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{{short description|Armed conflict between India and Pakistan}}
{{main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1965}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{essay-like|date=January 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{POV|date=December 2011}} {{EngvarB|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict=Indo-Pakistani aerial war of 1965
|partof=the ]
| image = {{multiple image|border=infobox|perrow=2/2/2|total_width=350
| image1= Mohammad Mahmood Alam 1965.jpg
| alt1=
| image2= PAF F-86 Sabres 1965 War.jpg
| alt2=
| image3= Folland Gnat F.1.jpg
| alt3=in the
| image4= Stamp of India - 2015 - Colnect 567042 - Air Force.jpeg
| alt4=}}'''Clockwise from top left:''' {{flatlist|
* ] poses with his F-86 Sabre
* Formation of ] F-86F Sabres returning to base
* Commemorative ] stamp
* ] Folland Gnat F.1
}} }}
|date=August<!--Specific date differs due to several reasons--> – 23 September 1965

{{Warbox
|conflict=Indo-Pakistani Aerial War of 1965
|partof=the ]
|date=August<!--Specific date differs due to several reasons--> – September 23, 1965
|place=] |place=]
| territory = '']''
|result=] mandated ceasefire.<ref name=global/> No permanent territorial changes (See ]).
|result=];<ref name="Wings That Stay on">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MG5wioBJyK0C |title=Wings That Stay on |last1=Coggins |first1=Edward V. |last2=Coggins |first2=Ed |publisher=Turner Publishing Company |year=2000 |isbn=9781563115684 |edition=illustrated |pages=163–164}}</ref> ]-mandated ceasefire<ref name=global/>
|territorial changes=] due to ].
|territorial changes=]
|combatant1={{IND}} |combatant1={{IND}}
----
{{air force|IND}}
|combatant2={{PAK}} |combatant2={{PAK}}
|commander1= {{Flagicon image|Air Force Ensign of India.svg}} ] ]
----
|commander2={{Flagicon image|Air Force Ensign of Pakistan.svg}} ] ]
{{air force|PAK}}
|units1={{air force|IND}}
|commander1=] ] ]
|units2={{air force|PAK}}
|commander2=] ] ]<br>
| strength1 = 700+ aircraft<ref name="Paul">{{citation |last=Paul |first=T. V. |title=Asymmetric Conflicts: War Initiation by Weaker Powers |date=10 March 1994 |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-521-46621-9 |ref={{sfnref |T. V. Paul |1994}}}}</ref>
] ] ]<br>
| strength2 = 280 aircraft<ref name="Paul"/>
] ] ]<br>
|casualties1='''Neutral claim'''<ref name="Encyclopedia of the developing world">{{cite book |first=Thomas M. |last=Leonard |title=Encyclopedia of the developing world |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pWRjGZ9H7hYC&pg=PA806 |access-date=14 April 2011 |year=2006 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-415-97663-3 |pages=806–}}</ref>
] ] ]
* 60–75 aircraft<ref name="Encyclopedia of the developing world" />
|strength1=
'''Indian claims'''
|strength2=
|casualties1=75 aircraft lost<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1965War/PDF/1965Chapter09.pdf |title=Official History of IAF in 65 War |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2012-07-27}}</ref> (Indian claim)<br>110 aircraft lost<ref name=1965p6/> (Pakistani claim) * 35<ref name="The Age of Airpower"/>-59 aircraft lost <ref name="Official History of IAF in 65 War">{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1965War/PDF/1965Chapter09.pdf |title=Official History of IAF in 65 War |access-date=27 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929074854/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1965War/PDF/1965Chapter09.pdf |archive-date=29 September 2012 }}</ref> Thirteen IAF aircraft lost in accidents, and three Indian civilian aircraft shot down<ref name="bharat-rakshak.com">Bharat-Rakshak.com {{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Misc/Loss1965.html |title=Indian Air Force Losses -1965 War |access-date=2014-02-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927185738/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Misc/Loss1965.html |archive-date=2013-09-27 }}</ref>
'''Pakistani claim'''
|casualties2= 18 aircraft lost<ref name=1965p6/> (Pakistani claim)<br>43 aircraft lost (Indian claim)<ref name=tribune1/>}}
* 110<ref name=1965p6/>-113<ref name="Nordeen's Indo-Pak 1965 Conflict">{{cite book |last=O' Nordeen |first=Lon |title=Air Warfare in the Missile Age |year=1985 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=978-0-87474-680-8 |pages= |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/airwarfareinmiss00nord/page/84}}</ref> aircraft destroyed
|casualties2= '''Neutral claim'''<ref name="Encyclopedia of the developing world" />
* 20 aircraft<ref name="Encyclopedia of the developing world" />
'''Pakistani claim'''
* 19 aircraft lost<ref name=1965p6/>
'''Indian claim'''
* 43<ref name="tribune IAF's ground reality">. Tribuneindia.com. Retrieved on 2011-04-14.</ref>-73 aircraft destroyed<ref name="The Age of Airpower"/><ref name="Nordeen's Indo-Pak 1965 Conflict" />
}}
{{Campaignbox Indo-Pakistani War of 1965}} {{Campaignbox Indo-Pakistani War of 1965}}
{{Campaignbox Indo-Pakistani Wars}} {{Campaignbox Indo-Pakistani Wars}}


The ] saw the ] and ]s engaged in large-scale aerial combat against each other for the first time since the ] in 1947. The war took place during the course of September 1965 and saw both air forces conduct defensive and offensive operations over Indian and Pakistani airspace. Both countries made contradictory claims regarding the number of losses that they suffered and the number of planes that they claimed to have shot down. Indian losses have been placed at between 59 and 110, while Pakistani losses were between 18 and 43. During the ], the ] and ]s engaged in large-scale aerial combat for the first time. In the air war, which took place in September, both air forces conducted thousands of defensive and offensive sorties over Indian and Pakistani airspace.<ref name=tribune>Singh, Jasjit. ''The Sunday Tribune'', 6 May 2007.</ref> Both India and Pakistan claimed victory in the air war;<ref name="The Age of Airpower">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=khM5DgAAQBAJ&pg=PA286 |title=The Age of Airpower |last=Creveld |first=Martin Van |publisher=PublicAffairs |year=2012 |isbn=9781610391085 |edition=illustrated, reprint |pages=286–287 }}</ref> Pakistan claimed to have destroyed 104 Indian aircraft and lost 19, and India claimed to have destroyed 73 Pakistani aircraft and lost 35 of its own.<ref name="The Age of Airpower"/> The air war ended in a stalemate.


==Background== ==Background==
The war began in early August 1965 and initially the fighting was confined mainly to the ground.<ref name=global>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/indo-pak_1965.htm|title=Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|publisher=Global Security.org|accessdate=2009-06-10}}</ref> Later, however, as the war progressed, the war took on another dimension as the two sides began air operations against each other. Although the two forces had previously taken part in the ] which had occurred shortly after Partition, that engagement had been limited in scale compared to the 1965 conflict and the air operations that both sides had undertaken were limited<ref>{{cite book|last=Leonard|first=Thomas|title=Encyclopedia of the Developing World|publisher=Taylor & Francis|year=2006|pages=805–806|isbn=978-0-415-97663-3}}</ref> and largely confined to ] and other strategic purposes such as re-supply and troop transport operations.<ref>{{cite book|last=Harkavy|first=Robert|coauthors=Neuman, Stephanie|title= Warfare and the Third World|year=2001|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|page=181|isbn=978-0-312-24012-7}}</ref> Although there had been one incident where Indian fighter aircraft intercepted a Pakistani transport, there had been no significant air-to-air combat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_321.shtml|title=Indo-Pakistani War, 1947–1949|last=Cooper|first=Tom|publisher=Air Combat Information Group|accessdate=2009-06-10}}</ref> During the 1965 conflict, however, the PAF flew a total 2,364 sorties while the IAF flew 3,937 sorties.<ref name=tribune1>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070506/spectrum/main1.htm|title=The 1965 India-Pakistan War: IAF’s Ground Reality|last=Singh|first=Jasjit|publisher=The Sunday Tribune, 6 May 2007|year=2007|accessdate=2009-06-10}}</ref> The war began in early August 1965, and fighting was initially confined mainly to the ground.<ref name=global>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/indo-pak_1965.htm |title=Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 |publisher=Global Security.org |access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref> As hostilities progressed, however, both sides began air operations. Although India and Pakistan had fought in the ], shortly after the ] in 1947,<ref name="The United Nations Security Council and War: The Evolution of Thought and Practice since 1945">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i9zyRYYIJK4C |title=The United Nations Security Council and War: The Evolution of Thought and Practice since 1945 |publisher=OUP |year=2010 |isbn=9780191614934 |editor1=Vaughan Lowe |editor2=Adam Roberts |editor3=Jennifer Welsh |editor4=Dominik Zaum |quote=Since the partition of British India in mid-1947, India and Pakistan have fought 'three-and-a-half' wars with each other. Within months of partition, the first war over Kashmir took place (26 October 1947 – 1 January 1949)}}</ref> that war was more limited in scale than the 1965 conflict; air operations<ref>{{cite book |last=Leonard |first=Thomas |title=Encyclopedia of the Developing World |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=2006 |pages=805–806 |isbn=978-0-415-97663-3}}</ref> had been largely confined to ], re-supply and troop transport.<ref>{{cite book |last=Harkavy |first=Robert |author2=Neuman, Stephanie |title= Warfare and the Third World |year=2001 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |page=181 |isbn=978-0-312-24012-7}}</ref> One Indian fighter aircraft had intercepted a Pakistani transport in the earlier war, but there was no significant air-to-air combat.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_321.shtml |title=Indo-Pakistani War, 1947–1949 |last=Cooper |first=Tom |publisher=Air Combat Information Group |access-date=2009-06-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060613025308/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_321.shtml |archive-date=13 June 2006 }}</ref> During the 1965 conflict, however, the ] flew a total of 2,364 sorties; the ] flew 3,937 sorties.<ref name=tribune1>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070506/spectrum/main1.htm |title=The 1965 India-Pakistan War: IAF's Ground Reality |last=Singh |first=Jasjit |publisher=The Sunday Tribune, 6 May 2007 |year=2007 |access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref>

