- By: Air Commodore M Adnan Khan (Retd)
- Sitar-e-Imtiaz (Military)
- Khan_adnan040@yahoo.com
Group Captain Saif-ul- Azam breathed his last in his native town in Bangladesh on 14 Jun, 2020. Thus, ended story of a young boy who joined PAF Public School Sargodha in Feb, 1955 in the second entry. Saif-ul-Azam was borne to Mr Nur-ul-Azam at Khagarbaria, Pabna East Pakistan on 11 Sep, 1941. He enjoyed the unique honor of shooting down maximum No of Israeli aircraft (two Mysteres, one Mirage and one Voutour) during dogfight. This unparalleled feat was achieved while flying from two different air forces (Jordan and Iraq) within a gap of only two days. He also shot a Bharti Gnat during 1965 war. He was the only fighter pilot singularly enjoys the honor of flying in from four different air forces i.e. Pakistan, Jordan, Iraq and Bangladesh.
He joined PAF College, Risalpur (now Asghar Khan Air Force Academy) in 30th GD (P) course in 1958. He was a borne pilot and graduated from PAF Academy Risalpur after successful training on T-37 aircraft in 1960. Owing to his skills he was selected for an Advanced Fighter Course at US Air Force Base Arizona. Not only he qualified as a pilot on T-37 and T-33, he did his fighter pilot conversion on the F-86 as well. He also earned the honorable title of “Top Gun” for securing 100% scores during training at USAF.
On return back to Pakistan, he served at No 14 Squadron and then at No 19 squadron, where he earned fame as a dedicated professional. During 1965 war he was posted at No 17 squadron, where he actively carried out the ground attack missions in the Sialkot, Wagah and Qusoor sector and proved a cool, calculating and an aggressor fighter. His spotting of enemy dug-in and well dispersed armour was commendable. During one of the aerial encounters, he shot one Bharti Gnat, Indian pilot Flying Officer Mayadev was taken a POW. He was awarded Sitar-e-Jurat for this gallant act and was decorated by the President of Pakistan. After the war he commanded No 2 Training Sqn of PAF.
In 1966 he was deputed as an instructor to Jordan, where Allah had a plan for him to be distinguished as a chivalric Pakistani. In Jun, 1967 the Arab Israel war broke out. On 5 June, while the Pakistani contingent was deployed at the Mufraq base, they were asked if they could carry out the missions in defence of Jordan. The contingent agreed immediately as a day before the Egyptian air fields were neutralized. Sensing similar attacks on the main base of Jordan, Azam and his other three Jordanian colleagues got air borne. They were on patrol when the Israelis targeted the Mufraq base in form of constant barrage of attacking formations one after the other. Azam followed one such formation of Israeli Mysteres and shot two of them one by one. One Mystere crashed inside the territory of Jordan with Israeli pilot Captain Hanania Bula still inside the aircraft. The victim probably couldn’t perceive he can be shot from a pilot flying from Jordan. Second Mystere was reportedly crashed outside Jordanian boundary. Azam couldn’t confirm the wreckage as he was attacked by the remaining Mysteres. His wingman Lt Ehsaan Shurdom had also shot another Mystere from the same Israeli formation. Finding Mufraq abase runway unable to land, Azam and Ehsaan managed to land at Amman international airport. The small air force of Jordan was capsized with a loss of 20 Hunters parked on runways. There was utter despair, but to the surprise of Mufraq base, King Hussain joined them within an hour. He encouraged the crew and appreciated the fight of Jordanian air force. He also asked this crew to proceed to Iraqi base H-3, as war was still not over.
Saif-ul-Azam along with Jordanian pilots was sent to Iraq the same day to continue operations from there. Iraq was expecting being attacked in similar doctrine by Israel Air Force, the next day. To meet the challenge, a unique combination of international pilots came across each other, without even knowing one another, but with a common faith of engaging the enemy as comrade-in- arms. As expected Israelis’ appeared in Iraqi skies with a formation of six aircraft i.e. four Voutours with two Mirages as escort. The Voutours formation of No 110 Squadron was led by Deputy Squadron Commander Maj Shlomo Keren, with Captain Alexendar Meltzer as Navigator. The other aggressors were Col Yehexkel Someh(Base Commander Remat David air base), Capt Yatzhak Golan and Lt Avshalom Friedman. Israeli Mirages of No 117 Squadron were being flown by Maj Ezra Dotan and Capt Gideon Dror. Once again, valiant ace Saif-ul-Azam pounced on the intruders. One member of his formation was lost but with resolute aim, Azam shot a Mirage down. The shocked Israeli pilot Capt Gideon Dror ejected in front of the Iraqi base personnel. Azam then focused onto Vautour bombers and fired at one of them. Capt Golan had no option but to quit his aircraft and eject. As saif-ul-Azam landed back after two kills, he was lifted up by the ground crew and paraded all over the place, everyone shouting “Death to Zionism, death to Israel”. He recalled thanking Allah for this blessing and prayed for his departed colleague 2nd Lt Muhammad who had embraced shahadut in the ensuing encounter. In just two days, he had bagged 3 Israeli aircraft and one damaged – a record, pride for Jordan, Iraq and PAF. Jordan decorated him with Wisam-ul-istiqlal and Iraq with gallantry medal of bravery Nawt-ul Shuja.
On return to Pakistan, he was posted as at the Fighter Leader School(the predecessor of Combat Commander School). After the debacle of 1971, he was repatriated to Bangladesh, where he became Director Flight Safety, Director Ops and Base Cdr BAF base, Dhaka. Gp Capt Saif lived up to the reputation of an upright officer – and resigned, when a junior was nominated as Bangladesh Air Force Chief. He became a successful aviation industry businessman. PAF Air Chief, ACM Hakimullah, invited him to Pakistan in 1990 and presented him paintings of his “kills” by Gp Capt Hussaini. Saif-ul-Azam was included in the gathering of Eagles- 2000 in USA, a list of 22 aviators of all times ranging from WW-1 till 2000. He was graded 13the best aviator of the world- an honor for PAF.
He last visited Pakistan in 2003 for the 50th anniversary of PAF Public School Sargodha and played a generous host when a reunion was held in Dhaka in 2005. The professional canvas of the legend has been painted by dozens of war/air warfare experts and praise is not wanting. The ones who studied and lived with him at school, the ones who were his seniors, contemporaries and juniors have much to speak about him and his humility – his demeanor and above all his charming personality.
He was married to Nishat Ara on 21 Nov, 1966. He was blessed with a son and three daughters. Feras is a computer software engineer in Dallas Texas. Anila is an IT specialist in Arizona and youngest Anita is an IT consultant at Riosaldu university Phoenix, Arizona.
He is the only foreigner pilot whose death has been mourned in the Palestinian territory. His attachment to PAF remains forever, as he his funeral with full military honours was held at the Bashar Air Force Base, Bangladesh. He has been laid to rest at the base which was formed and established by PAF.