in Pakistan and two of them married Pakistanis.

Zofia and Władysław Turowicz were partners both on the ground and in the air where she often joined him as a navigator during his flights. They both had independent military aviation careers before arrival to Pakistan and had been multiawarded and internationally recognised gliders and para shooters.

They are both buried at the catholic cemetery in Karachi in Pakistan and both had been awarded Pakistani citizenship.

Their story reminded me to watch the world with my own eyes and be even more curious and even more brave and less cuffed in the ready stereotypes I am being fed everyday by media and society.

About the author
Aga is a student of International Relations at the Warsaw School of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw, Poland. She had also been awarded with grants to perform research in Korea and has long term personal interest in East and South Asian contemporary socioeconomic and political affairs. She maintains a blog at Coastal Asia Unrevealed

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City Secret – Hello Mr. Władysław Turowicz

Rest in Peace Hero

A Polish hero who defended Lahore in 1965 war. The Pioneer of SUPARCO. Rocket Missile Man of Pakistan. A Polish who chose Karachi as his eternal abode. Here is a toast to Władysław Turowicz. Here is a toast to Karachi’s diversity. Spare sometime and say hello to him. He rests in peace at Gora Qabrustan.

Władysław Turowicz came to Pakistan in 1948 after Pakistan High Commission in London announced vacancies for technicians and pilots in Pakistan Airforce. He along with a group of 30 other Poles were posted at Drigh Road Base in Karachi. Zofia, his wife, taught Mathematics at the Karachi American School and also trained gliding to Air Cadets in Karachi and Rawalpindi. She later taught at Karachi University as well. In 1961 the couple obtained Pakistani citi¬zenship. During the 1965 war, Turowicz rose to prominence when he defended Lahore as a pilot. He also ensured supply chain of local spareparts for Airforce after the supplies stopped from abroad. After his retirement from Airforce in 1967, he joined SUPARCO where he worked till 1970. He was chosen by famous nobel laureate Dr. Abdus Salam to lead Pakistan to the excellence in rocket and space technology. He was instrumental in launching first Pakistani Satellite and acheiving breakthroughs in rocket and missile program.

His wife and daughters stayed back in Pakistan. Two of his daughters married Pakistanis and the third married a Bangladeshi. Władysław Turowicz passed away in 1980 and was buried in the Gora Qabrustan. PAF Museum Karachi has placed a memorial plaque in his honor. He was awarded Tamgha-e-Pakistan, Sitara-e-Pakistan and Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam


Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz Credits: Unknown


In his memory – Photo Credits: Besal on Virtual Tourist


In his memory – Photo Credits: Besal on Virtual Tourist


Rest in Peace Hero

 

[Zibago]

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And the wiki page
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Władysław Turowicz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz

Wladyslaw Turowicz's photo at Monument of Air Cdre Władysław Turowicz in Karachi
Born 23 April 1908
Zudyra, Siberia, Russia[1]
Died 8 January 1980 (aged 71)
Karachi, Pakistan
Residence Karachi, Pakistan
Citizenship Pakistan (1956–1980)
Nationality Poland
Fields Aeronautical Engineering
Institutions
Polish Air Force Academy
Royal Air Force College Cranwell
Pakistan Air Force Academy


Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission
Alma mater Warsaw Polytechnic, Poland
Doctoral advisor Dr. Antoni Kocjan
Notable students Abdul Majid (physicist)
Known for Pakistan's Space Program
Pakistan Air Force pioneer
Missile and Rocket Technology
Influenced Dr. Ryszard Bartel
Notable awards Sitara-e-Pakistan (1965)
Tamgha-i-Pakistan (1967)
Sitara-i-Khidmat (1967)
Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam (1971)
Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Mil) (1972)
Abdus Salam Award in Aeronautical Engineering (1978)
ICTP Award in Space Physics(1979)
Air Commodore Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz (23 April 1908 – 8 November 1980), [Sitara-e-Pakistan], [Sitara-i-Khidmat], [Tamgha-i-Pakistan], [Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam], Sitara-i-Imtiaz, usually referred to as Air Cdre. W. J. M. Turowicz, was a prominent and noted Polish-Pakistani military scientist and an 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.



Contents
[hide]

• 1 Early life and education
• 2 World War II and RAF career
• 3 Career with Pakistan Air Force
• 4 Pakistan's Space Program
  • 4.1 SUPARCO Administrator
• 5 Family
• 6 Documentary
• 7 Death and Legacy
• 8 Honours and Recognitions
  • 8.1 Honorary monument
• 9 Awards
• 10 See also
• 11 References
• 12 External links

Early life and education[edit]
Turowicz was born in Zubir, Siberia, in 1908, where he graduated from High School. From an early age on, Turowicz was fascinated by aviation technology and had collected different models of aircraft. Due to this passion, he moved toWarsaw where he attended the most prestigious engineering institute, Warsaw University of Technology (WTU) in 1920, majoring in aeronautical engineering; upon graduation, he received his PhD with honours in 1926.[2] 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, are name to few. It was here at the Aero Club that Turowicz met his future wife, Zofia Turowicz[3] with whom he would have 4 children. In addition, he completed an MSc in astrodynamics in 1927 from the same institution.[2] He joined the Polish Air Force as anaeronautical engineer and fighter pilot, but later emigrated to United Kingdom where he joined the Royal Air Force in 1930 as a reservist Polish pilot.[2]

World War II and RAF career[edit]
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 Poland due to the official negative attitude towards those who had served with the Allied Forces during the war.