All out War erupted between India and Pakistan, and during the vicious 17 day conflict PAF flew defensive CAPs over its own bases, offensive counter air missions against Indian airfields, and close - support and interdiction sorties, to which the Indians responded in kind.


==Main battle== ==Main battle==
]
The aerial phase of the war began on September 1, 1965 when the Indian Air Force responded to an urgent call for air strikes against the ], which had launched an attack known as ]. The IAF scrambled 28 aeroplanes which included 12 ] and 16 ] As from ] in 1 hour 45 minutes (1720-1905 hours IST) in waves of four. These 28 aeroplanes strafed Pakistani positions and attacked Pakistani tanks and ground targets. The PAF in response scrambled two F-86 Sabres from Sargodha, they were flown by S/L ] and F/L ], though outnumbered 2:28 they entered the airspace and engaged Indian airplanes. In the ensuing dogfight four Vampires were lost / shot down by the Sabres, when the Sabres cleared out after the dog fight, 16 Mysteres were also in the area attacking ground targets. Back at Pathankot, the excited ground crew was anxiously awaiting the return of 12 Vampires and 16 Mysteres. 4 Vampires landed first, followed by another 4 and then the 16 Mysteres came into land with the last one landing at 1905 hours. Some of the auxiliary pilots who approached the pilots were shocked to find that the formation led by Bhagwagar and his colleagues were missing. A very shaken Flt. Lt. Sondhi explained how Sabres had made mincemeat of one formation. It was at that moment then the reality of war sunk in, that 4 Vampire planes had been lost forever. Then came the news that Pathak had managed to bale out safely, but the remaining three pilots were not that lucky.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Chapter3.html|title=AIR ATTACK - OUTBREAK OF THE WAR (SEPT 1ST - 6TH)|date=August 2012}}</ref> This incidence as confirmed by Air Marshal Trilochan Singh, PVSM, AVSM, Vr.C., V.M. (Retd) in Tank Busting In The Chamb in his word is
The aerial phase of the war began on 1 September 1965, when the Indian Air Force (IAF) responded to an urgent call for air strikes against the ] (which had begun ]. The IAF quickly launched 26 aeroplanes (12 ]s and 14 ]s) to blunt the Pakistan Army's offensive in ].<ref>https://idsa.in/system/files/jds/jds_9_3_2015_AirPowerinthe1965IndoPakistanWar_0.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> The IAF's 45th Squadron was tasked with close air support of Indian troops. The squadron, recently moved from ] to ] after the 220th Squadron was merged into it, was commanded by S. K. "Marshal" Dhar. Group Captain Roshan Suri painted a grim picture of the Indian Army's position at ] and the Pakistan Army's armoured thrust at Chhamb, on the ] near ]. Twenty-eight aircraft (12 Vampires and 16 Mysteres) were used, and the first planes took off at 17:19 hours.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Chapter3.html |title=Air Attack - Outbreak of the War (Sept 1st - 6th) |access-date=16 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706030406/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Chapter3.html |archive-date=6 July 2013 }}</ref> The planes flew in formation and strafed Pakistani tanks and ground targets, although ] was also later reported. When the Indian aircraft were sighted, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) scrambled two F-86 Sabres (flown by ] ] of the No. 5 Squadron and ] ] of No. 15 Squadron) to intercept.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://theprint.in/defence/1965-india-pakistan-war-how-iafs-heroes-slayed-pafs-superior-sabre-fighter-jets/287642/ |title=1965 India-Pakistan war: How IAF's heroes slayed PAF's superior Sabre fighter jets |work=ThePrint.in|date=6 September 2019 }}</ref> In the ensuing dogfight over Chhamb, where Rafiqui took on the flight leader and wingman and Bhatti went after the element leader and element wingman, the IAF lost all four of its Vampires;<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=https://idsa.in/system/files/jds/jds_9_3_2015_AirPowerinthe1965IndoPakistanWar_0.pdf |title=Air Power in the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War An Assessment |work=Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses}}</ref> they were flown by Squadron Leader Aspi Kekobad Bhagwagar<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/5284 |title=Squadron Leader Aspi Kekobad Bhagwagar |publisher=Bharat-Rakshak.com |access-date=2019-09-21}}</ref> (flight leader), Flight Lieutenant Vijay Madhav Joshi<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/6019 |title=Flight Lieutenant Vijay Madhav Joshi |publisher=Bharat-Rakshak.com |access-date=2019-09-21}}</ref> (element leader), Flight Lieutenant Satish Bharadwaj<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/6348 |title=Flight Lieutenant Satish Bharadwaj |publisher=Bharat-Rakshak.com |access-date=2019-09-21}}</ref> (element wingman) and Flight Lieutenant (later Group Captain) Shrikrishna Vishnu Phatak (wingman).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Database/6358 |title=Group Captain Shrlkrishna Vishnu Phatak |publisher=Bharat-Rakshak.com |access-date=2019-09-21}}</ref> Both Pakistani pilots claimed two aircraft kills each.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Tango-Chamb.html |title=Tank Busting In The Chamb |date=August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105022240/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Tango-Chamb.html |archive-date=5 January 2013 }}</ref>
"The feeling on the home leg was that of exhilaration. What an easy turkey shoot! The only thing I could not explain to myself were some black spots whizzing past the cockpit in the dive. Only after landing did I realize that they were machine gun tracers being fired from the tanks at the aircraft. Some of the light ammo caused minor damage to the aircraft skin. I was in high spirits after what I considered had been a fruitful mission and proceeded straight to the wing ops room for the mission debrief along with the C.O. along with other formation members. On reaching we found the mood somber with general sadness in the air only then did the cause for it become clear. We had lost 4 Vampires out of the 12 launched, one from the first formation and three from the second, shot down by PAF Sabres".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Tango-Chamb.html|title= Tank Busting In The Chamb |date=August 2012}}</ref> This single engagement resulted in a windfall of strategic dimensions for the PAF as the shocked and demoralised IAF immediately withdrew about 130 Vampires, together with over 50 Ouragons, from front-line service. The IAF was effectively reduced in combat strength by nearly 35% in one stroke, thanks to marksmanship of ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defencejournal.com/sept98/sarfaraz.htm|title= SQN LDR SARFARAZ AHMED RIAFIQUI],|publisher=Defence Journal|date=September 1998}}</ref> Rafiqui was shot down over Halwara on 6 September while Bhatti ended the war with 34 combat missions to his credit, the maximum combat missions flown by any pilot during the war.<ref>{{cite book|last=Tufail|first=M.Kaiser|title=Great Air Battles for Pakistan Air Force|year=2008|publisher=Ferozesons|location=Deadly Stroke|isbn=|url= http://books.google.com.pk/books/about/Great_air_battles_of_Pakistan_Air_Force.html?id=Rn_fAAAAMAAJ}}</ref>


