Our Heroes - Pakistan Air Force

[ghazi52]

 

[ghazi52]

Sherdil Forever

Remembering Flight Lieutenant Syed Alamdar Hussain (Shaheed)
By Air Cdre Pervez Akhtar Khan (Retd), PAF.

In every generation, there appears a man who defines the meaning of excellence. In the Pakistan Air Force of the 1970s, that man was Flight Lieutenant Syed Alamdar Hussain — Sword of Honour winner, leader of the Sherdils, and embodiment of the PAF spirit: courage, precision, and romance.

He was the kind of officer who made perfection seem effortless. Always immaculate, always composed, and yet deeply humble — a blend of style and substance that inspired awe even among peers. “When I walk on the street,” he once told me, “people should point and say — there goes the best fighter pilot in the world.” Then he paused, smiled, and added, “And the best dressed man in the world.”

That was Alamdar — a romantic, not just about love but about life itself. I still remember how, one spring morning, he dragged me to a mela to find the “most beautiful girl in the world.” He had seen her reading palms at a charity stall but couldn’t muster the courage to speak. It was a moment of youthful innocence — two young fighter pilots conspiring like schoolboys, hearts full of laughter and dreams. Such were the days when the world was large, life was fast, and friendship was the only currency worth keeping.

Months later, I asked him what he truly wanted from life. His answer was prophetic: excellence or nothing. And it was that unrelenting pursuit of excellence that would take him and the Sherdil formation into the skies for their fateful practice run in October 1978.

The team flew the T-37 in a tight box formation, barely feet apart — ice in their veins, poetry in motion. On 8 October 1978, the same date he had graduated with the Sword of Honour six years earlier, Alamdar’s aircraft went down during a steep turn sequence. There was no time to eject. The Sherdil Leader had flown his last sortie.

He was only twenty-six.

Some called it a tragedy. I call it transcendence. For Alamdar lived and died the way every fighter dreams — at full throttle, chasing the horizon.

The PAF has produced many heroes who have left behind such an enduring echo. Alamdar’s name still stirs something within us — a reminder that the pursuit of perfection is a noble madness, that friendship and romance are not weaknesses but signs of being fully alive.

It goes to the credit of the Pakistan Air Force that it keeps that flame burning — the desire to be the best, generation after generation. PAF truly is a symbol of pride for the nation. The Sherdil Leader lives on through every young pilot who takes to the sky.

Flt Lt Syed Alamdar Hussain (Shaheed)
8 October 1978 – Forever Sherdil.
A Family of Warriors and Healers
The Hussain family of Para Chinar stands among Pakistan’s rare lineages where courage and compassion marched together.

Col Syed Sajjad Hussain, the eldest brother, hero of the 1965 War, was recommended for the Sitara-e-Jur’at. A pioneer in demining, he later trained Afghan teams and helped clear Afghanistan’s minefields after the Soviet withdrawal — a soldier who continued saving lives long after the guns fell silent.

Col Syed Zulfiqar Hussain, another brother, was recommended for the Sitara-e-Jur’at for gallantry in the 1971 War — a professional soldier whose quiet valour still echoes through regimental memory.

Air Marshal Syed Qaisar Hussain (Retd) rose to become the Vice Chief of the Air Staff, upholding the family’s martial standard at the highest command level.

Flt Lt Syed Alamdar Hussain (Shaheed), Sherdil Leader, embodied their collective soul — courage in motion, excellence personified.

The youngest twins chose a different battlefield. Dr Syed Mujahid Hussain served his people selflessly in public health. Dr Syed Riaz Hussain (Shaheed) was martyred by extremists for running free clinics across FATA and Chitral — a healer struck down for compassion itself.

Together they form a lineage that fought in the air, on the ground, and in the hearts of men — a family that lived and died for Pakistan.

Four soldiers, two doctors, one destiny: service to humanity.

A family of warriors.
A family of healers.
A family of Pakistan.

 

[ghazi52]

Born on 5 March 1947, Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir was commissioned as a fighter pilot in the Pakistan Air Force in January 1967.

After his initial flying and operational training at various PAF units he attended advanced professional courses at Flying Instructors School, Combat Commanders School, PAF Staff College and National Defence University.
ACM Mushaf Ali Mir had held various command, instructional and staff appointments.

He saw action in the 1971 Indo-Pak war and was also deputed to Abu Dhabi and USA from 1976-1979 and 1983-1985 respectively. He also commanded a fighter squadron, a fighter wing and PAF Base Sargodha.The ACM also served as Air Officer Commanding of Pakistan Air Force’s Southern Command and also as the Chairman of the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex. Other key staff appointments include Director PAF Operations and Assistant Chief of Air Staff (plans) as well as Chief Project Director for acquisition programs of Falcon F-16 and Green flash (Mirage 2000-5).

ACM Mushaf Ali Mir flew almost all trainers and combat aircraft in PAF inventory including F-104 Starfighters, F-86F Sabres, F-6s, Mirages & F-16 Falcons, logging about 4000 hours in the air. For his meritorious services he was awarded Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) and Sitara-e-Basalat. ACM Mashaf Ali Mir was a keen golfer and an emblem of leadership in the PAF. The ACM embraced shahadat in an air crash en route to PAF base Kohat on 20th February, 2003.

