8-Pass Charlie: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by Citation bot
Last edited December 3, 2022
← Older editNewer edit →
VisualWikitext
UpdateBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
22,126 edits
m robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)
robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Pakistani Air Force bomber pilot}}
{{short description|Pakistani bomber pilot}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox officeholder
| name          = 8-Pass Charlie
| honorific_suffix = Air Commodore ([[Retirement|Rtd.]])
| birth_date   = <!-- {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| image = 8-Pass Charlie.jpg
| death_date    = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| image_size    = 300px
| name         = Najeeb Ahmad Khan
| nickname         = 8-Pass Charlie
| caption = Then [[Squadron Leader]] Najeeb A. Khan with his [[B-57 Canberra]] after a bombing mission over Ambala.
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1933|08|24}}
| birth_place        = [[Kaimganj]], [[British India]]
| father          = Israil Ahmed Khan
| spouse              = Surraya (m. 1964)
| relations          = [[Jamal A. Khan]] (Brother)
| children          = Babar Najeeb
| nationality = [[Pakistani]]<br>[[Canadians|Canadian]]
| residence          =  [[Canada]]
<!--Military service-->
| allegiance    = {{PAK}}
| allegiance    = {{PAK}}
| branch        = {{air force|PAK}}
| branch        = {{air force|PAK}}
| rank         = Unknown
| rank               = [[file:Pak-air-force-OF-6.svg|15px]][[Air Commodore]]
| unit          = [[No. 7 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 7 Squadron, Bandits]]
| unit          =* [[No. 2 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 2 Squadron "Minhasians"]]
| battles      = [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
*  [[No. 7 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 7 Squadron "Bandits"]] ([[Officer commanding|OC]])
| serviceyears= 1954–1981
| commands        = [[Base Commander]] of [[PAF Base Malir|Malir Airbase]]<br>[[air attache|Air Attachè of Pakistan to France]]
| battles      ={{tree list}}
*[[Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts|Indo-Pakistani conflicts]]
** [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
***[[Indo-Pakistani Air War of 1965]]
**[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
{{tree list/end}}
| mawards = [[File:Sitara-e-Jurat.png|40px]] {{small|[[Sitara-e-Jurat]]}}<br>[[File:Tamgha-e-Basalat.png|40px]]{{small|[[Tamgha-i-Basalat]]}}
}}
}}
'''8-Pass Charlie''' was the nickname of '''Najeeb Ahmed Khan''', a [[Pakistan Air Force|Pakistani]] bomber pilot who raided the [[Adampur Airport|Adampur Airbase]] in [[Punjab, India|India]] a number of times during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]], notably starting a series of [[airstrikes]] on the base by a solo raid.<ref name="stn">{{cite web|url=https://secondtononepaf.com/2021/02/26/will-the-real-8-pass-charlie-stand-up/|title=Will The Real "8-Pass Charlie" Stand Up|website=Second To None PAF|author=Air Commodore (R) Najeeb Ahmed Khan|publisher=Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force|date=26 February 2021}}</ref><ref name=Samir>{{cite book|title=The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965|date=May 2005|publisher=Manohar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAhuAAAAMAAJ&q=8-Pass+Charlie|isbn=978-8173046414|pages=241–243|author=P V S Jagan Mohan|edition=1st|author2=Samir Chopra|access-date=24 June 2022}}</ref><ref name="paf">{{cite book|url=https://www.paf.gov.pk/asset/appattachments/Sentinels_in-the_sky.pdf|title=Sentinels in the Sky|website=Pakistan Air Force official website|pages=151–154|publisher=PAF Book Club|author1=Colonel (R) Azam Qadri|author2=Group Captain Muhammad Ali}}</ref><ref name=indianexpress>{{citation |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-class-of-65/9548/0 |title=The Class of '65 |publisher= The Indian Express |date=30 July 2006 |access-date=24 September 2022}}</ref>


