The dogfight in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War is counted as among the finest in IAF’s history. Squadron leader Devayya, who was on standby, was part of the mission that went in. When he joined the air battle, he was intercepted by an enemy F-104 Starfighter flown by Pakistani Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain.
What follows is the ensuing combat between the heavy and slow-moving IAF Mystere and the faster and more modern F-104 Starfighter from Pakistan.
Late into the night of 6 September 1965, coded IAF Command tasking orders for authorizing multiple strikes against the PAF on 7 September were issued to the bases of Agra, Adampur and Halwara. The main components of the attack force were Canberra Bombers (5 Sqn) from Agra, Mysteres (1, 8 Sqn) from Adampur and Hunters (7 and 27 Sqn) from Halwara. In spite of the chaos relating to the Pakistan Army’s Special Service Group (SSG) paratrooper drops over Adampur and Halwara, as well as the incessant B57 night bombing raids over these airfields on the intervening nights of 6/7 September, these bases buzzed with activity during late night/early morning, preparing and arming their aircraft and holding elaborate mission briefs. Though the intelligence was limited on the PAF’s disposition, all air warriors at these bases were motivated and primed to hit back at the PAF. They wanted to pay them back in kind — tit for tat post the PAF’s strikes on 6th September!
Their primary target was the Sargodha Complex!
Sargodha during those days, minus the bases inside the Soviet Union, was probably the most well defended target across Asia. The PAF knew that with pre-emptive strikes on 6 September, they had stirred a Hornet’s nest and the IAF would strike with vengeance at this most strategic base. However, it was confident, that with an advanced early warning and multilayered defensive capability, only the most diehard IAF strike elements would be able to get through to Sargodha. And there they would be blown away to smithereens by the high-density ack-ack.
The PAF had grossly under estimated the tenacity and resolve of the IAF fighter pilots who were ready to absorb a high rate of attrition to hit back at the PAF at Sargodha.
The IAF hit the Sargodha complex all through the day with daring raids. Over ten PAF jets were destroyed on the ground during these strikes. On this day, the infamous and false claim of ‘5 IAF Hunters shot down in 30 seconds’ over Sargodha, by Sqn Ldr MM Alam of the PAF was propagated by the PAF as a propaganda twist to the events of that day.
However, the most significant dogfight of the 1965 war was also fought between a PAF Starfighter and an IAF Mystere jet that day. The story of which is most inspirational and beyond belief.
20 miles east of Sargodha, Pakistan. 0530 hours PST, 7 September 1965
‘Eagle, this is Sierra Control,’ the strained voice of PAF’s GCI control at Sakesar, boomed loud and clear in the ears of Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain. Hussain was piloting a F 104 Starfighter of 9 Sqn PAF ‘Griffins’, holding in a racecourse orbit 25 miles east of Sargodha at 15,000 feet. ‘Eagle, Sargodha is under attack. Sargodha’s ‘Killer’ (Base Air Defence) control spots three plus IAF fighters attacking the airfield. We are vectoring ‘Vulture’ and ‘Hawk’ CAPs to cover the eastern exits of the IAF aircraft inside the inner defence ring. Proceed ten miles southeast and hold anchor at 15,000 feet. No joy with the enemy aircraft presently. Stay clear of base. Guns are free over the airfield. Over anchor point, change over to Killer Control and monitor progress.’ Sakesar GCI vectored the Starfighter (Eagle) and Sabres (Vulture and Hawk) CAPs at the pre-determined points on the defensive circles around Sargodha, just as the first wave of IAF Mysteres of 1 Sqn ‘Tigers’ was striking Sargodha.
‘Roger, Eagle copies that!’ Hussain acknowledged the call and turned hard right in his sleek Starfighter, the most potent aircraft in the PAF’s arsenal. He went to full afterburner to go to supersonic speeds. The fuel-guzzling J79 turbojet responded without any lag as high-pressure jet fuel was injected in the combustion chamber to burn in mere nanoseconds. This produced the obligatory thrust through the High Pressure turbine, propelling the Starfighter to a commanding Mach 1.2 within a short period. As Hussain arrived over the position advised by GCI control, he throttled back to 450 knots, returning to subsonic speeds. The sonic boom distracted the villagers from their daily chores at Kot Nakka near Pindi Bhattian.
