Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar: Difference between revisions
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'''Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar''' was the first person to receive the [[Pakistani military]] award [[Sitara-e-Jurat]]. During the 1948 Kashmir War, Dogar skilfully flew his unarmed [[C-47 Dakota]] plane away from 2 [[India]]n fighters ordering him to land. His co-pilot was killed by ensuing aircraft fire but Dogar refused to surrender. He successfully delivered supplies to Pakistani troops on the ground. Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar is a hero of Pakistan. |
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| name =Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar |
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| nickname =Dakota |
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| birth_name =Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar |
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| allegiance ={{PAK}} |
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| branch ={{air force|PAK}} |
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| serviceyears =1940-1968 |
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| rank =[[Air Commodore]] ([[Brigadier]]) |
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| unit =[[List of Pakistan Air Force aircraft squadrons|No. 5 Squadron Falcons]] |
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| commands =[[List of Pakistan Air Force aircraft squadrons|No. 6 Squadron Globe Trotters]]<br>[[List of Pakistan Air Force aircraft squadrons|No. 9 Squadron Griffins]] |
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| battles =[[World War II]] |
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*[[Burma Campaign 1944-1945]] |
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[[Indo-Pakistan War of 1947]]<br>[[Indo-Pakistan War of 1965]] |
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| awards =[[Sitara-e-Jurat]] (1948) |
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[[Air Commodore]] '''Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar''' was the [[Pakistan Air Force]] [[Bomber plane|bomber pilot]] and aerial warfare specialist who was the first military person to receive the [[Pakistani military]] award [[Sitara-e-Jurat]]. A [[World War II]] vetern, he is most known for his participation in [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947]] when he hard interecepted the [[Indian Air Force|IAF]] fighter jets. |
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November 4, 1948 is a red letter day for Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Fifty years ago this very day, faced with its first test in the face of the enemy, our fledgling airforce set the pace for future generations of air warriors. Flying Officer Mukhtar Ahmed Dogar, operating a defenceless Dakota in the valleys of Kashmir was attacked by two Indian Air Force (IAF) Tempest fighter aircraft and ordered to surrender and land at Srinagar. Though unarmed and unable to retaliate, the undaunted pilot refused to capitulate. |
November 4, 1948 is a red letter day for Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Fifty years ago this very day, faced with its first test in the face of the enemy, our fledgling airforce set the pace for future generations of air warriors. Flying Officer Mukhtar Ahmed Dogar, operating a defenceless Dakota in the valleys of Kashmir was attacked by two Indian Air Force (IAF) Tempest fighter aircraft and ordered to surrender and land at Srinagar. Though unarmed and unable to retaliate, the undaunted pilot refused to capitulate. |
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Revision as of 08:59, 10 August 2010
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Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar |
| Nickname(s) | Dakota |
| Allegiance |  Pakistan |
| Service/ |  Pakistan Air Force |
| Years of service | 1940-1968 |
| Rank | Air Commodore (Brigadier) |
| Unit | No. 5 Squadron Falcons |
| Commands held | No. 6 Squadron Globe Trotters No. 9 Squadron Griffins |
| Battles/wars | World War II
Indo-Pakistan War of 1947 Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 |
| Awards | Sitara-e-Jurat (1948) |
Air Commodore Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar was the Pakistan Air Force bomber pilot and aerial warfare specialist who was the first military person to receive the Pakistani military award Sitara-e-Jurat. A World War II vetern, he is most known for his participation in Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 when he hard interecepted the IAF fighter jets.
November 4, 1948 is a red letter day for Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Fifty years ago this very day, faced with its first test in the face of the enemy, our fledgling airforce set the pace for future generations of air warriors. Flying Officer Mukhtar Ahmed Dogar, operating a defenceless Dakota in the valleys of Kashmir was attacked by two Indian Air Force (IAF) Tempest fighter aircraft and ordered to surrender and land at Srinagar. Though unarmed and unable to retaliate, the undaunted pilot refused to capitulate.
The events of 4 November 1948 are best described by Flying Officer Mukhtar Ahmed Dogar, who retired in the rank of Air Commodore in 1968 after a long and meritorious service. I recently traced him out in Faisalabad since earlier inquiries reported that he was away on 'Tableeghi Tours'. Despite his advanced age, Air Commodore Dogar vividly recalls every intricate detail:-
'I took off in the early morning of 4 November 1948. The weather was fine and our spirits were high. Winding my way through the now familiar Indus valley, I para-dropped my load over a sandy bed near Skardu. Pleased with yet another successful mission, I had given the controls over to Flying Officer Jagjivan on the way back so that I could relax a little. We were somewhere over Chilas when we sighted 2 Tempests above us and I first took them for our own aircraft. In the drop area I had had no visual warning from our army posts about the presence of enemy aircraft and our own Tempests did occasionally sneak over to cavort in the bracing neighbourhood of Nanga Parbat. It was only when these fighters came close that I discovered their true identity and quickly took over the controls; the Indians seemed to grudge me the momentary relaxation which I thought I had earned.
The valley at Chilas is about 4 to 5 miles wide permitting easy manoeuvring of an aircraft, and I weaved along in the direction of Risalpur. On the radio the Tempests ordered me to go to the nearest Indian airfield but I took no notice of this. The order was repeated three times but I did not respond. At this point the Indians threatened to shoot me down if I did not comply, and they fired a free burst to show that they were armed. I pressed on regardless, at full throttle, my main concern being to get to the narrow portion of the valley as quickly as possible.
The army personnel on board were feeling rather queasy by now with all my evasive manoeuvring and, ignorant of the situation outside, requested me to ease off; they appeared to be under the impression that I was trying to impress them with my skill! A fateful realisation came over them when they learnt that I was fighting not only for my own life but for theirs too, and they quickly returned to their seats. Flying Officer Jagjivan and Naik Mohammad Din, however, stood watching from the open doorway of the aircraft, blissfully unaware of what was to come to them a minute later.
You'll Never Get Me!
At this time, one of the Indians broke off, gained a little height and came in to attack. He obviously meant business now and fired a full burst of 20mm at us, fatally wounding Naik Mohammad Din and knocking Jagjivan unconscious with a profusely bleeding arm. By now, I had got to the narrow neck of the valley and had asked Air Signaller Mohsin to stand up in the astrohatch and kick me every time he saw the fighters coming in for a kill. Thrice I was kicked and thrice, with quick half throttle, full flaps and left rudder I successfully eluded death. I had come down to deck level now, scraping almost along the river's surface but well out of the fighters' reach. A feeling of relative security sometimes inspires defiant talk and I found myself calling out to the Indians: if you haven't got me so far you will never get me! They seemed to agree and pushed off.
The encounter had lasted twenty to twenty five minutes. Earlier, when the Indian pilots had asked me to go to the nearest Indian airfield they had felt too sure of having air-arrested me. But for me it was a question not only of 'to be or not to be' but also one of Pakistan's prestige. Looking back I can only say that we were lucky, unarmed as we were, to reach home base at all.'[1]
Air Commodore Dogar was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat for his daring handling of the belligerent Indian Air Force Fighters on 4 November 1948. His Sitara-e-Jurat is the first for Pakistan Air Force.[1][2][3]