'''8-Pass Charlie''' was the codename of an unknown [[Pakistan Air Force]] [[Martin B-57 Canberra|B-57]] bomber ace pilot who raided the [[Adampur]] airbase of the [[Indian Air Force]] in [[Punjab, India|Indian Punjab]] a number of times during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]<ref name=indianexpress>{{citation |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/the-class-of-65/9548/0 |title=The Class of '65 |publisher= The Indian Express |date=30 July 2006 |access-date=24 September 2006}}</ref> notably starting the series of raids on the base by a solo raid.<ref name=Samir>{{cite book|title=The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965|date=May 2005|publisher=Manohar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAhuAAAAMAAJ&q=8-Pass+Charlie|isbn=978-8173046414|pages=241–243|author=P V S Jagan Mohan|edition=1st|author2=Samir Chopra|access-date=24 June 2012}}</ref>
He was named "8-Pass Charlie" by his impressed [[Indian Air Force|Indian adversaries]] at the [[Adampur Airport|Adampur base]] as he used to make eight passes, one for each bomb, on selected targets with improving efficiency instead of safely dropping all of his bomb load and exiting. He is also known to have had expertise in disguising his attack run by confusing anti-aircraft gunners by cutting [[throttle]]s before entering a [[Dive (aviation)|dive]].<ref name="stn"/><ref name="Samir"/>


He was named "8-Pass Charlie" by his impressed [[Indian Air Force|Indian adversaries]] at the Adampur base as he used to make eight passes, one for each bomb, on selected targets with improving efficiency instead of safely dropping all his bomb load and exiting. He is also known to have had expertise in disguising his attack run by confusing anti-aircraft gunners by cutting [[throttle]]s before entering a [[Dive (aviation)|dive]].<ref name="Samir"/>
== Early life and education ==
Najeeb was born in [[Kaimganj]] to Israel Ahmed Khan of the [[Afridi]] tribe of [[Pashtuns]], from the [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] province of Pakistan, on 24 August 1933. He was the older brother of [[Jamal A. Khan|Jamal Ahmed Khan]].
Najeeb received his primary education from Muslim High School, [[Bombay]] and upon migrating to [[Dominion of Pakistan|Pakistan]] in 1949, where he settled in [[Lahore]] and completed his [[Higher Secondary School Certificate|higher education]].<ref name="paf"/>


==B-57 raids==
== Career ==
[[File:Pakistan Air Force B-57s.jpg|thumb|PAF B-57s]]{{main|Indo-Pakistani Air War of 1965}}
Najeeb joined the Pakistan Air Force's 17th GD(P) course at [[Pakistan Air Force Academy]] in [[Risalpur]] and graduated on 6 June 1954. He was then posted to the PAF's [[No. 2 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 2 Squadron]] for [[Operational conversion unit|Fighter Conversion Course]]. His brilliant performance in the conversion course led him to be selected for Advanced Jet Conversion Courses in the [[United States]].<ref name="paf"/>
During the war, the bomber wing of the [[Pakistan Air Force|PAF]] was attacking the concentration of airfields in north India. In order to avoid enemy fighter-bombers, the B-57s operated from several different airbases, taking off and returning to different bases to hop and avoid being attacked.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defencejournal.com/may99/b-57.htm |title=B-57 The Intrepid Bomber of PAF |publisher=Defencejournal.com |access-date=2012-06-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515215015/http://www.defencejournal.com/may99/b-57.htm |archive-date=15 May 2012 }}</ref> The B-57 bombers would arrive over their targets in a stream at intervals of about 15 minutes, which led to achieving a major disruption of the overall IAF effort.<ref name="PAF">[http://www.defencejournal.com/2001/september/wars.htm "PAF and the three wars."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608010603/http://www.defencejournal.com/2001/september/wars.htm |date=8 June 2011 }} ''defencejournal.com'', 2001. Retrieved: 5 July 2010.</ref>
 