He grinned at the prospect of winning a Sitara-e-Jurat, the PAF’s award for getting an air-to-air kill in the coming moments. After all, nothing could stand in face of the mighty One O Four!
Amjad Hussain settled down in an orbit at 12,000 feet and started visually scanning the approaches from Sargodha determinedly to spot the IAF aircraft well in advance. He changed his R/T frequency to ‘Killer’ control, the CAP controller at Sargodha airfield, who was relaying a continuous commentary on the IAF’s raid. Amjad’s stomach tightened as he heard the call from Killer control, ‘strike exiting towards south east.’ He put the Starfighter in a gradual dive, which gave him better visibility and put the armament master ON.
In the 1965 conflict, the F104A Starfighter was the most advanced aircraft in the PAF service. It was superior to all aircraft in the IAF’s inventory. The F104A was a supersonic interceptor with a needle nose, short wings to aid supersonic flights and a ‘T’ tail to aid stabilization at those speeds. Its acceleration was superior than anything in the world and could climb to its operational ceiling of 50,000 feet in sixty seconds. The short wings were needle thin so as to have the least amount of atmospheric drag and the aircraft would easily reach its top speed of Mach 2.2 in a very short duration of time. The pilot in a Starfighter was literally sitting on a rocket engine due to this unmatched performance.
The Starfighter was armed with two Sidewinder AAMs and a six-barrelled Vulcan 20 mm rotary revolver cannon. The cannon, mounted in the lower part of the port fuselage, was fed by a 725-round drum behind the pilot’s seat, giving only a continuous 7 second burst of fire. The gun’s location was advantageous as the gun-flash was not in the pilot’s line of sight, therefore not robbing him of night-adjusted vision. An AN/ASG-14T ranging radar helped the Starfighter get an accurate range feed for its Gyro gun sight and the Sidewinders. The two AIM-9B Sidewinder air-to-air missiles were carried on the wingtip stations, which could also be used for fuel tanks. While the Sidewinder gave a definitive stand-off engagement capability, the Vulcan cannon was the most powerful gun on any airborne platform in the world.
15 miles South-East of Sargodha, Pakistan. 0534 hours PST, 7 September 1965
‘Contact with single bogey on radial one two zero. It is hugging the ground,’ Amjad exclaimed excitedly on spotting a single Mystere aircraft. ‘Go for the kill and lookout for the remaining fighters,’ bawled the Sargodha CAP controller. ‘Roger Wilco,’ Amjad dived towards the low-flying Mystere. At 5000 feet and closing in 2000 yards behind the Mystere, he got an intermittent lock on the right Sidewinder and fired the missile. The missile missed the target and exploded harmlessly on the ground. Hussain continued to close in rapidly and switched over to guns. At 600 yards, Amjad opened up with the deadly six barrelled 20-millimeter cannon. The millisecond burst of the 6000 rounds per minute cannon sounded like a canvas being ripped and seemed to slow down the Starfighter in its mighty recoil.
He saw the Mystere pass through the tracer line of his bullets. ‘Splash One,’ Amjad gave a victor’s war cry over the R/T and pulled out of his dive to turn right, attempting to pick up the other IAF aircraft.
Amjad carried out a slow roll and while passing inverted, hanging on his seat belt, he saw an IAF Mystere closing in rapidly behind him at roughly sixty-degree pitch at seven o’clock. ‘Contact with a second bogey. Engaging him,’ Amjad called out on R/T, while manoeuvring to neutralize the Mystere’s aggressive pitch towards him. He carried out a rolling reversal towards the Mystere and they crossed at a high angle off. Amjad Hussain reversed to find the Mystere cutting in rapidly inside his turn again.