] on display at the ] Gallery.]] ]
The IAF withdrew about 130 Vampires and over 50 ] from front-line service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defencejournal.com/sept98/sarfaraz.htm |title=SQN LDR SARFARAZ AHMED RIAFIQUI |publisher=Defence Journal |date=September 1998 |access-date=10 September 2013 |archive-date=9 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909234443/http://www.defencejournal.com/sept98/sarfaraz.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Although India's use of fixed-winged Vampires was later criticized, eight of the 12 Vampires successfully completed their tasks; 14 Mysteres returned unscathed, and the IAF claimed success in slowing the Pakistan Army's momentum.<ref name=":0" /> Both sides supported their ground forces on 2 September, but no major aerial engagement was observed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paffalcons.com/1965war/september2.php |title=PAF Falcons – The Glorious Seventeen Days September 1965 War |work=paffalcons.com |access-date=11 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605023602/http://www.paffalcons.com/1965war/september2.php |archive-date=5 June 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>


The appearance of the Sabres necessitated a move by the IAF to send the ] fighters to the forward base of Pathankot. IAF used Mysteres flying at slow speed as bait to lure Sabres to attack where the waiting Gnats will take them on. Two sabres were scrambled but one had to turn back without entering the fight when the pilot couldn't jettison the fuel tanks. The other one flown by ] ], spotted the IAF planes and tried positioning himself behind them before attacking. Just as he got his cross-hairs on them he felt thuds on his own jet, as he was surrounded in a cloud of Gnats repeatedly being attacked. A ] lurking in the area was pointed to the dog fight by base control along with scrambling another one from base. The first ] crossed through the dog fight at super sonic speed. The Gnats after scoring a kill started egressing. IAF's ] ] of ] claimed to have shot down the F-86 Sabre on that day (September 3), claiming the first air combat victory for the IAF of the war and subsequently received the ] and the title of 'Sabre Slayer'. However the sabre he 'shot down' was flown in badly damaged condition and somehow rough landed back at the base. The Sabre pilot, ] ], was given ] for surviving dog fight with six Gnats (while his wingman was ordered to leave since he couldn't jettison his fuel tanks) and bringing the damaged Sabre back home. In the same incident, an ] Gnat pilot was overheard warning others of the incoming Starfighter. <ref name="Run… It’s a 104">{{cite news|title=Run… It’s a 104.|url=http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/spedition/defence_day_supp_05/p5.html|newspaper=Jang News|author=Air Commodore M. Kaiser Tufail}}</ref>{{rs|date=August 2012}} Also, a Gnat piloted by ] ], mistakingly landed at an abandoned ] in Pasrur, when he thought he had safely crossed the border. His takeoff attempt was aborted due to presene of a Pakistan army jeep on the runway. He was taken POW and later handed over to PAF. A ] flown by Flt Lt Hakimullah Khan chasing in at super sonic speed was also credited with forcing the Gnat down. <ref name="Run… It’s a 104"/><ref> ''bharat-rakshak.com.'' Retrieved: 4 November 2010.</ref>{{rs|date=August 2012}} This Gnat is displayed as a war trophy in the ].<ref name="Run… It’s a 104"/> after it was flown from Pasrur by ] ] who flew the captured aircraft back to ], and later tested and evaluated its flight performance, was of the personal view that Gnat was no 'Sabre Slayer' when it came to dog fighting. The PAF's Sabres forced the IAF to send ] fighters to the forward base at ]; India used Mysteres flying at slow speed as bait to lure the Sabres to attack, and the waiting Gnats would take them on. Two Sabres were scrambled, but one had to turn back when the pilot could not jettison its fuel tanks. The other, flown by F/L ], spotted the IAF planes and tried positioning himself behind them before attacking. As Khan got them in his cross-hairs, however, he was surrounded by a group of Gnats under attack. A ] in the area was sent to the dogfight, and another one was scrambled from the base. The first Starfighter passed through the dogfight at supersonic speed; the Gnats, after scoring a kill, began to leave. IAF Squadron Leader ] of ] claimed to have shot down an F-86 Sabre on 3 September for the IAF's first air-combat victory of the war, and received the ]; however, the Sabre made it back to the base. Its pilot, Khan, received the ] for surviving the dogfight against six Gnats and bringing the damaged Sabre back home. An IAF Gnat pilot was overheard warning others of the incoming Starfighter.<ref name="Run... It's a 104">{{cite news |title=Run... It's a 104. |url=http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/spedition/defence_day_supp_05/p5.html |newspaper=Jang News |author=Air Commodore M. Kaiser Tufail |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319114802/http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/spedition/defence_day_supp_05/p5.html |archive-date=2007-03-19}}</ref> A Gnat flown by S/L ] mistakenly landed at an abandoned airstrip in ] after Sikand thought he had safely crossed the border. After realising his mistake, Sikand's takeoff attempt was aborted due to a Pakistan Army jeep on the runway; he was taken prisoner, and later handed over to the PAF. A Starfighter flown by F/L Hakimullah Khan at supersonic speed was credited with forcing the Gnat down,<ref name="Run... It's a 104"/><ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706030406/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Chapter3.html |date=6 July 2013 }} ''bharat-rakshak.com.'' Retrieved: 4 November 2010.</ref> and the Gnat is on display at the ] in ].<ref name="Run... It's a 104"/> It was flown from ] to ] by S/L ], who evaluated its flight performance and downplayed its effectiveness in a dogfight.<ref name="Run... It's a 104"/>


On 4 September, an F-86 Sabre was lost. The PAF said that the cause was friendly ground fire,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paffalcons.com/1965war/september4.php |title=PAF Falcons – The Glorious Seventeen Days September 1965 War |work=paffalcons.com |access-date=11 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926022431/http://paffalcons.com/1965war/september4.php |archive-date=26 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> but the IAF said that they shot it down.
During the conflict, the Pakistani ] ], ] shot down seven Indian aircraft including claims of two as 'probable'. Five of ] aircraft were shot down in one minute with four being in 30 seconds.<ref name="defencejournal2001">{{cite web|url=http://www.defencejournal.com/2001/september/alam.htm |title=Alam’s Speed-shooting Classic |publisher=Defencejournal.com |date=1965-09-06 |accessdate=2011-11-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paf.gov.pk/mmalam.html |title=PAKISTAN AIR FORCE - Official website |publisher=Paf.gov.pk |date= |accessdate=2011-11-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Fricker|first=John|title=Battle for Pakistan: the air war of 1965|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=RPttAAAAMAAJ}} {{quote|'before we had completed more than of about 270 degree of the turn, at around 12 degree per second, all four hunters had been shot down.'}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yespakistan.com/memorialday/Rebirth%20of%20MMAlam.asp |title=Re-birth of Pakistan's Record-holder Air Fighter as a New Man: Mohmammad M. Alam |publisher=Yespakistan.com |date= |accessdate=2011-12-21}}</ref><ref>"Pakistan's Air Power, Flight International magazine, 5 May 1984"</ref>{{rs|date=August 2012}}