On his return to Pakistan, he served in various PAF squadrons. He was amongst the few pilots who were selected to fly the newly inducted [[B-57 Canberra]] bombers. In 1962, he was again sent to the United States for more Advanced Training Courses and after returning, he was posted as the [[Officer commanding]] (OC) of the 31st Tactical Attack wing's elite [[No. 7 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 7 Squadron]] which was based at [[PAF Base Masroor|Mauripur Airbase]]. In 1969, he was appointed as the [[Base commander]] of [[PAF Base Malir]] and later commanded the PAF's [[No. 15 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 15 Squadron "Cobras"]]. During his tenure with the Squadron, Najeeb also assisted [[Chuck Yeager]] on a flight to [[Mount Godwin Austin]] and took some memorable pictures of him in a PAF [[F-86F]] over the mountain.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.capitolhillbooks-dc.com/pages/books/13153/hussaini-tanvir-m-ahmed-jamal-a-khan-text-intro/paf-over-the-years |title=PAF over the Years|page=95|chapter=Trauma & Reconstruction (1971-1980)|author=Group Captain (R) Husseini & Pakistan Air Force|publisher= Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force|edition=Revised}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/29-Jun-2015/charles-yeager-and-pakistan-air-force?version=amp|website=Daily Pakistan|title=Charles Yeager and Pakistan Air Force|author=Sarfaraz Ali}}</ref> In 1974, he attended [[Joint Warfare Establishment|Joint Warfare Courses]] at the [[UK]] and also graduated from [[PAF Staff College]]. As his last deployment, Najeeb was appointed as Pakistan's [[Air Attaché]] in [[France]] until finally [[retiring]] from the PAF on 20 June 1981.<ref name="paf"/>
 
=== 1965 War ===
{{main|Indo-Pakistani Air War of 1965}}
Najeeb was serving as the commander of the No. 7 Squadron during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]. Throughout the war, Najeeb participated in 17 [[Airstrike|strike missions]] deep inside enemy territory.<ref name="paf"/>
 
====B-57 raids====
[[File:Pakistan Air Force B-57s.jpg|thumb|Pakistani B-57 Canberra bombers]]
During the war, the bomber wing of the [[Pakistan Air Force|PAF]] was attacking the concentration of airfields in north India. In order to avoid enemy fighter-bombers, the B-57s operated from several different airbases, taking off and returning to different bases to hop and avoid being attacked.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defencejournal.com/may99/b-57.htm |title=B-57 The Intrepid Bomber of PAF |publisher=Defencejournal.com |access-date=2012-06-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515215015/http://www.defencejournal.com/may99/b-57.htm |archive-date=15 May 2012 }}</ref> The B-57 bombers would arrive over their targets in a stream at intervals of about 15 minutes, which led to achieving a major disruption of the overall IAF effort.<ref name="PAF">[http://www.defencejournal.com/2001/september/wars.htm "PAF and the three wars."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608010603/http://www.defencejournal.com/2001/september/wars.htm |date=8 June 2011 }} ''defencejournal.com'', 2001. Retrieved: 5 July 2010.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=The Magnificent Bomber Operations of PAF in Indo-Pak 1965 War |journal=Defense Journal |url=http://defencejournal.com/sept99/bomber.htm |issue=September 1999 |language=English |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010708101629/http://defencejournal.com/sept99/bomber.htm |archive-date=2001-07-08}}</ref>
 
=== 1971 War ===
{{main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}}
During the 1971 war, Najeeb served as the PSO of PAF's [[Commander-in-chief]], "Air Marshal [[Abdul Rahim Khan]]".<ref name="paf"/>


==Named by adversaries==
==Named by adversaries==
Line 28: Line 65:
[[File:B-57 dropping bombs.jpg|thumb|A B-57 dropping its full bomb load as a norm]]
[[File:B-57 dropping bombs.jpg|thumb|A B-57 dropping its full bomb load as a norm]]


In addition to his routine of making eight passes over Adampur, the unknown pilot also seemed to have had a second routine of conducting his raids thirty minutes after moonrise.<ref name="indianexpress"/><ref name="Samir"/>
In addition to his routine of making eight passes over Adampur, Najeeb also seemed to have had a second routine of conducting his raids thirty minutes after moonrise.<ref name="indianexpress"/><ref name="Samir"/>