He saw muzzle flashes from the nose profile of the Mystere and tracers passing too close for comfort. Hussain went to afterburner settings and pulled up in a yo-yo manoeuvre to zoom up and get a height advantage, as well as cut down his forward travel to maintain with his adversary. He dropped down on the Mystere, who again pulled up towards him, forcing Hussain to carry out another yo-yo. Dropping again, in his exuberance to cut inside the Mystere’s turn, Hussain went for a horizontal hard turn towards the Mystere. The wily Mystere pilot timely reversed towards the Starfighter and forced Hussain to get into horizontal scissors. The Starfighter was not made for low speed, high angle of attack combat and its short, negative camber wings were woefully inadequate to generate a meaningful lift at low speeds. Hussain’s Starfighter juddered near stall limits carrying out low speed scissors with a very skillful IAF Mystere pilot. The Mystere pilot had craftily trapped Amjad Hussain in a turning fight, where the Starfighter’s superior performance was progressively bled off.
‘Damn’, Hussain thought, ‘weren’t the IAF fighter pilots supposed to be dead scared of a Starfighter?’ The Mystere was manoeuvring very skillfully and managing to engage the Starfighter with vengeance. The IAF pilot appeared like a quintessential Teutonic Knight to Hussain, hell bent on dispatching him to Valhalla in the‘never say die’ code of a fanatical warrior!
As the two fighter pilots tediously battled it out over the village of Kot Nakka for their respective Air Forces in a classic one versus one situation, the question rattling Amjad Hussain’s brain continuously was, ‘Who the hell was this guy?’
Amjad Hussain’s adversary was a bold IAF Squadron Leader by the name of Ajjimada Bopayya Devayya or ‘Tubby’ as he was christened in the squadron.
A fighter pilot, whose peers described him as an ‘unusual chap, one of those World War types’! A descendant of the humble Kodava warriors from Coorg in South India, Devayya was a true soldier who lived by the virtues of honour, integrity and persistent bravery. He grew up reading about the chivalrous dogfights of the bygone era and epitomized idols like Von Richthofen, Douglas Bader, Eric Hartmann and other knights of the skies. Hence, it was only natural for Devayya to become a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force.
On that fateful day, Devayya, part of the IAF’s ‘Red’ formation made up of 1 Sqn Mysteres, was lagging behind Taneja and Verma when they were exiting in a south east direction at 200 feet.
At about 15 miles from Sargodha, he spotted Amjad Hussain’s Starfighter in a threatening dive, with his guns blazing. Devayya carried out a late ‘Rip’ maneuver to turn rapidly into the Starfighter, which saved him from certain death. However, a small proportion of the Vulcan’s rounds may have found their mark, destroying the VHF radio setup of the Mystere, amongst other unknown damage. His bête noire, the Starfighter turned away, blissfully unaware to the fact that Devayya had survived the attack.
At this juncture, nursing his engine at low levels, he could have easily continued towards India, as his aircraft was flyable. Also, a low fuel reserve prevented the Mystere from engaging in wishful air combat of any manner. Devayya spottedthe Starfighter commence a slow roll in search of his compatriots. He realized that the unsuspecting Taneja and Verma would be easy kills for the undetected Starfighter. With no radio, Devayya could not warn others of the evolving threat from the Starfighter. Only he stood between the Starfighter and sure shot destruction of his comrades. Devayya did not flinch as he hauled his stick hard in his stomach and went to max engine rating to reach for the Starfighter hawking about 3000 feet high.
‘Tubby’ Devayya knew for certain that whatever the outcome of the impending engagement, he would not be returning home!
Also read: IAF chief mentioned a 1965 legend: Here’s the story of Squadron Leader Devayya
However, as he closed onto the Starfighter, saving the lives of his comrades was paramount on the mind of this gallant knight of the sky. A fact made more remarkable when we compare the capabilities of the Mystere with the Starfighter.