] at the PAF Museum]]
On September 6, the ] crossed the border at ] to relieve pressure off the ] sector. On the evening of the same day, the PAF responded with attacks on Indian airfields at Pathankot, Adampur and ]. The attack on Pathankot was successful, while the attacks on Adampur and Halwara were failure. IAF lost nearly 10 aircraft on the ground at Pathankot. The Adampur strike turned back before even reaching Adampur while at Halwara two of the three attacking raiders were shot down for the loss of two Indian ] in air combat. Both the Indian pilots, Pingale and Gandhi survived as they ejected over their base, whereas the intruding Pakistani pilots were killed in action. This included the ace Squadron Leader ] who had shot down two Vampires on September 1<ref name=Pakvictories/> while the other was Flight Lieutenant Yunus Ahmed. Before being shot down, Rafiqui is credited with shooting down first of the Hunters.<ref name=Pakvictories/> He was later posthumously awarded the ] for Chamb action and the ] for Halwara action. <ref name="Singh2002">{{cite book|author=Ranbir Singh|title=Marshal Arjan Singh, DFC: life and times|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=kg1RKjGoZdkC&pg=RA1-PT41|accessdate=21 November 2011|year=2002|publisher=Ocean Books|isbn=978-81-88322-04-6|page=175}}</ref>
Bhatti had 34 combat missions, the most flown by any pilot during the war.<ref>{{cite book |last=Tufail |first=M.Kaiser |title=Great Air Battles for Pakistan Air Force |year=2008 |publisher=Ferozesons |location=Deadly Stroke |isbn= 9789690018922|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Rn_fAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> According to Pakistani sources,<ref name="pakofficial"/> ] reportedly shot down seven Indian aircraft (two of which were "probable". During a sortie on 7 September, five IAF ] aircraft were shot down by Alam over the ] in one minute; Alam claimed victory over four in 30 seconds.<ref name="defencejournal2001">{{cite web |url=http://www.defencejournal.com/2001/september/alam.htm |title=Alam's Speed-shooting Classic |publisher=Defencejournal.com |date=1965-09-06 |access-date=2011-11-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927040737/http://www.defencejournal.com/2001/september/alam.htm |archive-date=2011-09-27 }}</ref><ref name="pakofficial">{{cite web |url=http://www.paf.gov.pk/mmalam.html |title=PAKISTAN AIR FORCE – Official website |publisher=Paf.gov.pk |access-date=2011-11-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013074101/http://www.paf.gov.pk/mmalam.html |archive-date=13 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Fricker |first=John |title=Battle for Pakistan: the air war of 1965 |year=1979 |publisher=I. Allan |isbn=9780711009295 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RPttAAAAMAAJ |quote=before we had completed more than about 270 degree of the turn, at around 12 degree per second, all four Hunters had been shot down.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yespakistan.com/memorialday/Rebirth%20of%20MMAlam.asp |title=Re-birth of Pakistan's Record-holder Air Fighter as a New Man: Mohmammad M. Alam |publisher=Yespakistan.com |access-date=2011-12-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117032228/http://yespakistan.com/memorialday/Rebirth%20of%20MMAlam.asp |archive-date=2011-11-17 }}</ref><ref name="Nordeen's Indo-Pak 1965 Conflict 2010">{{Cite book|last=Nordeen|first=Lon O.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=88JvDwAAQBAJ&q=Alam+under+one+minute+hawker+hunter&pg=PA68|title=Air Warfare in the Missile Age|date=2010|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|isbn=978-1-58834-282-9|pages=66–68|language=en}}</ref> His claim was contested by the IAF, which denied losing five Hawker Hunter aircraft that day;<ref name="Nordeen's Indo-Pak 1965 Conflict 2010"/> several experts, including retired PAF Air Commodore ], also discredited Alam's claim about the sortie.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Koshy|first=Rakesh|date=15 February 2014|title=Thirty Seconds over Sargodha|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/1161-Koshy.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927205555/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/1965war/1161-koshy.html#gsc.tab=0|archive-date=2020-09-27|access-date=|website=Bharat Rakshak}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Krishnan|first=Rakesh|date=April 7, 2019|title=Falcon down: Why Pakistan is desperate to fake the F-16 dogfight|work=Business Today|url=https://m.businesstoday.in/story/falcon-down-why-pakistan-desperate-fake-f-16-dogfight/1/334901.html|url-status=live|access-date=December 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408160118/https://m.businesstoday.in/story/falcon-down-why-pakistan-desperate-fake-f-16-dogfight/1/334901.html|archive-date=April 8, 2019}}</ref><ref name=avhist>''Pakistan's Sabre Ace'' by Jon Guttman, Aviation History, Sept 1998.</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Singh |first=Pushpindar |title=Fiza ya, Psyche of the Pakistan Air Force |publisher=Himalayan Books |year=1991 |isbn=81-7002-038-7|page=30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/Flight_of_the_Falcon_Sajad_S_Haider|title=Flight of the Falcon- Demolishing Myths of Indo Pak Wars 1965-1971|last=Haider|first=Sajad S.|publisher=Vanguard Books Pvt Ltd.|year=2009|isbn=9789694025261|location=Lahore, Pakistan|pages=|quote=<blockquote>It is tactically and mathematically very difficult to resurrect the incident in which all five Hunters in a hard turn were claimed to have been shot down in a 270-degree turn in 23 seconds.</blockquote>}}</ref> No verifiable ] footage of Alam's kills was made public by Pakistani authorities.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bowman|first=Martin W.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jliqCwAAQBAJ&q=gun%20camera%20footage%20of%20Alam%20kill&pg=PT196|title=Cold War Jet Combat: Air-to-Air Jet Fighter Operations, 1950–1972|date=2016-01-30|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=978-1-4738-7462-6|language=en}}</ref>


] during ] by the PAF's ] led by ].]]
On September 7, 1965 PAF ]d 135 ] (SSG) para commandos<ref>{{cite news|title=The 1965 War: A view from the east|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/oct/05war.htm|accessdate=21 November 2011|newspaper=Rediff news}}</ref> at three Indian airfields (Halwara, Pathankot and Adampur).<ref name="Lal1986"/> The daring attempt proved to be an "unmitigated disaster". Only 10 commandos were able to returned to Pakistan,<ref name="Lal1986"/> and rest of them were taken as prisoners of war (including one of the Commanders of the operations, Major Khalid Butt), at Halwara and Adampur these troops landed in residential areas where the villagers caught and handed them over to police.<ref name="Lal1986">{{cite book|author=Pratap Chandra Lal|title=My years with the IAF|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=vvTM-xbW41MC&pg=PA138|accessdate=22 November 2011|year=1986|publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=978-81-7062-008-2|pages=138–}}</ref>
On 6 September, the ] crossed the border at ] to relieve pressure on the ] sector. That evening, the PAF responded with attacks on Indian airfields at ], ] and ]. The IAF lost almost ten aircraft on the ground at Pathankot, but the attacks on Adampur and Halwara were unsuccessful. The Adampur strike, led by S/L ], turned back before reaching Adampur; the Halwara strike, led by S/L ], was impossible due to IAF ]. Two Indian Hunters were lost in air combat. Both Indian pilots survived, ejecting over their base, but both Pakistani pilots (including Rafiqui) were killed. Rafiqui had shot down two Vampires and the first of the Hunters,<ref name=Pakvictories/> posthumously receiving the ] for the Chhamb action and the ] for Halwara.<ref name="Singh2002">{{cite book |author=Ranbir Singh |title=Marshal Arjan Singh, DFC: life and times |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kg1RKjGoZdkC&pg=RA1-PT41 |access-date=21 November 2011 |year=2002 |publisher=Ocean Books |isbn=978-81-88322-04-6 |page=175}}</ref> F/L ] returned from the pursuit.


According to Indian sources, the PAF parachuted 135 ] (SSG) commandos<ref>{{cite news |title=The 1965 War: A view from the east |url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/oct/05war.htm |access-date=21 November 2011 |newspaper=Rediff news}}</ref> at three Indian airfields (Halwara, Pathankot and Adampur) on 7 September.<ref name="Lal1986"/> The attempt was an "unmitigated disaster". Only ten commandos returned to Pakistan,<ref name="Lal1986"/> and the rest were prisoners of war (including a commander, Major Khalid Butt). The troops landed in residential areas of Halwara and Adampur, where villagers caught them and handed them over to police.<ref name="Lal1986">{{cite book |author=Pratap Chandra Lal |title=My years with the IAF |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vvTM-xbW41MC&pg=PA138 |access-date=22 November 2011 |year=1986 |publisher=Lancer Publishers |isbn=978-81-7062-008-2 |pages=138–}}</ref>{{Verify source |date=May 2020 |Reason=Neutral source required for verification}}
Also on September 7, the IAF mounted 33 ] against the heavily guarded PAF airfield complex at ].<ref name=idrTiwari>{{cite web|last=Tiwary|first=Air Vice Marshal AK|title=IAF defeated PAF in 1965 War|url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/military-and-space/IAF-defeated-PAF-in-1965-War.html|work=Vol 22.1 Jan - Mar 2007|accessdate=21 November 2011}}</ref><ref name=br4>{{cite web|title=THE REPLY - AIR BATTLES OF SEPTEMBER 7TH|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Chapter4.html|work=HISTORY PAGE, 1965 WAR|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|accessdate=21 November 2011}}</ref>{{rs|date=August 2012}} The IAF lost two Mysteres and three Hunters due to the defence mounted by the Pakistan Air Force's local squadrons. One of the Indian Hunter pilot ejected near Sargodha was made POW and released after the war. One of the crippled Mysteres flying solo got involved in a dogfight with an ] and somehow shot each other down, Pakistani pilot safely ejected, while the Indian pilot Squadron Leader Ajamada B. Devayya, was not that lucky. <ref name=Pakvictories>{{cite web|url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_324.shtml|title=Pakistani Air-to-Air Victories|publisher=Air Combat Information Group|accessdate=2009-06-10}}</ref><ref name=Indianvictories>{{cite web|url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_327.shtml|title=Indian Air-to-Air Victories since 1948|publisher=Air Combat Information Group|accessdate=2009-06-10}}</ref> The Indian pilot Squadron Leader Devayya was later awarded the ] for his bravery. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defenceindia.com/defenceind/mahavir_chakra.html|title=Indian Defence Awards : Maha Vir Chakra|publisher=|accessdate=2009-06-10}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> 23 years later after his feat was revealed by an author appointed by PAF to write their story on 1965 war.{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}}