Paddy Earle, an IAF fighter pilot, paid tribute to the unknown ace by saying:<ref name="indianexpress"/><ref name="Samir"/>
Paddy Earle, an Indian fighter pilot, paid tribute to the PAF pilot by saying:
 
{{quotation|I have the utmost respect for the Pakistani Canberra bloke who loved to ruin the equanimity of our dreary lives! 8-Pass Charlie was an ace, but he had this nasty habit of turning up about 30 min. after moonrise, just as we were downing our first drink! Seriously, he was a cool dude and a professional of the highest order. To disguise the direction of his run, he used to cut throttles before entering a dive and by the time the ack-ack opened up he was beneath the umbrella of fire. After dropping his load he'd apply full throttle and climb out above the umbrella.<ref name="indianexpress"/><ref name="Samir"/>}}
 
== Sitara-e-Jurat citation ==
For his inspiring leadership, courage and other actions displayed during the [[1965 war]], Najeeb was awarded the [[Sitara-e-Jurat]], the third highest gallantry award of [[Pakistan]].
 
His Sitara-e-Jurat citation read as follows:
 
{{Quotation|{{center|'''CITATION '''<br>
'''Sqn Ldr Najeeb Ahmed Khan '''<br>
'''7 SQUADRON PAK/3610'''<br>}}
Squadron Leader Najeeb Ahmed Khan was commanding a Bomber Squadron during the Indo-Pakistan War. He flew 17 bombing missions against various Indian Air Force operational bases and led his Squadron with courage during the most hazardous raids on Ambala, Adampur, Jamnagar and Jodhpur. He carried out the raid on the well-defended airfield of Ambala deep in enemy territory at great personal risk. The attack was conducted with great accuracy and outstanding professional skills. By his example, he inspired confidence, determination and aggressiveness amongst personnel of his Squadron. For his outstanding courage, inspiring leadership and dedication to duty, he is awarded Sitara-i-Juraat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pafmuseum.com.pk/heroes/|title=HEROES of PAKISTAN AIR FORCE, 1965 Gallantry awards section|quote=Squadron Leader Najeeb Ahmed Khan - Sitara-i-Juraat|website=Pakistan Air Force Museum}}</ref>
}}


{{quotation|I have the utmost respect for the Pakistani Canberra bloke who loved to ruin the equanimity of our dreary lives! 8-Pass Charlie was an ace, but he had this nasty habit of turning up about 30 min. after moonrise, just as we were downing our first drink! Seriously, he was a cool dude and a professional of the highest order. To disguise the direction of his run, he used to cut throttles before entering a dive and by the time the ack-ack opened up he was beneath the umbrella of fire. After dropping his load he'd apply full throttle and climb out above the umbrella.}}
== Personal life ==
Najeeb married Surraya on 14 October 1964 in [[London]]. The couple has a son named Babar (b. 1971). Soon after retiring from the PAF, he took residence in [[Canada]] and continues to live there with his family.<ref name="stn"/><ref name="paf"/> Najeeb's younger brother, [[Jamal A. Khan|Air Chief Marshall Jamal Ahmed Khan]] later went on to [[Chief of Air Staff (Pakistan)|command the Pakistan Air Force]].<ref name="paf"/> Both of them are the only duo brothers to be awarded the [[Sitara-e-Jurat]].


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Ace in a day]]
*[[Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui]]
*[[Saiful Azam]]
*[[Saiful Azam]]
*[[Muhammad Mahmood Alam]]
*[[Muhammad Mahmood Alam]]
Line 46: Line 97:
{{Military of Pakistan}}
{{Military of Pakistan}}


{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:8-Pass Charlie}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:8-Pass Charlie}}

Revision as of 04:20, 3 December 2022


Najeeb Ahmad Khan
Air Commodore (Rtd.)
Then Squadron Leader Najeeb A. Khan with his B-57 Canberra after a bombing mission over Ambala.
Personal details
Born (1933-08-24) 24 August 1933 (age 93)
Kaimganj, British India
NationalityPakistani
Canadian
Spouse(s)Surraya (m. 1964)
RelationsJamal A. Khan (Brother)
ChildrenBabar Najeeb
Parent(s)
  • Israil Ahmed Khan (father)
ResidenceCanada
Nickname(s)8-Pass Charlie
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan
Branch/service Pakistan Air Force
Years of service1954–1981
RankAir Commodore
Unit
CommandsBase Commander of Malir Airbase
Air Attachè of Pakistan to France
Battles/wars
Awards Sitara-e-Jurat
Tamgha-i-Basalat