Career with Pakistan Air Force[edit]
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 forty five 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 there 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 in 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.

Air Cdre Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz
Nickname(s) Air Cdre Wlady
Born 1908
Died 1980
Allegiance

Pakistan

United Kingdom

Poland
Service/branch Pakistan Air Force (1947–1980)
Royal Air Force (1930–1947)
Polish Air Force (1927–1930)
Years of service 1927–1980
Rank Air Commodore
Battles/wars World War II
Other work Administrator and chief scientist atSUPARCO
Pakistan's Space Program[edit]
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 Pakistanitheoretical 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 Russia'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.

SUPARCO Administrator[edit]
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.

Family[edit]
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.[4]

Documentary[edit]
A documentary film on the life and scientific work of Air Cdre Władysław Turowicz was completed in 2008. It was directed by Anna T. Pietraszek, a Polish journalist and film-maker with an honorary Pakistani citizenship. The film shows how Air Cdre Turowicz and other Polish officers and technicians had contributed in building the PAF and SUPARCO soon after independence.

Death and Legacy[edit]
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.

Honours and Recognitions[edit]
In 2005, PAF Museum, Karachi, placed a memorial plaque in the honour of Air. Cdre. Władysław Turowicz where both Polish and Pakistani civilian and military personnel attended. On this occasion the Consul General of the Republic of Poland inKarachi Ireneusz Makles profoundly thanked the PAF and especially Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman and other officers for their efforts to make this memorial a reality.

Honorary monument[edit]

• Monument of Władysław Turowicz in Karachi (PAF Museum, Karachi).
• Władysław Turowicz Space Complex (SUPARCO), Lahore Center.

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[Zibago]

@Karan Gulati

 

[Zibago]

@Jonah Arthur
Our media should make documentries on heroes like him, its a matter of shame a documentry on him was made by Poland in Polish but most of our folks dont even know his contribution for our missile program

 

[Mitro]

Good share

 

[Zibago]

23 People viewing it good more should get to know this hero

 

[Burhan Wani]

@Jonah Arthur
Our media should make documentries on heroes like him, its a matter of shame a documentry on him was made by Poland in Polish but most of our folks dont even know his contribution for our missile program

Exactly and the best person will be Wajahat Saeed Khan.

 

[Zibago]

Exactly and the best person will be Wajahat Saeed Khan.

That documentry by Poland should be atleast translated by our media this is the guy who gave us rehbar rocket,sonmiani beach rocket launching site,defended lahore,he along with Abdul Salam convinced President Ayub to start a missile and space program,convinced USA to train our scientists in field of rocket technology,started our space program,he also set up an edicational institute at suparco

 

[Burhan Wani]

That documentry by Poland should be atleast translated by our media this is the guy who gave us rehbar rocket,sonmiani beach rocket launching site,defended lahore,he along with Abdul Salam convinced President Ayub to start a missile and space program,convinced USA to train our scientists in field of rocket technology,started our space program,he also set up an edicational institute at suparco

Any one awarded him civil award or medal?

 

[shah1398]

Respects. Thank You Sir for your unflinching resolve and services towards your very own country Pakistan.

 

[Zibago]

Any one awarded him civil award or medal?

Many
Notable awards Sitara-e-Pakistan (1965)
Tamgha-i-Pakistan (1967)
Sitara-i-Khidmat (1967)
Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam (1971)
Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Mil) (1972)
Abdus Salam Award in Aeronautical Engineering (1978)
ICTP Award in Space Physics(1979)
Air Commodore Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz (23 April 1908 – 8 November 1980), [Sitara-e-Pakistan], [Sitara-i-Khidmat], [Tamgha-i-Pakistan], [Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam], Sitara-i-Imtiaz,

 

[Chanakyaa]

@Jonah Arthur
Our media should make documentries on heroes like him, its a matter of shame a documentry on him was made by Poland in Polish but most of our folks dont even know his contribution for our missile program

I second That. True Hero.

 

[Burhan Wani]

Many
Notable awards Sitara-e-Pakistan (1965)
Tamgha-i-Pakistan (1967)
Sitara-i-Khidmat (1967)
Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam (1971)
Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Mil) (1972)
Abdus Salam Award in Aeronautical Engineering (1978)
ICTP Award in Space Physics(1979)
Air Commodore Władysław Józef Marian Turowicz (23 April 1908 – 8 November 1980), [Sitara-e-Pakistan], [Sitara-i-Khidmat], [Tamgha-i-Pakistan], [Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam], Sitara-i-Imtiaz,

Thanks God.

 

[Sheikh Rauf]

I have read about him when his wife died in 2012... what an amazing people they were.
I sulot him..
Unforgetable acheivment he contribute for Pakistan..
We will never forget our heroes
Thank You Air Commodore Władysław Józef Marian Turowi.
Thank u