Squadron LeaderGhani AkbarSJ (Urdu: غاني أكبر),is a retired Pakistani fighter pilot and officer in the Pakistan Air Force. He is best known for taking part in the devastating blitzkrieg on the Pathankot airbase in India during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War, in which he doubled back and initiated a second attack on the airbase against the orders of his commanding officer Sajad Haider. Additionally, his formation destroyed 13 Indian aircraft including nine MiG-21s.[1][2]
Early Life
Ghani Akbar was born in a Pashtun village in Nowshera, British India, prior to the creation of Pakistan.[3] Growing up he participated in the Pakistan Movement, and was a firsthand witness to the violence between Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims during the partition of India. Akbar's home was close to the Pakistan Air Force Academy in Risalpur, Nowshera District and he would often sit on his roof watching fighter jets flying over his house, dreaming of one day being a pilot.[3] As a child Akbar was known for making wooden planes and playing with them in the fields.[3]
Fighter pilots from the Pakistan Air Force's No. 19 Squadron "Sherdils" planning for the airstrikes on the Indian Airbase of Pathankot during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war. The Officer Commanding (OC) Sajad Haider is also seen amongst them (2nd from right).
On 6 September 1965, India invaded Pakistan, with a large offensive directed towards Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city and the provincial capital of Punjab. This was done in order to alleviate the pressure in Kashmir, where Pakistan's Operation Grand Slam had inflicted heavy defeats on the Indian Army. Pakistan was forced to abandon the operation in Kashmir and counter the Indians in Punjab. Aerial operations by both sides became more common following this, with the most significant one being the PAF attack on Pathankot on the evening of 6 September 1965.[4]
Sajad Haider and his squadron were given the order to attack Pathankot Air Base in order to defend Lahore from the Indian Army. The attack was launched on the evening of 6 September 1965.[5] A formation of 8 F-86 Sabres of the PAF's 19th Squadron (nicknamed Sherdils which translates to Lionhearts), led by Squadron Leader Sajad Haider and wing commander M. G. Tawab took off from Peshawar towards Pathankot.[5]
Strike team of Pathankot airfield - Flt Lt Ghani Akbar (sitting 1st from right) with Sqn Ldr Sajad Haider (standing 2nd from left) and other members of No. 19 sqn (1965)
The formation reached the target airfield at 5:30 in the afternoon and unleashed heavy fire upon the base. The attack proved to be a resounding success. The airbase was severely damaged and inoperable for the remainder of the war, and over a dozen IAF aircraft were destroyed, including several state-of-the-art MiG-21 fighter aircraft, freshly acquired by India from the Soviet Union.[6]
An artist's rendition of a Ghani Akbar during the PAF raid at Pathankot in India. Medal on the left is the Sitara-e-Jurat, medal on the right is Sitara-e-Harb 1965.
Ghani Akbar (who at the time was only a Flight Lieutenant) was flying in the eighth position, and was therefore the last man to drop his bombs over the airbase. However, upon dropping his payload he was unsatisfied with the damage he had inflicted, and spotted multiple other IAF targets still intact on the ground. Akbar doubled back, and despite being ordered to retreat by his commanding officers, he initiated a second attack, and proceeded to destroy another IAF MiG-21 aircraft and five Indian Army tanks.[3][7][8][9]
Upon completing his second attack, Akbar realized he was extremely low on fuel and would be unable to reach Peshawar in time to land safely.[3][7][8][9] Fearing that he would have to eject over Indian territory, Akbar swiftly retreated, and despite facing heavy anti-air fire and low visibility due to smog, he successfully landed at a PAF Base in Sargodha.[3][7][8][9]
Flight Lieutenant Ghani Akbar flew 13 ground attack and 12 air defence missions during the Indo-Pakistan War. He destroyed one aircraft in a ground strike mission and was credited with 5 tanks destroyed and 5 damaged during close support missions. Throughout he flew aggressively, fearlessly and in a most professional manner. For his flying ability, determination and courage he was awarded Sitara-i-Juraat.[10]
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