8-Pass Charlie was the nickname of Najeeb Ahmed Khan, a Pakistani bomber pilot who raided the Adampur Airbase in India a number of times during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, notably starting a series of airstrikes on the base by a solo raid.[1][2][3][4]

He was named "8-Pass Charlie" by his impressed Indian adversaries at the Adampur base as he used to make eight passes, one for each bomb, on selected targets with improving efficiency instead of safely dropping all of his bomb load and exiting. He is also known to have had expertise in disguising his attack run by confusing anti-aircraft gunners by cutting throttles before entering a dive.[1][2]

Early life and education

Najeeb was born in Kaimganj to Israel Ahmed Khan of the Afridi tribe of Pashtuns, from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, on 24 August 1933. He was the older brother of Jamal Ahmed Khan. Najeeb received his primary education from Muslim High School, Bombay and upon migrating to Pakistan in 1949, where he settled in Lahore and completed his higher education.[3]

Career

Najeeb joined the Pakistan Air Force's 17th GD(P) course at Pakistan Air Force Academy in Risalpur and graduated on 6 June 1954. He was then posted to the PAF's No. 2 Squadron for Fighter Conversion Course. His brilliant performance in the conversion course led him to be selected for Advanced Jet Conversion Courses in the United States.[3]

On his return to Pakistan, he served in various PAF squadrons. He was amongst the few pilots who were selected to fly the newly inducted B-57 Canberra bombers. In 1962, he was again sent to the United States for more Advanced Training Courses and after returning, he was posted as the Officer commanding (OC) of the 31st Tactical Attack wing's elite No. 7 Squadron which was based at Mauripur Airbase. In 1969, he was appointed as the Base commander of PAF Base Malir and later commanded the PAF's No. 15 Squadron "Cobras". During his tenure with the Squadron, Najeeb also assisted Chuck Yeager on a flight to Mount Godwin Austin and took some memorable pictures of him in a PAF F-86F over the mountain.[5][6] In 1974, he attended Joint Warfare Courses at the UK and also graduated from PAF Staff College. As his last deployment, Najeeb was appointed as Pakistan's Air Attaché in France until finally retiring from the PAF on 20 June 1981.[3]

1965 War

Main article: Indo-Pakistani Air War of 1965

Najeeb was serving as the commander of the No. 7 Squadron during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. Throughout the war, Najeeb participated in 17 strike missions deep inside enemy territory.[3]

B-57 raids

Pakistani B-57 Canberra bombers

During the war, the bomber wing of the PAF was attacking the concentration of airfields in north India. In order to avoid enemy fighter-bombers, the B-57s operated from several different airbases, taking off and returning to different bases to hop and avoid being attacked.[7] The B-57 bombers would arrive over their targets in a stream at intervals of about 15 minutes, which led to achieving a major disruption of the overall IAF effort.[8][9]

1971 War

Main article: Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

During the 1971 war, Najeeb served as the PSO of PAF's Commander-in-chief, "Air Marshal Abdul Rahim Khan".[3]

Named by adversaries

The name was assigned to this unknown pilot by his impressed Indian adversaries at the Adampur base,[10] and appears to be derived from his daring routine of making eight passes in bombing runs during every air raid over the alerted airbase to bomb selected targets with each 500 lb bomb in the moonlight, "and tried to carry out an effective attack each time", instead of dropping his entire bomb-load of 4,000 lbs during the first pass which would have allowed a safer exit for the aggressor aircraft over initial defences.[2]

Kills

One of 8-Pass Charlie's confirmed kills is an Indian Air Force MiG 21s on Operational Readiness Platform (ORP) which was about to take off when he executed the first raid on the Adampur airbase at 2200 hours with his lone B-57 on 6 September, 1965.[2]