That day, the IAF mounted 33 sorties against the heavily guarded ], owned by the PAF.<ref name=idrTiwari>{{cite web |last=Tiwary |first=Air Vice Marshal AK |title=IAF defeated PAF in 1965 War |url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/military-and-space/IAF-defeated-PAF-in-1965-War.html |work=Vol 22.1 Jan – Mar 2007 |access-date=21 November 2011}}</ref> They lost two Mysteres and three Hunters to local PAF squadrons. One of the Indian Hunter pilots, who ejected near Sargodha, was taken prisoner and released after the war. One of the crippled Mysteres was involved in a dogfight with a Starfighter, shooting each other down. The Pakistani pilot ejected; S/L ] was killed,<ref name=Pakvictories>{{cite web |url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_324.shtml |title=Pakistani Air-to-Air Victories |publisher=Air Combat Information Group |access-date=2009-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221231409/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_324.shtml |archive-date=21 December 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Indianvictories>{{cite web |url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_327.shtml |title=Indian Air-to-Air Victories since 1948 |publisher=Air Combat Information Group |access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref> and received a posthumous ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.defenceindia.com/defenceind/mahavir_chakra.html |title=Indian Defence Awards : Maha Vir Chakra |access-date=2009-06-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502014813/http://www.defenceindia.com/defenceind/mahavir_chakra.html |archive-date=2 May 2009 }}</ref>
September 7 also marked the day when the PAF attacked IAF airfields in the Eastern Sector.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}} During the PAF's raid on ] Indian pilot, Flight Lieutenant ], engaged four Pakistani Sabres, shooting down one<ref name=Indianvictories/><ref>{{cite web|title=Pakistani Sabre Wreck at Kalaikunda (7 Sept 1965)|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Galleries/History/1965/East/Afzal_Sabre.jpg.html|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|accessdate=22 November 2011}}</ref>{{rs|date=August 2012}} while flying at tree-top height<ref name=aw65>{{cite book|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=FAhuAAAAMAAJ&q=shot+Cooke|title=The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965|publisher=Manohar Books|accessdate=2009-07-03}}</ref> and making another a write off in the process.


During the 7 September PAF raid on ], Indian F/L ] engaged three PAF Sabres. Cooke shot one down and damaged a second; out of ammunition, he chased away the third Sabre (which was shot down by his wingman).<ref name=Indianvictories/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/1965war/1334-alfred-cooke.html|title=One Vs Four : The complete story of Alfred Cooke's epic air combat|access-date=30 April 2016|archive-date=22 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422024022/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/history/1965war/1334-alfred-cooke.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=aw65>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAhuAAAAMAAJ&q=shot+Cooke |title=The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965 |year=2005 |publisher=Manohar Books |isbn=9788173046414 |access-date=2009-07-03}}</ref> On 8 September, an Indian ] missile was fired against an unidentified target believed to have been on a night mission above ] (near ]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=The S-75 Dvina-India's first surface to air guided weapon |url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/aircraft/past/949-s75-dvina-sagw.html |website=Bharat rakshak |access-date=30 April 2020 |archive-date=4 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804175020/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/aircraft/past/949-s75-dvina-sagw.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The war lessened in intensity after September 8 and there were occasional clashes between the IAF and the PAF. Both air forces now changed their doctrine from air interdictions to ground attack and concentrated their efforts on knocking out soft skin targets and supply lines like wagons carrying ammunitions and armoured vehicles. During the conflict IAF ] raided a few of the Pakistani bases. On September 10, one Mystere was downed by anti-aircraft fire in Pakistan but the pilot ejected safely.<ref name=listbr>{{cite web|title=LIST OF INDIAN PILOTS|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Appendix3.html|work=1965 WAR, HISTORY PAGE|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|accessdate=21 November 2011}}</ref>{{rs|date=August 2012}}


The war then lessened in intensity, with occasional clashes between the IAF and the PAF. Both air forces changed their strategy from air interdiction to ground attack and concentrated their efforts on ]s, supply lines, wagons carrying ammunition, and armoured vehicles. IAF ]s raided several Pakistani bases. A 10 September battle involved eight aeroplanes over the ]: two PAF F-86 Sabres (flown by S/L Muniruddin Ahmad and F/L ]) and six IAF planes{{snd}}four Mysteres and two Gnats{{snd}}with two 30&nbsp;mm Aden cannons, led by F/L V. Kapila and F/L Harry Sidhu. Both IAF pilots said that their guns jammed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/iaf-defeated-paf-in-1965-war/ |title=IAF defeated PAF in 1965 War |website=Indian Defence Review |language=en-US |access-date=2019-09-17}}</ref> Both PAF pilots said that they shot and damaged one IAF aeroplane each. Same-day IAF records acknowledge losing one Mystere, with the pilot (] D. P. Chinoy safely ejecting in Pakistan during the evening and walking back to safety at night.
On September 13 one PAF F-86 Sabre was downed while attacking a train near Gurdaspur and the pilot Sqn Ldr 'Butch' Allaudin was killed. In another encounter the same day between PAF Sabres from Sargodha and IAF Gnats from No. 2 Squadron,<ref>{{cite book|last=Jagan Mohan|first=P.V.S|coauthor=Chopra, Samir|title=The India-Pakistan air war of 1965|year=2005|publisher= Manohar|isbn=978-81-7304-641-4|url=http://books.google.com.pk/books?ei=luJsUsrQDYPD4wTgioCABw}} pages=240–241</ref> an Indian Gnat flown by Flt Lt A.N. Kale was shot down by PAF F-86 Sabre, flown by ] ]<ref name=Pakvictories/> although the Indian pilot Flt Lt Kale managed to eject safely. The other Gnat flown by Sqn Ldr Narinder Kumar was engaged and damaged in air combat by ] ]. The experienced pilot Sqn Ldr N.K.Malik some how managed to reach near its base, where according to All India Radio the Gnat's pilot later died of wounds sustained during the combat.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jackson|first=Robert|title=F-86 Sabre: the operational record|year=1994|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|isbn=9781560985310|url=}} |location=page=107</ref> He was said to have brought his damaged aircraft back to base and to have died during landing. His funeral was attended by the Indian President.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fricker|first=John|title=Battle for Pakistan: The Air War of 1965|year=1979|publisher=Ian Allan Ltd.|location=|isbn=9780711009295|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=RPttAAAAMAAJ}} page=150</ref> Flt Lt ] was credited with a kill whereas, Flt Lt ] was credited with damaging the IAF Gnat<ref name=Pakvictories/> despite the later confirmation that the pilot died of wounds and the Gnat crashed into ground during egress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Country-By-Country/India.htm|title=Chronological Listing of Indian Air Force, Naval Air Force and
related Losses & Ejections|date=October 2013}}</ref> Later in the night of September 13 and 14, Indian Canberras undertook the deepest penetration of Pakistani airspace of the war, attacking Pakistani bases around ] and ]. Rather than bombing the Peshawer airstrip, however, IAF bombers mistook the mall road in Peshawer as the runway and dropped there bombs there by accident. The PAF admits that the IAF came very close to annihilating its entire fleet of B-57 bombers.{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}} As per Wing Commander Bharat Singh, the Gnat escort commander of the Canberras they were intercepted by a Pakistani F-104 near Lahore but they managed to evade the Starfighter and return home safely. They also had an encounter with F-86 Sabres, one of which flown by Flt Lt Cecil Chaudhry took shots at the Canberras<ref name=Pakvictories/> and according to Wing Commander Singh the Canberra had bullet holes and marks when it landed back at base. A Pakistani F-86 Sabre piloted by a Sqn Ldr also crashed, killing the pilot while conducting an evasive maneuvere in an attempt to escape pursuit from Wing Commander Singh, as he tried to defend the Canberra bombers. W/C Singh was later credited with an aerial victory for this incident near Amritsar.<ref name=Indianvictories/> Later, one Pakistani B-57 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Adampur, although both of its crew managed to eject safely and remained POWs.{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}}


