Pakistani pilot Saiful Azam

[BLACKEAGLE]

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War is normally measured by its final outcome, but many individual heroes gave up their lives for the Arab side during the 1967 Six-Day War. (Image courtesy AP)


This past June marked the 45th anniversary of the Arab defeat of the 1967 war. War is normally measured by its final outcome, but many individual heroes faithfully gave up their lives for the Arab side, defending the honor of their nations. The actions of those men deserve to be highlighted and explained, especially the contributions of the Pakistani pilot Saiful Azam and the brave Jordanian soldiers of the battle of Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem.

At 12:48 p.m. on June 5, four Israeli jets were descending on Jordan’s Mafraq air base to smash the country’s tiny air force, shortly after the entire Egyptian air force had been reduced to rubble.

To intercept the incoming attack, Jordanian air force commanders deputized Flt. Lt. Saiful Azam, who was on loan as an advisor from Pakistan. Once airborne with other Jordanian pilots, Saiful Azam engaged the attacking aircrafts in an air-to-air combat, shooting down a Mystére commanded by Israeli pilot H. Boleh and shot and damaging another that crash-landed in Israeli territory.

Two days later he was urgently dispatched to Iraq along with several Jordanian pilots to defend the Iraqi air bases against the Israeli air force which by then had ruled without any challenge the Arab skies over Egypt, Syria, Jordan and now Iraq. Here, he again was deputized by the Iraqi air force, along with top Jordanian pilot Ihsan Shurdom, who later became the commander of Jordanian air force, to fly its Hunters in defense of its H-3 and al-Walid air bases. Once airborne the Jordanian and Iraqi pilots with Saiful Azam leading the formation intercepted the attacking Israeli aircrafts that ended up of the shooting down two of Azam’s Iraqi wingmen by the attacking Israelis. It was then when Saiful Azam used his air combat skills flying the Iraqi Hunter shot down two of the Israeli attacking planes.

Within 72 hours, Saiful Azam became the only fighter-pilot in the world to hold the record of shooting down three confirmed kills of Israeli aircrafts in air-to-air combat, a record that still stands today.



His other records included being the only fighter pilot to fly in three air forces ─ Pakistani, Jordanian, and Iraqi. Adding to his record, was his downing of an Indian Gnat aircraft during the Pakistani war with India in 1965, making him yet again the only pilot to shoot down three kinds of military aircrafts in two different air forces.

Azam was honored and awarded medals in Iraq and Jordan for his heroics but despite his remarkable military achievements and services in the Arab world, he remains unknown to the Arab public and very little is written about him in Arabic. A retired colonel in the Jordanian air force told me that “very few people know about Azam’s services outside the air force.” Azam then moved to Bangladesh after it became an independent country and served in its air force until his retirement.




All told, Pakistani Air Force pilots, in addition to Saiful Azam serving in Jordan, Iraq, Egypt and Syria, in 1967 war, downed as many as 10 Israeli aircrafts without losing a single pilot or a single aircraft. Pakistan, moreover, provided the Arab states with numerous military advisors and pilots who also served in 1973 war with remarkable achievements. The Pakistani military also provided critical military restructuring and reevaluation especially to Jordan after the 1967 war.



It is rather strange that the Pakistani contribution to Arab militaries is never mentioned in Arab culture let alone in official Arab histories of the war. Pakistan had a contingent of at least 16 pilots who served as volunteers in Jordan, Egypt, Syria and Iraq in1967 and 1973 wars.

Pakistani air force states that all its volunteer pilots scored direct hits against Israeli aircrafts and suffered no losses. During the 1973 war, for example Flt. Lt. A. Sattar Alvi became the first Pakistani pilot, flying a Syrian aircraft to shoot down an Israeli Mirage in air combat. Similarly and on the Egyptian front, PAF pilot Flt. Lt. M. Hatif , flying an Egyptian MiG-21 shot down an Israeli F-4 phantom in an air combat. Pakistani Air Force did not lose a single pilot or aircraft in any of the wars.
http://english.alarabiya.net/article...01/229723.html

[airmarshal]

Was East Pakistan Bangladesh in 1967?

[razgriz19]

Because it's the month of Ramadan, I did not log on to this forum before, but this article just could not be left alone. Could you just refer to Saiful Azam as a BANGLADESHI pilot? Former East Pakistan is today's Bangladesh. Today, Pakistan refers to former West Pakistan alone.

PAKISTAN AIR FORCE - Official website



Even Pakistani Air Force does not deny this fact (nor can they deny this fact).

He was a PAKISTANI when these wars took place.
He was trained by Pakistani pilots and crews.
hold your horses before you say something...