In terms of air combat capability, the Mystere was no match for the Starfighter. The Dassault Mystere IV was a subsonic fighter-bomber with a maximum speed of 690 knots at sea level and a combat ceiling of 49,000 feet. It had a 3500 kg thrust, Hispano Suiza Verdon 350 turbojet, with a first generation centrifugal flow compressor, which had a very sluggish engine response. Its rate of climb of 7500 feet per minute was nothing to be proud of.
In terms of performance, it was not suited for air combat operations. However, with two 30 mm DEFA cannons and an armament load comprising of retractable/ wing mounted 80mm SNEB/T 10 rockets and a bomb carriage capability of 1000 lbs under each wing, it was the perfect interdiction and strike aircraft. When flying at tree top levels at top speed, it could escape any PAF aircraft — except the Starfighter!
And Devayya’s battle-damaged Mystere was facing a missile armed Starfighter of the PAF!
Also read: History lesson for Pakistan’s military: IAF’s Keelor brothers shot down PAF jets in 1965
Village Kot Nakka, Pindi Bhatian, Pakistan. 0539 hours PST. 7 September 1965
Devayya successfully managed to engage the Starfighter flown by Amjad Hussain. He knew he could neutralize the Starfighter’s performance advantage if he could engage the Starfighter in horizontal maneuvering, where the Mystere would be able to ‘turn’ better than the Starfighter. After a couple of yo-yos, the Starfighter made the mistake that Devayya was waiting for.
The Starfighter pilot, in an attempt to get behind the Mystere, reduced his speed rapidly and carried out a turn in the horizontal plane to bore sight the Mystere for a gun solution. Grabbing this chance, Devayya turned hard into his adversary and managed to ‘force’ the Starfighter into horizontal scissors. Thereafter, with better handling and turning rate of the Mystere at lower speeds, Devayya began to reduce the angle required to get a shot at the Starfighter.
With each passing scissor, the fight moved to lower levels, increasing the difficulties of the battling pair! Devayya was gaining on the Starfighter, but was not there as of yet. He decided to gamble the last few knots of speed he possessed. As the Starfighter was coming for the next cross, Devayya turned hard into the Star-fighter, bleeding off his speed at a rapid rate, but was able to cut inside the turn of his adversary by his desperate action. Hence, when he reversed, he had the Starfighter within his gun sight. Devayya knew this was his only chance.
Point blank, at around 250 yards from the Starfighter, Devayya pressed the firing button. The 30 mm HE shells of the DEFA cannon caught the Starfighter in their spread some-where close to the vertical stabilizer at the rear part of the aircraft. The Starfighterwas terminally hit.
A shocked Amjad Hussain found his control jammed and the Starfighter plum-meting towards the ground. The Starfighter’s rear stabilizer was ripped away by the Mystere’s fire. Hussain ‘punched’ out. Hussain survived a harrowing low-level ejection from the doomed Starfighter and landed safely by parachute near Kot Nakka village. ‘Tubby’ Devayya’s last few moments of predicament will always remain a mystery.
After shooting down the Starfighter, his Mystere crashed close to Hinduana village, some distance away from Kot Nakka. Devayya had crashed with his stricken aircraft. It is possible, that after taking the shot at the Starfighter,Devayya was unable to eject out in the SNCASO ejection seat of his battle-damaged Mystere. Villagers found his body intact, thrown away from the burning wreckage of his Mystere by the force of the impact. Devayya was buried by the villagers in the nearby fields.
Amjad Hussain achieved what he so desperately sought that day, an award of Sitara-e-Jurat for shooting down Devayya’s Mystere. He, however, lived his life knowing that a gifted and very brave IAF pilot, while flying an inferior aircraft to his Starfighter, had got the better of him.
Unknown to Taneja and Verma, given the combat edge of the Starfighter, Devayya had saved them from certain doom. That Devayya stayed behind and managed to shoot down a supersonic, missile armed Starfighter, against all odds whilst operating a possibly damaged Mystere, speaks highly of the professional integrity, bravery and flying skill he possessed. Devayya amply substantiated the adage — it is the man behind the machine who matters most!