On 13 September, another encounter took place between PAF Sabres from Sargodha and IAF Gnats from the No. 2 Squadron.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jagan Mohan |first=P.V.S |author2=Chopra, Samir |title=The India-Pakistan air war of 1965 |year=2005 |publisher= Manohar |isbn=978-81-7304-641-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?ei=luJsUsrQDYPD4wTgioCABw}} pages=240–241</ref> An Indian Gnat was shot down by a PAF F-86 Sabre flown by F/L Yusaf Ali Khan,<ref name="Pakvictories" /> but the Indian pilot ejected safely. The other Gnat was damaged in combat by F/L Imtiaz Bhatti. Although its pilot returned to the base, All India Radio said that he died of injuries sustained during combat.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jackson |first=Robert |title=F-86 Sabre: the operational record |year=1994 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press |isbn=9781560985310 |page=107}}</ref> After he reportedly died on landing, his funeral was attended by the ].<ref>{{cite book |last=Fricker |first=John |title=Battle for Pakistan: The Air War of 1965 |year=1979 |publisher=Ian Allan Ltd. |isbn=9780711009295 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RPttAAAAMAAJ}} page=150</ref> Khan was credited with a kill; Bhatti was credited with damaging the IAF Gnat,<ref name="Pakvictories" /> despite later confirmation that the injured pilot and the Gnat crash-landed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Country-By-Country/India.htm |title=Chronological Listing of Indian Air Force, Naval Air Force and related Losses & Ejections |date=October 2013 |access-date=27 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222165653/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Country-By-Country/India.htm |archive-date=22 December 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Later on the night of 13/14 September, Indian Canberras made the war's deepest penetration into Pakistani airspace and attacked bases near ] and ]. Instead of bombing the Peshawer runway, however, IAF bombers mistook the mall road in Peshawer as the runway and dropped their bombs there instead. The Canberras were intercepted by a Pakistani F-104 near Lahore, but evaded the Starfighter and returned home safely. They also encountered F-86 Sabres, one of which damaged the Canberras.<ref name="Pakvictories" /> A Pakistani F-86 Sabre crashed while making an evasive maneuver in an attempt to escape pursuit by a Gnat which was defending the Canberra bombers, and the PAF pilot was killed. The Gnat pilot, W/C Singh, was credited with an aerial victory for the incident near Amritsar.<ref name="Indianvictories" /> Pakistan acknowledged losing an F-86 Sabre and its pilot, S/L Allaudin "Butch" Ahmad, who was killed in action while leading four aeroplanes attacking an ammunition train near ], ].
On September 15, the PAF employed a number of its ] transport aircraft as bombers which proved unsuccessful and two of them were shot by IAF. The following day, one Hunter<ref name=Pakvictories/> and an F-86 Sabre<ref name=Pakvictories/> were shot down over Halwara. The IAF pilot was killed in the encounter, although the Pakistani pilot ejected and spent the rest of the war as a POW.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jagan Mohan|first=P.V.S|coauthor=Chopra, Samir|title=The India-Pakistan air war of 1965|year=2005|publisher= Manohar|isbn=978-81-7304-641-4|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=FAhuAAAAMAAJ&q=shaukat}} pages=257–259</ref> A Pakistani ] was also shot down that day, as well as an ] observation aircraft.<ref name=Indianvictories/> On September 18, one Sabre was shot down by a Gnat over Amritsar, the matter was reported by the Collector, who had witness the entire dogfight.<ref name=Indianvictories/> The same day a Pakistani Sabre shot down a civilian Indian aircraft even after the civilian plane indicated its identity assuming it to be a reconnaissance mission. It became even more notable when after 60 years, the PAF pilot wrote a letter to apologize for shooting the aircraft to its Pilot's daughter.<ref name=independentUK/> The aircraft had been carrying the then Gujarat Chief Minister ] and his family.<ref name=independentUK>{{cite news|title=Fighter pilot says sorry to daughter of man he shot down|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/fighter-pilot-says-sorry-to-daughter-of-man-he-shot-down-2336256.html|accessdate=21 November 2011|newspaper=The Independent UK|date=12 AUGUST 2011}}</ref><ref name=zeebalwant>{{cite news|title=Pak pilot says sorry for 1965 downing of plane|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/pak-pilot-says-sorry-for-1965-downing-of-plane_725412.html|accessdate=21 November 2011|newspaper=Zee News|date=August 10, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=SIDE SHOW IN THE SOUTH-WESTERN SECTOR|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Chapter8.html|work=HISTORY PAGE, 1965 WAR|publisher=Bharat Rakshak|accessdate=21 November 2011}}</ref>{{rs|date=August 2012}}


On September 19, one Gnat<ref name=Pakvictories/> and two Sabres<ref name=Indianvictories/> were downed over Chawinda. One of the Sabres that were shot down was credited to Squadron Leader ],<ref name=Indianvictories/> the brother of Trevor Keelor, who was credited with the first Indian aerial victory of the war.<ref name=keelor>{{cite web|url=http://mangalorean.com/browsearticles.php?arttype=Feature&articleid=637|title=Sabre Killers: Keelor Brothers|last=Lalwani|first=Ramesh|publisher=|accessdate=2009-06-10}}</ref> The following day, another two Hunters<ref name=Pakvictories/> and an F-86 Sabre<ref name=Indianvictories/> were lost over Kasur, Pakistan. On 16 September, an IAF Hunter<ref name="Pakvictories" /> and a PAF F-86 Sabre<ref name="Pakvictories" /> were shot down over Halwara. The IAF pilot was killed, but the Pakistani pilot ejected and spent the rest of the war as a POW.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jagan Mohan |first=P.V.S |author2=Chopra, Samir |title=The India-Pakistan air war of 1965 |year=2005 |publisher= Manohar |isbn=978-81-7304-641-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FAhuAAAAMAAJ&q=shaukat}} pages=257–259</ref> A Pakistani ] and an ] observation aircraft were also shot down that day.<ref name="Indianvictories" />


On 18 September, a Sabre was shot down by a Gnat over Amritsar piloted by ]; the incident was reported by the ], who witnessed the dogfight.<ref name="Indianvictories" /> That day, a Pakistani Sabre shot down a civilian Indian aircraft after the civilian plane identified itself; the PAF pilot assumed that it was on a reconnaissance mission. Years later, the pilot wrote to the Indian pilot's daughter and apologized for shooting down the aircraft.<ref name="independentUK" /> The plane was carrying Gujarat Chief Minister ].<ref name="independentUK">{{cite news |title=Fighter pilot says sorry to daughter of man he shot down |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/fighter-pilot-says-sorry-to-daughter-of-man-he-shot-down-2336256.html |access-date=21 November 2011 |newspaper=The Independent UK |date=12 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="zeebalwant">{{cite news |title=Pak pilot says sorry for 1965 downing of plane |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/pak-pilot-says-sorry-for-1965-downing-of-plane_725412.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819183210/http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/pak-pilot-says-sorry-for-1965-downing-of-plane_725412.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 August 2011 |access-date=21 November 2011 |newspaper=Zee News |date=10 August 2011}}</ref>
At one stage the IAF was operating 200 air missions simultaneously. IAF ]s of Nos ] and ] squadrons played a significant role in major air battles.


On 19 September, a Gnat<ref name=Pakvictories/> and two Sabres<ref name=Indianvictories/> were shot down over Chawinda. One of the Sabres was credited to S/L ],<ref name=Indianvictories/> the brother of Trevor Keelor, who was credited with the first Indian aerial victory of the war.<ref name=keelor>{{cite web |url=http://mangalorean.com/browsearticles.php?arttype=Feature&articleid=637 |title=Sabre Killers: Keelor Brothers |last=Lalwani |first=Ramesh |access-date=2009-06-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927220140/http://mangalorean.com/browsearticles.php?arttype=Feature&articleid=637 |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> The following day, another two Hunters<ref name=Pakvictories/> and an F-86 Sabre<ref name=Indianvictories/> were lost over ], Pakistan.
On September 21, IAF Canberras carried out a daring daylight strike into Pakistan at the radar complex in Badin.<ref name=bladin>{{cite web|url= http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_325.shtml|title=The Kashmir War, 1965: Raid on Badin|last=Gupta|first=Aditya|publisher=Air Combat Information Group|accessdate=2009-06-10}}</ref> The raid proved to be successful. Under the command of Wing Commander Peter Wilson, six Canberras from ] took off from Agra, over a 1,000&nbsp;km from Bladin and proceeded towards the radar complex at low level.<ref name=bladin/> About 80 miles short of the target, one Canberra climbed to an altitude of 10,000 feet in order to act as a decoy before returning to base. The other five Canberras continued on towards the target. The flight then separated and four of the aircraft approached the target in two sections, each two minutes apart, at low level before climbing to 7,000 feet from where they carried out bombing runs, dropping approximately 10,000&nbsp;lbs of explosives. Wilson then approached from the south at an altitude of just 30 feet firing a salvo of 68mm rockets at the radar dome.<ref name=bladin/>


