Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar
Encyclopedia
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 had interecepted the IAF
fighter jets. A founding and former member of what is known now as Special Service Wing
, Dogar is known to be instrument in creation of a special forces unit for the Pakistan Air Force called the Special Service Wing (SSW).
, and was accepted into the Royal Air Force Academy
in Cranwell
. After he graduate from the Academy, he gained his B.S.
in Aerospace studies
. After his education, Dogar joined Royal Air Force
, and participated in 1945 Burma Campaign
as a Flying officer
. After the independence of Pakistan, Flying officer Dogar opted Pakistan's nationality, and was inherited in No. 5 Squadron Falcons. He was stationed in Gilgit-Baltistan, and actively participated in Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
. On November 4, 1948, Flying officer Dogar, a fighter pilot of Hawker Tempest
, was operating a defenceless Hawker Tempest
, nickname 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.
of Pakistan had given orders to PAF
to stay away from the conflict. Pakistan, facing with limited aircraft and the hazardous weather, was issued specific orders to PAF to not to involved in the conflict while the ground operations were understaken by the Army
. In early morning of 4 November 1948, Dogar along with Flying Officer Jagjivan, took off to Skardu
to drop the military load to Pakistan Army. While returning to base, the pilots had spotted the IAF
's Hawker Tempests, in a covert operation. At first, Dogar believed it was the Pakistani aircraft, but the pilots had not received any early warning from the Air Force control base.
Dogar continued flying with the IAF pilots. After 15 minutes, on the radio the IAF Tempests pilots ordered Dogar and Jagjivan to go to the nearest Indian airfield but Dogar and Jagjivan took no response of the order and continued flying to Risalpur Airbase. The order was repeated three times but the PAF pilots did not respond back. Aggravated, the IAF pilots threatened to shoot Dogar and Jagjivan down if the orders aren't followed. The IAF pilots fired a free burst to show that they were armed. Dogar and Jagjivan tried to avoided to respond back as they had given orders by the Government of Pakistan. The army personnel on ground had requested the pilots to ease off. Flying Officer Alfred 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.
At this time, one of the IAF pilot broke off, gained a little height and came in to attack. He obviously meant business now and fired a full burst of 20mm
at PAF pilots, fatally wounding Naik Mohammad Din and knocking Jagjivan unconscious with a profusely bleeding arm. The encounter had lasted twenty to twenty five minutes. Flying Officer Dogar began to retaliate and wounded PAF pilot Alfred Jagjivan came to his rescue. The PAF pilots had shooted down the IAF pilots, killing all the IAF pilots in action. '
Air Commodore Dogar and Air Commodore Alfred Jagjivan 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.
(Brigadier-General, was serving as Air Commodore-in-Chief
in PAF. Dogar had participated in Operation Gibraltar
, and was an instrument creating a special forces unit within in Pakistan Air Force
(PAF). Dogar was first who established and founded "Special Airwarfare Wing" (now-known as Special Service Wing
), where he had served there as first Air Commodore-in-Chief. He played an important role, and headed the SAW until his retirement in 1968.
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar was the Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
bomber pilot and aerial warfare specialist who was the first military person to receive the Pakistani military award Sitara-e-Jurat
Sitara-e-Jurat
Sitara-e-Jurat is the third highest military award of Pakistan. It was established in 1957 after Pakistan became a Republic; however, it was instituted retrospectively back to 1947...
. A World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
vetern, he is most known for his participation in Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
The India-Pakistan War of 1947-48, sometimes known as the First Kashmir War, was fought between India and Pakistan over the princely state of Kashmir and Jammu from 1947 to 1948. It was the first of four wars fought between the two newly independent nations...
when he had interecepted the IAF
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
fighter jets. A founding and former member of what is known now as Special Service Wing
Special Service Wing
The Special Service Wing, codename the SS Wing, or previously known as 312th Special Service Wing or Maroon berets, is an special operations aerospace unit of the Pakistan Air Force . The SS Wing or Maroon Berets are an elite special operations force based upon United States Air Force's Special...
, Dogar is known to be instrument in creation of a special forces unit for the Pakistan Air Force called the Special Service Wing (SSW).
Indo-Pak War of 1947
Dogar gained a commission in Royal Air ForceRoyal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, and was accepted into the Royal Air Force Academy
Royal Air Force College Cranwell
The Royal Air Force College is the Royal Air Force training and education academy which provides initial training to all RAF personnel who are preparing to be commissioned officers. The College also provides initial training to aircrew cadets and is responsible for all RAF recruiting along with...
in Cranwell
Cranwell
Cranwell is a village situated in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire. It is part of the Civil Parish of Cranwell and Byard's Leap and is located 3.95 miles north-north-west of Sleaford and 16.3 miles south-east of the county town of Lincoln...
