PAF First Aerial Victory - April 10, 1959

[Salman Haider]

The first PAF jet fighter to shoot down an enemy aircraft was F-86F Sabre No. 55-005 of No. 15 Squadron, the unit also known as the "Cobras". Flying this aircraft, Flight Lieutenant M Younis downed an Indian Air Force Canberra while it was on a photo reconnaissance mission high over the Rawalpindi area on April 10, 1959, an Eid day. Pilot Officer Rab Nawaz was the Air Defence Controller on radar for this mission.



Artwork by: Gp Capt (Retd) Syed Hussaini

Video link:

[Abbas Ali]

So it's 50th anniversary of PAF's first aerial victory!

There's brief description of this successul interception in book titled 'History of the Pakistan Air Force 1947-1982'. A pair of F-86F Sabres from Peshawar Air Base, with Flt. Lt. M.N. Butt as leader and Flt. Lt. M. Yunus as his no. 2, were scrambled to intercept high flying IAF Canberra.

The F-86 flown by leader attempted to hit Canberra by firing Sabre's machine guns but Canberra was flying at an altitude of more than 50,000 feet well beyond the reach of two PAF Sabres. When Flt. Lt. Yunus took over, the Canberra suddenly lost height while executing turn over Rawalpindi. Yunus grabbed this oppurtunity and fired a burst of guns that struck the Canberra at height of 47,500 feet over Rawat near Rawalpindi.

55-5005 is the serial number of victorious F-86F Sabre that was flown by Flt. Lt. Yunus that day. Later this aircraft also took part in Pak-India wars of 1965 and 1971.

Here's an old photo of the same F-86F Sabre (serial# 55-5005) seen as gate guard at Peshawar Air Base in early 1990s.



Currently this aircraft is serving as gate guard at PAF Museum in Karachi as seen in photo on following link:

Photo Link: http://www.airliners.net/photo/Pakistan ... 0462435/L/

Abbas

[Blackbird]

The Indian pilots were Sqd Ldr Sengupta and Flt Lt Rampal . Both ejected safely and were captured.

[Ali M]

The actual bird is still in Peshwar. The Gate Guard F-86 at PAF Museum is infact an F-86 MK VI ( F-86 E) remarked as 55-5005.

[yousaf465]

Happy birthday. What about the All four pilots ? PAf should have some kind of celebration on this day. It's very special. 50 years of aerial dominance (well not against the unmanned aerial vehicle). Next 50 years should also be of our aerial dominance against any intruder.

[Salman Haider]

The actual bird is still in Peshwar. The Gate Guard F-86 at PAF Museum is infact an F-86 MK VI ( F-86 E) remarked as 55-5005.

Thank you Ali Mazhar Sb for updates.

[Abbas Ali]

The actual bird is still in Peshwar. The Gate Guard F-86 at PAF Museum is infact an F-86 MK VI ( F-86 E) remarked as 55-5005.

Thanks for correction. I thought they moved actual PAF North American F-86F Sabre (serial# 55-5005) from Peshawar Air Base to PAF Museum in Karachi.

So it means Sabre sporting serial# 55-5005 at PAF Museum in Karachi is actually one of ex-Luftwaffe Canadair CL-13B Sabre Mk 6 aircraft that were acquired by PAF via Iran after 1965 war and these were designated as F-86E in PAF.

Btw, in book 'History of the Pakistan Air Force 1947-1982' there's an old photo of F-86F Sabre (# 55-5005) showing the aircraft on display at Peshawar Air Base and in that photo the aircraft has large Indian flag painted below cockpit indicating IAF Canberra shot down by the aircraft. Looks like that marking was removed later as seen in 1990/91 photo of the aircraft at same location that I've posted in this topic.

Abbas

[masood]

Blackbird,

Are you sure that both the indian crewmen ejected safely? If memory serves me, the IAF Canberras had ejection seat only for the pilot and not for the navigator.

I think Yunus, (retired as AVM) was given medal (SJ?) many years later (70's or the 80's) for the kill.

[yousaf465]

I will ask my grandfather he Know about that he had worked on these sabres.

[Abbas Ali]

The two-man crew of IAF Canberra ejected safely and were repatriated to India. Some more details on following link:

Link: PAF Sabre Draws First Blood - Defence Journal