 

[ghazi52]

Flight Lieutenant Gulfam Soomro shaheed - March 13, 2007.

F-7 Fighter Aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force crashed in the Kharotabad area near Samungli Air Base, official sources said. Pilot Flight Lieutenant Gulfam Soomro embraced Shahadat in the crash while Pilot Taha suffered injuries. The crash occurred due to technical malfunction.

May Allah Award The Martyred Soul The Highest Place In Jannah.

My General Salute To All PAF Heroes.

 

[ghazi52]

Squadron Leader Ammar Hassan Butt Shaheed.

Pakistan Air Force Chengdu F-7PG Was Crashed On September 5, 2007, While It Was On A Routine Training Mission In Balochistan.

May Allah Award The Martyred Soul The Highest Place In Jannah, My General Salute To All PAF Heroes.

 

[ghazi52]

Flight Lieutenant Abid Ali Shah Shaheed (Tamgha-e-Basalat), was born on 26th January 1966, Graduated from PAF Academy on 06th November 1986, Bagged Best Over All Performance Shield at PAF base Mianwali at No.1 Fighter Conversion Unit-1987, Then had 1st Posting To Masroor Air Base in No.8 Sqn.

Qualified First MISTRAL Weapon system , Also Operational Use of AM 39 Weapon System on Mirage-VPA3, On Jan 29 1992 On a Training Mission His Mirage Developed fault near Hub and Crashed, what we heard was his Ejection system failed and Abid Tried to Bring his plane back to His Base But didn't Succeed. Only Allah Pak Knows Best what Actually Happend.

Abid The Youngest of 4 Brothers was a GEM Of a Class since Childhood An Angel Like Character with a Hand writing just Like Spreading Pearls on a paper. His Junior Air Commodore Ahmed Hassan Recently visited our home.

His batch mate Haseeb Paracha is AVM now a days. We are Proud of Him for His Sacrifice in Line of Duty to His Country and we Always Feel Privilged To be a Part of PAF Which has Always Stood by our Family inviting my mother on all Occssions Recent being At Risalpur Academy Re naming of After Great Air Marshal M. Asghar Khan, I Am Really Grateful For ur Concern and Sympathy Stay Blessed Ameen.

Narrated by Elder Brother Of Sir Flt Lt Abid Ali Shah Shaheed, Sir Zahid Ali Shah.

May Allah Award The Martyred Soul The Highest Place In Jannah, My General Salute To All PAF Heroes.

 

[ghazi52]

Flying Officer Raza Ul Haq Quddusi (Shaheed)

F-7P Crash, 19th September 1996.

And For All Of Us And We Strongly Believe That They Are The Hero Of This Nation And We Will Never Let This Nation Forget Their Heroes.

"And Say Not Of Those Who Are Slain In The Way Of Allah: 'They Are Dead.' Nay, They Are Living, Though You Perceive It Not." (Quran 2:154)

 

[ghazi52]

Flight Lieutenant Zia Ul Hassan "Shaheed".

PAF A-5c Fantan, While On A Routine Operational Training Mission His Aircraft Crashed Near Lachi Village Of District Kohat On 7th April 2000.

And For All Of Us And We Strongly Believe That They Are The Hero Of This Nation And We Will Never Let This Nation Forget Their Heroes.

"And Say Not Of Those Who Are Slain In The Way Of Allah: 'They Are Dead.' Nay, They Are Living, Though You Perceive It Not." (Quran 2:154)

 

[ghazi52]

Flight Lieutenant Umer Shehzad (Shaheed)

F-7PG Crash September-24, 2016, 3rd Shahadat Anniversary of Flight Lieutenant Umer Shehzad Tamgha e Basalat. He embraced Shahadat in routine training sortie, while his aircraft F-7 PG crashed near jamrud khyber agency (Now District Khyber)

 

[ghazi52]

Flight Lieutenant Zakaullah Niazi Shaheed.

 

[ghazi52]

Flight Lieutenant Umer Shahzad shaheed - September 24, 2016.

 

[ghazi52]

Flight Lieutenant Shehryar Nisar Shaheed - August 5, 2009.

 

[ghazi52]

Wing Commander Jamal Akbar Afridi "Shaheed"

January 16, 2014 - Wing Commander Jamal Akbar Afridi and Flying Officer Saad Suleman embraced Shahadat during a routine training sortie, meanwhile their aircraft faced some technical malfunction and crashed near Mandi Bahauddin.

May Allah Award The Martyred Soul The Highest Place In Jannah, My General Salute To All PAF Heroes.

 

[ghazi52]

On 19th September 1994, a T-37 took off from Risalpur. It was on a routine training mission but unfortunately, the plane faced a technical fault and was about to crash. Instructor asked his student to eject but the student froze completely, he asked him again and again but the student did not give any response and then the instructor made a daring decision. He pulled his student's ejection seat and lost his own arm while doing so. But by the time he tried to eject himself, it was too late and he embraced Shahadat but saved his student !!

 

[Yasser76]

If this thread does not convince us to retire all F-7/Mirages/T-37s ASAP nothing will. So many young, fine Shaheeds.