Taneja dejectedly reported Devayya as ‘missing in combat’ after Verma and he landed back at Adampur.
The story of this fantastic one versus one duel and Devayya’s heroism would have passed into obscurity, with Devayya’s fate remaining unknown, ironically, had it not been for the official publication of PAF’s history of the 1965 Air War with India in 1979, authored by John Fricker.
Aftermath 1979–88
Published in 1979, The Official History of the PAF in 1965 War was a book commissioned by the PAF to showcase the ‘comprehensive’ wins of the PAF over the IAF in the 1965 war as part of a dedicated propaganda effort to cloak the massive defeat suffered by the Pakistani Armed Forces. This obsequious tribute to showcase the larger than life role models like Sqn Ldr MM Alam and others, was biased in content to a great extent. However, John Fricker, the writer, did admit to the loss of a PAF Starfighter over Sargodha, which was reportedly shot down by an IAF Mystere on 7 September 1965. This may have been based on official PAF feedback after the loss of the Starfighter.
Now retired, Group Captain Omi Taneja, the 1 Sqn strike leader on that fateful day over Sargodha, happened to see this historical record and deduced that the Mystere pilot who had shot down a Starfighter, had to be A.B. Devayya. Flight Lieutenant U.B. Guha flew the only other Mystere lost by IAF on that day. A Sidewinder missile had unquestionably shot down Guha, which had been fired from a PAF Sabre.
Hence Devayya was the pilot who had shot down Amjad Hussain.
Also, Amjad Hussain was shot down again in the 1971 war against India. While interrogation as a POW, he recalled his fight with an IAF Mystere, admitting that he had ‘collided’ with the IAF jet. This provided the first clue to the inspirational dogfight between Hussain and Devayya.
In 1980, Taneja, after confirming the same details from various other sources, was left awed by this inspiring tale of valour and sacrifice. He reasoned that the Indian nation needed to know about the supreme gallantry and sacrifice of A.B. Devayya. He compiled Devayya’s story and wrote to the then IAF Chief of Air Staff, recommending Sqn Ldr AB Devayya for the awardof a Maha Vir Chakra, the second highest gallantry award of the Indian nation. Based on available evidence, the IAF was successfully able to convince the Indian government that A.B. Devayya had indeed shot down a F104 Starfighter.
In 1988, about 23 years after his valiant tale of glory near Sargodha, Devayya’s widow, MrsSundari Devayya received the Maha Vir Chakra from a grateful Indian nation.
For many decades this famous dogfight has confounded historians and air enthusiasts alike. Devayya’s story is highly inspirational! He lived and died a Knight’s death, buried in an unmarked grave somewhere in Hinduana village deep inside Pakistan, at the Valhalla of his choosing!
Rest peacefully now, O brave knight,
may the clouds welcome you in their final embrace.’
— A quote on the grave of a famous WWII German ace
This article was originally published in the Medium.
Also read: 8 pieces of clinching evidence that show how IAF’s Abhinandan shot down a Pakistani F-16
Just curious- how has this battle been recreated accurately when there was no one to witness it as it happened?
Look Akram, don’t be like Wasim Akram, it’s not cricket but war. By your own admission, one should not have satisfaction from a written article or imagination, then what is that Pakistan’s commissioned agent Mr. John’s book of 1979 on PAF is? Is it not a piece of fiction, with a few lines of real action sprinkled in between? Your the then Government, Army & ISI, in an attempt to save face after two consecutive defeats of 65 & 71 and the loss of East Pakistan, tried to fool the people of Pakistan, by such tactics. Irony is, people of Pakistan are gullible and blindly believe such state sponsored propaganda like verses from Koran.
You may ask the same question from Indians, but trust me, we are much more conscious and question very unpleasant queries from our Government of the day, till satisfied to the core. Coming back to Sq. Ldr. Devayya’s feat, it was acknowledged by none other than your Flt. Lt. Amjad, who was brought down again in India during 71, so much for your awarded pilot, who got the award first for losing his plane in 65 and then brought down in 71. Ask yourself does he merit an award, is it not propaganda?