. After he graduate from the Academy, he gained his B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Aerospace studies
Aerospace
Aerospace comprises the atmosphere of Earth and surrounding space. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through air and space...
. After his education, Dogar joined Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, and participated in 1945 Burma Campaign
Burma Campaign 1944-1945
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, who were assisted to some degree by Thailand, the Burmese Independence Army and the Indian National Army...
as a Flying officer
Flying Officer
Flying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
. After the independence of Pakistan, Flying officer Dogar opted Pakistan's nationality, and was inherited in No. 5 Squadron Falcons. He was stationed in Gilgit-Baltistan, and actively participated in Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
The India-Pakistan War of 1947-48, sometimes known as the First Kashmir War, was fought between India and Pakistan over the princely state of Kashmir and Jammu from 1947 to 1948. It was the first of four wars fought between the two newly independent nations...
. On November 4, 1948, Flying officer Dogar, a fighter pilot of Hawker Tempest
Hawker Tempest
The Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. The Tempest was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighter aircraft used during the war....
, was operating a defenceless Hawker Tempest
Hawker Tempest
The Hawker Tempest was a British fighter aircraft primarily used by the Royal Air Force in the Second World War. The Tempest was an improved derivative of the Hawker Typhoon, and one of the most powerful fighter aircraft used during the war....
, nickname Dakota, in the valleys of Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
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.
Kashmir Valley Operations
The GovernmentGovernment of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
of Pakistan had given orders to PAF
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
to stay away from the conflict. Pakistan, facing with limited aircraft and the hazardous weather, was issued specific orders to PAF to not to involved in the conflict while the ground operations were understaken by the Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
. In early morning of 4 November 1948, Dogar along with Flying Officer Jagjivan, took off to Skardu
Skardu
Skardu , is the main town of the region Baltistan and the capital of Skardu District, one of the districts making up Pakistan's Gilgit Baltistan....
to drop the military load to Pakistan Army. While returning to base, the pilots had spotted the IAF
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
's Hawker Tempests, in a covert operation. At first, Dogar believed it was the Pakistani aircraft, but the pilots had not received any early warning from the Air Force control base.
Dogar continued flying with the IAF pilots. After 15 minutes, on the radio the IAF Tempests pilots ordered Dogar and Jagjivan to go to the nearest Indian airfield but Dogar and Jagjivan took no response of the order and continued flying to Risalpur Airbase. The order was repeated three times but the PAF pilots did not respond back. Aggravated, the IAF pilots threatened to shoot Dogar and Jagjivan down if the orders aren't followed. The IAF pilots fired a free burst to show that they were armed. Dogar and Jagjivan tried to avoided to respond back as they had given orders by the Government of Pakistan. The army personnel on ground had requested the pilots to ease off. Flying Officer Alfred 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.
At this time, one of the IAF pilot broke off, gained a little height and came in to attack. He obviously meant business now and fired a full burst of 20mm
20 mm caliber
The 20 mm caliber is a specific size of cannon or autocannon ammunition, commonly the smallest caliber which is unambiguously a cannon and not a heavy machine gun....
at PAF pilots, fatally wounding Naik Mohammad Din and knocking Jagjivan unconscious with a profusely bleeding arm. The encounter had lasted twenty to twenty five minutes. Flying Officer Dogar began to retaliate and wounded PAF pilot Alfred Jagjivan came to his rescue. The PAF pilots had shooted down the IAF pilots, killing all the IAF pilots in action. '
Air Commodore Dogar and Air Commodore Alfred Jagjivan 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.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Dogar, as Air CommodoreAir Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
(Brigadier-General, was serving as Air Commodore-in-Chief
Air Commodore-in-Chief
Air Commodore-in-Chief is a type of honorary air force appointment which originated in the Royal Air Force and now exists in the air forces of various Commonwealth realms. Initially only the British monarch held air commodore-in-chief appointments...
in PAF. Dogar had participated in Operation Gibraltar
Operation Gibraltar
Operation Gibraltar was the codename given to the strategy of Pakistan to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of India, and start a rebellion against Indian rule...
, and was an instrument creating a special forces unit within in Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
(PAF). Dogar was first who established and founded "Special Airwarfare Wing" (now-known as Special Service Wing
Special Service Wing
The Special Service Wing, codename the SS Wing, or previously known as 312th Special Service Wing or Maroon berets, is an special operations aerospace unit of the Pakistan Air Force . The SS Wing or Maroon Berets are an elite special operations force based upon United States Air Force's Special...
), where he had served there as first Air Commodore-in-Chief. He played an important role, and headed the SAW until his retirement in 1968.