Sarfraz Rafiqui

Sarfraz Rafiqui was a Pakistani fighter pilot and war hero, officially credited by the Pakistan Air Force with having downed five Indian fighter aircraft in under a minute and establishing a world record during the 1965 Indo-Pak War. He was a F-86 Sabre flying ace as per Pakistan Air Force records. He was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat twice, the nation's third highest military award for his actions. He was also known as M. M. Alam or Little Dragon. He was born in Rajshahi, British India (present-day Bangladesh) on 18 July 1935. He had three brothers and a sister. He started his education at St. Anthony High School, Lahore, matriculating from Government High School, Multan in 1948. With the transfer of his father to Karachi, he joined D. J. Sindh Government Science College. He joined the Royal Pakistan Air Force's 13th GDP course and graduated from Risalpur Academy in 1953. He won the Best Pilot Trophy in his course. He participated in military operations during the 1953 Lahore riots, the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, and the Soviet-Afghan War. He held various command and staff positions in the air force, such as the Chief of General Staff, the Commander of V Corps in Karachi, the Commandant of Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, the General Officer Commanding of 7th Infantry Division in Peshawar, and the Chief of Staff of II Corps in Mangla. He was also the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee from 1984 to 1987. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Rafiqui was posted at Sargodha with No. 11 Squadron PAF. On 7 September 1965, he downed five Indian aircraft in less than a minute, four of which were in the first 30 seconds, creating a world record. He also claimed two more kills, but they were not confirmed. He flew a total of six combat missions during the war and was credited with nine kills and two probables. He was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat and a bar to it for his actions. He was shot down and killed on 6 September 1965, while leading a formation of three F-86 Sabres on a strike against the Indian airfield of Halwara. His guns had jammed due to a technical fault, but he refused to leave the battle and continued to lead his formation. He was hit by the gunfire of an Indian Hunter, flown by Squadron Leader A. J. S. Sandhu, and his plane crashed near Halwara. He was buried with full military honors in the Indian Air Force graveyard in Halwara. He was succeeded by Squadron Leader Sajjad Haider as the Officer Commanding of No. 11 Squadron. He is regarded as a national hero and a legend in Pakistan.