Technique

A B-57 dropping its full bomb load as a norm

In addition to his routine of making eight passes over Adampur, Najeeb also seemed to have had a second routine of conducting his raids thirty minutes after moonrise.[4][2]

Paddy Earle, an Indian fighter pilot, paid tribute to the PAF pilot by saying:

I have the utmost respect for the Pakistani Canberra bloke who loved to ruin the equanimity of our dreary lives! 8-Pass Charlie was an ace, but he had this nasty habit of turning up about 30 min. after moonrise, just as we were downing our first drink! Seriously, he was a cool dude and a professional of the highest order. To disguise the direction of his run, he used to cut throttles before entering a dive and by the time the ack-ack opened up he was beneath the umbrella of fire. After dropping his load he'd apply full throttle and climb out above the umbrella.[4][2]

Sitara-e-Jurat citation

For his inspiring leadership, courage and other actions displayed during the 1965 war, Najeeb was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat, the third highest gallantry award of Pakistan.

His Sitara-e-Jurat citation read as follows:

CITATION

Sqn Ldr Najeeb Ahmed Khan

7 SQUADRON PAK/3610

Squadron Leader Najeeb Ahmed Khan was commanding a Bomber Squadron during the Indo-Pakistan War. He flew 17 bombing missions against various Indian Air Force operational bases and led his Squadron with courage during the most hazardous raids on Ambala, Adampur, Jamnagar and Jodhpur. He carried out the raid on the well-defended airfield of Ambala deep in enemy territory at great personal risk. The attack was conducted with great accuracy and outstanding professional skills. By his example, he inspired confidence, determination and aggressiveness amongst personnel of his Squadron. For his outstanding courage, inspiring leadership and dedication to duty, he is awarded Sitara-i-Juraat.[11]

Personal life

Najeeb married Surraya on 14 October 1964 in London. The couple has a son named Babar (b. 1971). Soon after retiring from the PAF, he took residence in Canada and continues to live there with his family.[1][3] Najeeb's younger brother, Air Chief Marshall Jamal Ahmed Khan later went on to command the Pakistan Air Force.[3] Both of them are the only duo brothers to be awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Air Commodore (R) Najeeb Ahmed Khan (26 February 2021). "Will The Real "8-Pass Charlie" Stand Up". Second To None PAF. Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 P V S Jagan Mohan; Samir Chopra (May 2005). The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965 (1st ed.). Manohar. pp. 241–243. ISBN 978-8173046414. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Colonel (R) Azam Qadri; Group Captain Muhammad Ali. Sentinels in the Sky (PDF). PAF Book Club. pp. 151–154. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Class of '65, The Indian Express, 30 July 2006, retrieved 24 September 2022
  5. ↑ Group Captain (R) Husseini & Pakistan Air Force. "Trauma & Reconstruction (1971-1980)". PAF over the Years (Revised ed.). Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force. p. 95.
  6. ↑ Sarfaraz Ali. "Charles Yeager and Pakistan Air Force". Daily Pakistan.
  7. ↑ "B-57 The Intrepid Bomber of PAF". Defencejournal.com. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  8. ↑ "PAF and the three wars." Archived 8 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine defencejournal.com, 2001. Retrieved: 5 July 2010.
  9. ↑ "The Magnificent Bomber Operations of PAF in Indo-Pak 1965 War". Defense Journal (September 1999). Archived from the original on 8 July 2001.
  10. ↑ Samir Chopra, When old warriors meet., Bharat-rakshak.com, archived from the original on 6 December 2006, retrieved 19 December 2006
  11. ↑ "HEROES of PAKISTAN AIR FORCE, 1965 Gallantry awards section". Pakistan Air Force Museum. Squadron Leader Najeeb Ahmed Khan - Sitara-i-Juraat

Further reading

  • Air Commodore Rais A Rafi. PAF Bomber Operations: 1965 & 1971 Wars. PAF Book Club.

Template:Military of Pakistan

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=8-Pass_Charlie&oldid=370393"
Discover more