For Balakot and afterwards, why Pakistan took 43 days to show the alleged place of action to the media in a strictly conducted tour? Why no interaction with locals not at all allowed? Regarding PAF action on 27th, your fighter/bombers did very little to penetrate into India and rather misused the US provided F16 and their long range AMRAMS ineffectively, except the vintage MIG21 of Abhinandan. He was captured and we accepted the loss of the plane immediately. But your ISPR chief Maj. Genl. Asif immediately boasted about two IAF planes downed and two pilots captured live but injured and hospitalised. Then suddenly one of the downed IAF plane and it’s captured pilot magically vanishes from all his narratives afterwards. Why? Ask Asif, identify the other pilot and the plane. Asif won’t and you don’t ask him. Then your Government, Army & ISI contact a faceless, nameless media from US to propagate that no F16 was used or lost. Thereafter comes the statement that Pakistan has the right to use F16 for self defence. But now comes the official US declaration that no count of Pakistan’s
F16 inventory was ever done after the 27th action.
I ask a straight question, how can you be so careless and blissful? Are you people constantly dreaming for decades?
Look Delhi I only advised you plz read and watch the international media like NYT. WASHINGTON POST. BBC. DALI MAIL. AL JEZZRYA. for the ture story who mad man told you that india win the 1965 war if it is your self saification then it is not my problem. It is proved matter that PAF has the air superiority OVER IAF in 1965.
Then the matter of Flt.Lt Amjid hussian he was in the custody of indian armed forces as you mention wathever it is Turth or not his stament in the coustdy of enmey forces proved nothing if you give the reference to his stament then what are you said about the stament of Comd.Kulboshin yadiev a serving Indian RAW agent will you accept his account. The matter of galntry award if your gov award the madel to Abinandin who shoot down in the hand of enmy and then captured by PAK army I could understand what is the bravery standard of your armed forces and your gov. In the matter of Flt. Lf. Amjid Hussian he got his galntry award in 1965 to defend the Sirgooda air base not to shoot down by the hand of enemy. He was a brave fighter piolt who successfully defend the SAB against 3 enemy fighter plane and I proud on him. In the matter of f16 for your information Forigen plocey magazine is far more credible information source then any other news agency in the matters of US defence and to Pentagon. I ask you the question is the journalist backed his story??? the answer is no. Man made redar computers graphics proved nothing. Belive me I will make batter graphics then your IAF V. A. M Kapoor give me your What’s up no I will send you if you want. ???
You also mention 1971 war for your information no army doesn’t matter how much he strong cannot win a war until the people of the land did not support the army. I give you your country example IOK. Nagaland. Assam Indian army has failed to control of these areas instead of using brutial force. . AFG. Vietnam. 1971 war a callsical example of a State terrorism which your PM MODI accept in Bangladesh.
The matter of 26 balakot incurison you give me a one example from any armed forces in the world possess a bomb or missile who hit his target and not destroy it. I am waiting tell me the name of this missle/bomb. I know spike is a peniterator wepion but when he hit his target his daleyed fuse war he’d must be explore. All the independent news outlets and satellite sources confirmed that the building was in inteact nothing happene only a Crow is dead which cost IAF lost of 2 fighters a piolt in the coustdy of enemy hand and worldwide humiliation. On 27Feb PAF outclassed the IAF in tactics. plaining. Training and bravery. Your so called superior su 30 were outranged.outguned and outnumbered not do anything but save himself from AMRAAM’S. To target the IA instalation is not a big deal as you know if you watching international media a H4 SOW hit the Beg.head quarter of IA. The real purpose of this attack was to show the intention. Will. Courage that we hit you any time any place and at any circumstances. You should thanks to over leader ship to not allow the PAF piolts to hit the target but the massage was clear we will give you benefiting respons if you have evil eye on Pak at any level. It was really a bad day for IAF and your PM is so much upest he told in a reely that if the Rafael is the part of IAF the result will be different. Told him Mr. PM war will fights with the courage velour. Passion and bravery. IAF took 10 days for a proved failed mission and PAF take 23 hours for a successful mission.