The F-86 was vulnerable against the ], nicknamed "]." The Gnat is credited by independent and Indian sources with shooting down seven ]i ]s{{Efn |Licence-built ]s with Canadian engines.}} in the ];<ref name="Rakshak">Rakshak, Bharat. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061105015854/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Misc/Kill1965.html |date=2006-11-05 }} ''History.'' Retrieved 4 November 2010.</ref><ref name="Directory">Spick 2002, p. 161.</ref> two Gnats were downed by PAF fighters.
On the same day a PAF ] intercepted a Canberra bomber on its way back from ] and shot it down,<ref name=Pakvictories/> while one Hunter pilot who was the son of Chief of the Indian Army was shot down by anti-aircraft fire, he ejected and was taken POW.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fricker|first=John|title=Battle for Pakistan: the air war of 1965|year=1979|publisher=I. Allan|location=|isbn=|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=FAhuAAAAMAAJ&q=cariappa}}page=130</ref> The ] was declared on the night of September 22, 1965.<ref name=global/>


At one point, the IAF was operating 200 air missions simultaneously. Gnats from the ] and ] squadrons played a significant role in major air battles.{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} On 21 September, IAF Canberras made a daylight strike in Pakistan on the radar complex in ].<ref name=bladin>{{cite web |url= http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_325.shtml |title=The Kashmir War, 1965: Raid on Badin |last=Gupta |first=Aditya |publisher=Air Combat Information Group |access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref> Under Wing Commander Peter Wilson, six Canberras from ] took off from ] (over 1,000&nbsp;km from Badin) and proceeded towards the radar complex at low altitude.<ref name=bladin/> About {{convert|80|mile|km}} short of the target, one Canberra climbed to an altitude of 10,000 feet as a decoy before returning to base; the other five Canberras continued towards the target. The group then separated; four aircraft approached the target in two sections, two minutes apart, at low altitude before climbing to 7,000 feet. They made bombing runs, dropping about 10,000&nbsp;lbs of explosives. Wilson then approached from the south at an altitude of 30 feet, firing a salvo of 68&nbsp;mm rockets at the radar dome.<ref name=bladin/>
==Outcome==
There are conflicting claims by either side on this issue. Pakistani sources suggest that Indian losses were in the range of 59–110 and Pakistani losses were around 18–43.<ref name=tribune1/><ref name=1965p6>{{cite web|url=http://pakistaniat.com/2007/09/06/1965-war-a-different-legacy/comment-page-6/|title=1965 War: A Different Legacy|last=Osama|first=Athar|publisher=|accessdate=2009-06-10}}</ref> Recent works have, however, attempted to move beyond the raw statistics of the number of losses each side incurred, arguing that in terms of aircraft lost to sorties flown, the Indian Air Force's attrition rate (1.5%) was lower than the Pakistani attrition rate (1.82%).<ref name=tribune1/> Arguably this indicates that had the war continued, the PAF would have found it increasingly difficult to sustain operations at the same level.<ref name=tribune1/> Nevertheless, a similar argument can be made about the IAF also, although it did have a significant size advantage that might have proved telling if the war had been prolonged.<ref name=tribune1/>


That day, a PAF F-104 intercepted a Canberra bomber on its way back from ] and shot it down.<ref name=Pakvictories/> Hunter pilot F/L ], son of ] ] (the Indian Army's first commander-in-chief) was shot down by anti-aircraft fire; he ejected, and became a POW.<ref>{{cite book |last=Fricker |first=John |title=Battle for Pakistan: the air war of 1965 |year=1979 |publisher=I. Allan |isbn= 9788173046414|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FAhuAAAAMAAJ&q=cariappa}}page=130</ref> Identifying the wounded soldier at Kargil, ] announced the capture of the younger Cariappa. General Ayub Khan contacted General Cariappa, who was retired in his hometown of ], with information about his son's safety. When Khan offered to release his son immediately, Cariappa reportedly told him to treat his son no differently from any other POW: "He is my son no longer. He is the child of this country, a soldier fighting for his motherland like a true patriot. My many thanks for your kind gesture, but I request you to release all or release none. Give him no special treatment."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Vijay Kumar |title=Leadership in the Indian Army: Biographies of Twelve Soldiers |publisher=SAGE |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-7619-3322-9 |page=45 |author-link=V. K. Singh}}</ref> A ] was declared on the night of 22 September.<ref name="global" />
Another factor which makes it difficult to determine the outcome of the 1965 air war is the issue of aircraft lost in the air in air-to-air combat or to ground fire as opposed to aircraft lost on the ground due to bombing.<ref name=tribune1/> Indian sources claimed that a large number of Indian aircraft losses occurred on the ground during the attacks on Kalaikkunda and Pathankot—up to 60 per cent by some accounts<ref>{{cite book|last=Khan|first=J A|title=Air Power and Challenges to IAF|year=2004|publisher=APH Publishing|page=185|isbn= 978-81-7648-593-7}}</ref>


==Losses==
Results of Air Combat: Indian sources have claimed that India lost 24 aircraft in air-to-air combat and ground-to-air fire, while PAF lost 37 aircraft in air-to-air combat.<ref name=tribune1/> Air Commodore ] of India claimed that Pakistan ended the war having depleted 17 percent of its front line strength, while India's losses amounted to less than 10 percent. Moreover, the loss rate had begun to even out, and it has been estimated that another three week's fighting would have seen the Pakistani losses rising to 33 percent and India's losses totalling 15 percent.
{{anchor|Outcome|Assessment of losses}}
{{See also|List of aerial victories during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965}}
{{POV section|talk=Pakistani edge?|date=May 2020}}
Each side made conflicting claims. Pakistani sources said that Indian losses ranged from 59 to 110, and Pakistani losses ranged from 18 to 43.<ref name=1965p6>{{cite web |url=http://pakistaniat.com/2007/09/06/1965-war-a-different-legacy/comment-page-6/ |title=1965 War: A Different Legacy |last=Osama |first=Athar |date=7 September 2007 |access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref><ref name=tribune1/> According to Indian sources, the Indian Air Force's aircraft-attrition rate (1.5%) was lower than that of the PAF (1.82%).<ref name=tribune1/>


One factor which makes it difficult to determine the outcome of the 1965 air war is the number of planes lost in the air versus those lost on the ground due to bombing.<ref name=tribune1/> Up to 60 percent of Indian aircraft losses occurred on the ground during the attacks on Kalaikkunda and ].<ref>{{cite book |last=Khan |first=J A |title=Air Power and Challenges to IAF |year=2004 |publisher=APH Publishing |page=185|isbn= 978-81-7648-593-7}}</ref>
===Learning the lessons===
Much of the lessons of the 1965 war lead India to refine tactics which proved decisive in the 1971 war. Pakistani forces failed to take account of the extent to which they had relied on two factors which the IAF could not take for granted - complete ground based defensive radar coverage and an adequate supply of air-to-air missiles. Much effort was expended in India to remedy these deficiencies before 1971.


IAF Marshal ] said that despite being inferior in quality, his air force achieved air superiority in three days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/1965-war-we-achieved-air-superiority-in-three-days-says-air-force-marshal-arjan-singh_1805797.html|title = 1965 war: We achieved air superiority in three days, says Air Force Marshal Arjan Singh|date = 4 October 2015}}</ref> Kenneth Werrell wrote that the PAF "did well in the conflict and probably had the edge".<ref name="Werrell"/> When the war began, it had about 100 F-86s; India had five times the number of more-modern combat aircraft. Pakistan had a "decade's experience with the Sabre", however, and experienced pilots.<ref name="Werrell">{{cite book |last1=Werrell |first1=Kenneth |title=Sabres Over MiG Alley: The F-86 and the Battle for Air Superiority in Korea |date=2013 |publisher=] |isbn=978-1-61251-344-7 |page=188}}</ref> India and Pakistan made disputed claims of losses in the air war.
With Soviet aid, India established a modern early warning radar system, including the recently introduced 'Fansong-E' low-level radar, linked with SA-2 'Guideline' surface-to-air missiles and a large number of AA guns. By December 1971 the IAF comprised a total of 36 squadrons (of which 10 were deployed in the Bengal sector) with some 650 combat aircraft.