[airmarshal]

Did Saiful Azam fly for Pakistan in 1967 against so called "Israel"?

Hint: He was awarded by Iraq and Jordan for his performance against so called "Israel".



The title of the article is "Pakistani pilot Saiful Azam" which is false in view of reality. Saiful Azam is Bangladeshi, he lived in current Bangladesh. When he defeated so called "Israel" in air, he flew for Iraq and Jordan, not for Pakistan.

So you enlighten us in the holy moth of Ramadhan.

1. Was Saif ul Azam Bangladeshi pilot in 1967?
2. Was he a Pakistani pilot in 1967?
3. Was he deputed to Iraq,Jordan and Egypt by Bangladesh Air Force or Pakistan Air Force?
4. He is being decorated by General Ayub Khan. Was General Ayub Khan Bangladeshi or Pakistani?

[DESERT FIGHTER]

Did Saiful Azam fly for Pakistan in 1967 against so called "Israel"?

Hint: He was awarded by Iraq and Jordan for his performance against so called "Israel".



The title of the article is "Pakistani pilot Saiful Azam" which is false in view of reality. Saiful Azam is Bangladeshi, he lived in current Bangladesh. When he defeated so called "Israel" in air, he flew for Iraq and Jordan, not for Pakistan.

Did bangladesh exist in 1967?


No more shonar bangla for you.

[JonAsad]

Stupid bangali ruined the thread-
Some people are so dillusional they can't see and understand simple facts-
1967 bangladesh :bigfacepalm:

[Abu Zolfiqar]

many discussions and topics on these pilots who were deputed to Arab air forces as 'courtesy'

proudly, many secured kills against israeli aircrafts....


one of the most memorable lines is by the former Israel Air Force chief Ezer Weizmen who wrote about the man who volunteered for the Egyptian Air Force in 1965 -- that man is former Air Chief Nur Khan (a PAF LEGEND)


“He was a formidable fellow and I was glad that he was Pakistani and not Egyptian”

(Israel Air Force chief Ezer Weizmen writing about PAF chief Nur Khan in his autobiography, On Eagles’ Wings).

[Hyperion]

BlackEagle, Thanks mate for highlighting the contribution of PAF to different Arab engagements.

[Desert Fox]

So you enlighten us in the holy moth of Ramadhan.

1. Was Saif ul Azam Bangladeshi pilot in 1967?
2. Was he a Pakistani pilot in 1967?
3. Was he deputed to Iraq,Jordan and Egypt by Bangladesh Air Force or Pakistan Air Force?
4. He is being decorated by General Ayub Khan. Was General Ayub Khan Bangladeshi or Pakistani?

Also the uniform was that of PAF, he was trained by the PAF, he flew PAF aircraft, and i can go on. BTW, by giving Saiful Azam too much credit as if he was the only potent and capable PAF ace we are ignoring and discrediting the hundreds of others who contributed in the indo-Pak wars and shot down countless enemy aircraft as well as the brave Arab pilots who also made considerable contributions during the Arab-israeli wars and shot down many enemy aircraft.

[REHAN NIAZI FALCON]

Because it's the month of Ramadan, I did not log on to this forum before, but this article just could not be left alone. Could you just refer to Saiful Azam as a BANGLADESHI pilot? Former East Pakistan is today's Bangladesh. Today, Pakistan refers to former West Pakistan alone.

PAKISTAN AIR FORCE - Official website



Even Pakistani Air Force does not deny this fact (nor can they deny this fact).

but dude he was a PAKISTANI pilot at that time so he is PAKISTANI pilot like MM ALAM ......

Did Saiful Azam fly for Pakistan in 1967 against so called "Israel"?

Hint: He was awarded by Iraq and Jordan for his performance against so called "Israel".



The title of the article is "Pakistani pilot Saiful Azam" which is false in view of reality. Saiful Azam is Bangladeshi, he lived in current Bangladesh. When he defeated so called "Israel" in air, he flew for Iraq and Jordan, not for Pakistan.

title is correct , u need to correct urself .............

PAF sent him , not BAF ........... he served PAF at that time and all credit goes to PAF and PAKISTAN ............ 1973 baf didn,t send him .............

[TOPGUN]

He was a Pakistani pilot flying for PAF trained by PAF carrying the Pakistani flag on his uniform simple as that .. learn it understand it and stop trying to destory the thread take your meds if you haven't.

[BLACKEAGLE]

Saiful Azam in Jordan:

[Windjammer]

[Bamxa]

Many thanks to Blackeagle for this thread

[Windjammer]

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Saif-ul-Azam, serving as Flight Commander at Sargodha Air Base, in front of F-6 with other pilots.