One more thing ask your politicians to trust their own armed forces. but how can they trust they were know how much brave and turth spoken their forces.
Remember M.M ALAM and this article is worst joke ever i read in my life lol indian pilot is just plate nothing more then this, because our tea is fantastic
PAF has BATTERED pilots….we agree…LLOL
There is no doubt that in 1965 the Pakis were better armed compared to us. I still remember the tension on my father’s face who told us in the evening that they’ve lost 9 aircraft on the first day of the war and at this rate the IAF would get wiped out in on week. He was speaking about the Vampires from Pathankot. All said and done in the end the Pakis good a good whacking by both IAF and Indian Army. Their President Ayub Khan had to resign. But, whatever pants they were left with were taken off in 1971.
But this is way too back in time baba. Ek baar fir se ho jaaye dogfight. Hum porkis ko ruswa nahi hone deinge is baar bhi. September mai hee Rafaels bhi aa rahe hai. Rasme duniya bhi hai mauqa bhi hai aur dastoor bhi hai. Cmon porkis. Ho jaaye.?
Sameer, In early 1983, I had called on Gp Capt Omi Taneja at his house in Defence Colony. I was collecting information and write-ups for the Golden Jubilee of the Tigers, 1 Sqn, as the newly posted Flt Cdr and put in charge of the GJ brochure, museum etc. Based on this interview, I wrote a dream sequence which was published in the GJ Brochure released on April 01, 1983. I have not been able to find my copy of the brochure but have the four typewritten sheets of the article. If you are interested, please send me your mail ID and I would forward it to you for your reading pleasure. My reconstruction of the fight was slightly different and may interest you. Yours is a better and more imaginatively written piece which I enjoyed reading.
I reiterate that it is man hehind machine for any sucessful mission. IAF pilots had proved much better skills and air supremacy over PAF time and again inspite of having relatively older air combat equipments. It is fact. Salute to IAF .
Batter piolts then PAF LOL. Plz ask this question to entire world who is the batter piolt force. Read and watch international media maybe you get some correct information.
U r right…IAF always had and will hv BETTER PILOTS than PAF….ur PAF certainly has BATTER pilots…hahahahaha
Sunny. Seriously you need a English teacher who tell you what is BETTER and what is the BATTER. First correct your English. ?????.
Yes definitely , your piolts are better. Do u have anything to comment on shameful exit of your president after 1965 war when your nation cried like a baby to stop war and yes 1971 when your so called brave and batter piolts could not save your country and was divided in 2 by India. And one world record in your brave Pakistan name….you guys dis world’s biggest surrender till date….96000 coward porkis surrendered with their coward General Niyazi……shame on you and your batter PAF and coward army……
I can understand the frustration of loosing all battles to India despite your batter piolts. This is a good platform to speak and release your shame, cowardness and believe that you never lost 1965, but your president resigned, you never lost 1971 but your 96000 coward soldiers and general Niyazi on record surrendered, you never lost 1999 but your own channels suggest you badly lost the battle. …….No problem, release pressure of the shame your so called brave army brought your Porkistan always….and will always bring when ever it will lock horns with India….better you come to us with a bagging bowl…..And hope u remember Tomatoes…..
Plz provide the toilets to your own people rich Indians?????. Plz check the Google and check the current debt of India.Live in dreams world of so called your armed forces bravery saw and read your own media. your are 1.30 billion humain country and we are 220 million and you have no courage no morilty no brevery to stands fornt of us. Pak is a realty the realty which india cannot digest.
There was an air battle over Ambala which while in a bus travelling from Chandigarh I had the opportunity to witness. Could you throw some light on it.
