DURING the wee hours of a somber evening on 01 September 1965, direct hotline at the PAF Air Defence Operations Center (ADOC) rang repeatedly requesting for an immediate air support against the attacking Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter aircraft in the Chhamb Jurian Sector. Squadron Leader Sarfraz Rafiqui and Flight Lieutenant Imtiaz Bhatti, who were flying for the Combat Air Patrol (CAP) in their F-86 Sabre aircraft, were immediately diverted by the PAF Air Defence towards the area. Next few minutes proved to be absolutely crucial and decisive as they not only helped our ground troops to get rid of the impending air threat but also changed the course of action for rest of the war with India.

The two Braveheart air warriors shot down five of the six attacking Vampire (British jet) and Ouragan (French jet) aircraft while both of them returned unscathed. Pushpindar Singh, the famous Indian author writes in his book ‘Fizaya: Psyche of the Pakistan Air Force – 1991’, that ‘the result of this air combat was so over whelming that it forced IAF to withdraw entire fleet of Vampire (132) and Ouragan (56)aircraft for the remaining period of the war’ (188 aircraft, 35% of total fleet). The spectacle was also duly acknowledged in a letter written by Brig Amjad Chaudhry, the Artillery Commander of No 4 Corps, to Air Marshal Nur Khan........

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