Indian-Subcontinent Database
Pakistani Air-to-Air Victories
By ACIG Team
Oct 29, 2003, 04:44

Last Update: 14 September, 2005

Note 1: the two IAF fighters claimed shot down by PAF No.5 Sqn Mirages on 13 December were differently declared as "Sukhois" or even "Hunters" shot down over the Narowal area. Although two "unattributed" IAF Mystére IVAs are known to have been lost during the Indo-Pakistani War in 1971, both were shot down on other days than 13 December, and no Mystéres operated in the area where these two victories were claimed. Equally, no other IAF Su-7s or Hunters were lost on this day in air-to-air combats in this sector.

Note 2: Capt. Abdul Hashim, DRAAF, ejected and was captured by the Pakistani Army.

Note 3: Night intercept at low level against two UAVs; two Mirages and four F-7Ps from Rafique AB failed to detect the targets over Lahore, consequently two F-16s were scrambled from Kamra AB; kill scored at a level between 5.000 and 6.000ft.

PAF F-86E 54026 was the plane flown by Sqn.Ldr. M.M. Alam on fatefull 7 September 1965. The plane was later shown with 9 kill markings for confirmed and several "damaged" Indian aircraft and the Pakistani propaganda made a great deal of Sqn.Ldr. Alam's claims for that day, reporting he shot down no less but five IAF Hunters within less than a minute, and a total of seven Indian fighters on the same day. A closer investigation of available evidence proved that Alam never claimed as many kills himself, as well as that kills credited to him by Pakistani officials were actually scored by several pilots over the course of the whole day. (artwork by Tom Cooper)

PAF Starfighters were to become the stars of the War in 1965, but actually the Indians feared them too much, while the PAF pilots knew very well about the weaknesses of the type and were very careful when engaging in air combat. Eventually, although at least five kills were claimed to have been scored by PAF F-104As, only two of these were ever confirmed - and in return one Starfighter was shot down by an (already damaged) IAF Mystére. (artwork by Tom Cooper)

The venerable Vampires in service with the IAF were no match for faster and more manoeuvrable F-86 Sabres in Pakistani arsenal, and when the two types met for the first time - in September 1965 - three Vampries were swiftly shot down by Pakistani pilots, causing the IAF to stop using remaining Vampires in combat.

Mystére IVAs of the No. 1 Squadron IAF, "Tigers", led the first strike againt Sargodha airfield complex, on the morning of the fateful 7 September 1965. The aircraft were marked with the traditional insignia of that unit - a Tiger head - and led by Wg.Cder. Omi Taneja. After the attack, during which the Indians claimed destruction of several Sabres and one Starfighter on the ground, the formation was intercepted by a sole F-104A of the No.9 Sqn PAF. Before overshooting, the Pakistani pilot hit the Indian fighter, injuring Sqn.Ldr. Devayya mortally; the Indian pilot, however, put the piper on the Starfighter in front of him and opened fire, causing sufficient damage for the Pakistani to eject before going down himself.