Also there was a night time raid by PAF over Ambala where they unloaded their bombs over a hospital. I do not believe they came to bomb a hospital but in complete black out were unable to find target.
There was also a brave anti Aircraft gunner Raju at Amritsar who shot down a few of PAF fighters. I was an engineering student at Chandigarh, we shook hands with him. The photograph appeared in the Tribune. I forget the date.
Only Brave honour the valour of the enemy soldier.
The Cowardly have no place in military history
Well said
Only writers views and imagination nothing substantial. In 1965 war PAF has the proved air superiority over IAF. Neutral observer and military experts have also share their views on this subject that PAF has the air superiority over IAF.Aritical like this prove nothing but a self imagination of satisfaction and victory.
The author did not dispute the PAF air superiority. He is telling tales of highly superior PAF loosing planes to inferior, GNAT , Mystere and Hunters. That is a shame for PAF.
Mr. Hari to shoot down 1/2 air plane in a war is not a big deal but important is who fight with courage velour and bravery. I give you a example in resent days on 26 feb IAF take 10 days to attempt to take revange of pulvama victims failed or success it is another matter although international media and independen setliate source have the opinion that this mission was failed but with in 23 hour PAF struck back and what happen on 27 feb you know well it is an other matter you will not accept this. Your air force SU 30,MIG 29,Meriages fighters and your so called sikll full piolts can not do nothing instead they try their best but lost 2 air carft.It is up to you are you accept this story which is based on writer’s imagination no hard evidence or the day of 27 feb where the fantastic tea of cup was hard evidence.
Yes, PAF stuck back and lost a F-16 and worst, never admitted like in 1965 war. Moreover 11 glide bombs unleashed over Indian brigade headquarter went wide because South African glide bombs have not been tested or perfected in a battle. Three of them are unexploded still in Indian possession.
You guys are the world’s biggest losers till date.. I can understand the porkis frustration of loosing all battles of 1965, 1971, and 1999 by hands of India….and who says we were always superior…One quote for a war iileterate like you which our mighty general Sam manickshaw….Hope u know him who broke your bones in 1971 war….war is not won by weapon superiority but by the courage of armed forces….this is what u miss coward porkis
Do you also remember 27th Feb when u lost a F16 shamefully and your own squadron leader whose father is serving air Marshall in PAF was brought down with his F16 on ground. And then you mad porkis killed your own officer???? Not on record…your own Spokesman was confused and said 2 IAF pilots are arrested…One in hospital…who was ur own pilot….haha and hope u remember that your porkistan out of fear returned our brave pilot. Itna Dar aur Khauf??? We are happy 1971 Champions of loosing war and making shameful records for Porkistan
Actually the PAF F-104 flew through the debris of the hunted IAF aircraft, got damaged; thus Sqn Ldr Amjad Hussain had to eject from the crippled aircraft.
Squadron Leader Ajjimada Bopayya Devayya died as a soldier, we must respect that.
If you have any facts to dispute please highlight the same. Otherwise please remain content in your imagined and fictitious glory of your airforce and victory in 1965 which brought your country to bankruptcy
Mr. Rohit are the writer of this self imagination article or you have any evidence to prove this story???. The fact of the matter is PAF was gain the air superiority over IAF in 1965 war and all the netural miltiry observe accept this. And plz remember 27 feb and the cup of tea. As the tea is fantastic the PAF stategy is fantastic to Struck the IAF.
Also remember 1999 when u were at advantageous position on hills but our soldiers pumped bullets in your bums and you ran away and your PM was bagging from USA to stop India.IAF and bofors will not let you forget that shameful defeat of your nation. Remember July 1999? And by the way, your nation is so coward that it even did not took back bodies of your soldiers. We have their I cards and all record….think about thier families who were hopefully hurried by us. And we have many videos on YouTube where your some mindful military experts accepted a huge defeat by our hand. And some videos of your coward commanders taking bodies of martyred soldiers as well. But as a nation you were always a failure , are right now bagging in entire world and will always be like this