{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 0.90em; margin-right: 0;"
Moreover, the 1965 war resulted in the USA imposing a 10 year arms embargo on both sides. This had no effect, on India, which had always looked to Britain, France and even Russia for arms, but was disastrous for Pakistan, which was forced to acquire 90 obsolete second hand Sabre via Iran, a mere 28 Mirage IIIs from France and 74 maintenance intensive Shenyang F-6s. It was unable to replace losses among its (already weak) force of B-57s, or to acquire a modern interceptor in realistic numbers.
|+
<ref>The Encyclopedia of 20th Century Air Warfare Edited by Chris Bishop (amber publishing 1997, republished 2004 pages 384-387 ISBN 1-904687-26-1)</ref>
!
!Indian claims
!Pakistani claims
!Independent sources
|-
|Combat flying
| 4,073+ sorties
| 2,279 sorties
|–
|-
|Aircraft lost
|59 IAF, 43 PAF. Indian sources claim an additional 13 IAF aircraft were lost in accidents.
|19 PAF, 104 IAF
|20 PAF, 60–75 IAF<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050511105610/http://chowk.com/show_article.cgi?aid=00001093 |date=11 May 2005 }}. Chowk (9 December 2007). Retrieved on 2011-04-14.</ref><ref>{{citation |last1=Singh |first1=Pushpindar |last2=Rikhye |first2=Ravi |last3=Steinemann |first3=Peter |title=Fiza'ya: psyche of the Pakistan Air Force |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_JS4AAAAIAAJ |year=1991 |publisher=Society for Aerospace Studies |isbn=978-81-7002-038-7}}</ref>
|-
|Aerial victories
|17 (+ 3 postwar)
|30
|&nbsp;–
|}

=={{anchor|Effect on future wars}}Legacy==
The 1965 war led India to refine its tactics, which were decisive in the ]; Pakistani forces did not realize how much they relied on full ground-based defensive radar coverage and an adequate supply of air-to-air missiles. India established a modern early warning radar system with Soviet aid, including the recently introduced Fansong-E low-level radar linked to the ] system and a large number of ]. By December 1971, the IAF had 36 squadrons (10 of which were deployed in the Bengal sector) and about 650 combat aircraft.

The US imposed a 10-year arms embargo on both sides as a result of the 1965 war. This had no effect on India (which looked to Britain, France and the Soviet Union for arms) but was disastrous for Pakistan, which was limited to 90 obsolete, second-hand Sabres from Iran, 28 Mirage IIIs from France, and 74 maintenance-intensive Shenyang F-6s. It could not replace losses to its (already weak) force of B-57s or acquire realistic numbers of modern ].<ref>''The Encyclopedia of 20th Century Air Warfare'', edited by Chris Bishop (Amber Publishing 1997, republished 2004, pages 384–387 {{ISBN|1-904687-26-1}})</ref>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}


==External links==
{{Military of India}}
* documentary published by IAF
* {{citation |last=Ganguly |first=Sumit |chapter=Indo-Pakistan Wars |title=MSN Encarta |chapter-url=http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_781531179/indo-pakistan_wars.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240524180302/https://www.webcitation.org/5kwrG0An8?url=http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_781531179/indo-pakistan_wars.html |archive-date=24 May 2024 |url-status=dead }}

{{Military of Pakistan}} {{Military of Pakistan}}


] ]
] ]
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Latest revision as of 21:56, 5 December 2024

Armed conflict between India and Pakistan

Indo-Pakistani aerial war of 1965
Part of the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965
in theClockwise from top left:
  • M.M. Alam poses with his F-86 Sabre
  • Formation of PAF F-86F Sabres returning to base
  • Commemorative India Post stamp
  • IAF Folland Gnat F.1
DateAugust – 23 September 1965
LocationSouth Asia
Result Tashkent Declaration; United Nations-mandated ceasefire
Territorial
changes
Status quo ante bellum
Belligerents
 India  Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
ACM Arjan Singh AM Nur Khan
Units involved
 Indian Air Force  Pakistan Air Force
Strength
700+ aircraft 280 aircraft
Casualties and losses

Neutral claim

  • 60–75 aircraft

Indian claims

  • 35-59 aircraft lost Thirteen IAF aircraft lost in accidents, and three Indian civilian aircraft shot down

Pakistani claim

  • 110-113 aircraft destroyed

Neutral claim

  • 20 aircraft

Pakistani claim

  • 19 aircraft lost

Indian claim

  • 43-73 aircraft destroyed
Indo-Pakistani war of 1965
Prelude
Gujarat
Kashmir Front
Punjab Front
Other
Indo-Pakistani conflicts
Kashmir conflict

Other conflicts

Border skirmishes

Strikes

During the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965, the Indian and Pakistani Air Forces engaged in large-scale aerial combat for the first time. In the air war, which took place in September, both air forces conducted thousands of defensive and offensive sorties over Indian and Pakistani airspace. Both India and Pakistan claimed victory in the air war; Pakistan claimed to have destroyed 104 Indian aircraft and lost 19, and India claimed to have destroyed 73 Pakistani aircraft and lost 35 of its own. The air war ended in a stalemate.

Background

The war began in early August 1965, and fighting was initially confined mainly to the ground. As hostilities progressed, however, both sides began air operations. Although India and Pakistan had fought in the First Kashmir War, shortly after the partition of India in 1947, that war was more limited in scale than the 1965 conflict; air operations had been largely confined to interdiction, re-supply and troop transport. One Indian fighter aircraft had intercepted a Pakistani transport in the earlier war, but there was no significant air-to-air combat. During the 1965 conflict, however, the Pakistan Air Force flew a total of 2,364 sorties; the Indian Air Force flew 3,937 sorties.

Main battle

A series of nine photos
Pakistani Sabre shot down in combat by an Indian Gnat in September 1965, seen from the Indian aircraft

The aerial phase of the war began on 1 September 1965, when the Indian Air Force (IAF) responded to an urgent call for air strikes against the Pakistani Army (which had begun Operation Grand Slam. The IAF quickly launched 26 aeroplanes (12 de Havilland Vampires and 14 Dassault Mystère IVs) to blunt the Pakistan Army's offensive in Chhamb. The IAF's 45th Squadron was tasked with close air support of Indian troops. The squadron, recently moved from Pune to Pathankot after the 220th Squadron was merged into it, was commanded by S. K. "Marshal" Dhar. Group Captain Roshan Suri painted a grim picture of the Indian Army's position at Akhnoor and the Pakistan Army's armoured thrust at Chhamb, on the Tawi River near Jammu. Twenty-eight aircraft (12 Vampires and 16 Mysteres) were used, and the first planes took off at 17:19 hours. The planes flew in formation and strafed Pakistani tanks and ground targets, although friendly fire was also later reported. When the Indian aircraft were sighted, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) scrambled two F-86 Sabres (flown by S/L Sarfraz Rafiqui of the No. 5 Squadron and F/L Imtiaz Bhatti of No. 15 Squadron) to intercept. In the ensuing dogfight over Chhamb, where Rafiqui took on the flight leader and wingman and Bhatti went after the element leader and element wingman, the IAF lost all four of its Vampires; they were flown by Squadron Leader Aspi Kekobad Bhagwagar (flight leader), Flight Lieutenant Vijay Madhav Joshi (element leader), Flight Lieutenant Satish Bharadwaj (element wingman) and Flight Lieutenant (later Group Captain) Shrikrishna Vishnu Phatak (wingman). Both Pakistani pilots claimed two aircraft kills each.

Wreckage of a plane, surrounded by two men
Wreckage of an IAF Vampire shot down by the PAF over Chhamb

The IAF withdrew about 130 Vampires and over 50 Ouragons from front-line service. Although India's use of fixed-winged Vampires was later criticized, eight of the 12 Vampires successfully completed their tasks; 14 Mysteres returned unscathed, and the IAF claimed success in slowing the Pakistan Army's momentum. Both sides supported their ground forces on 2 September, but no major aerial engagement was observed.

The PAF's Sabres forced the IAF to send Folland Gnat fighters to the forward base at Pathankot; India used Mysteres flying at slow speed as bait to lure the Sabres to attack, and the waiting Gnats would take them on. Two Sabres were scrambled, but one had to turn back when the pilot could not jettison its fuel tanks. The other, flown by F/L Yusaf Ali Khan, spotted the IAF planes and tried positioning himself behind them before attacking. As Khan got them in his cross-hairs, however, he was surrounded by a group of Gnats under attack. A Lockheed F-104 Starfighter in the area was sent to the dogfight, and another one was scrambled from the base. The first Starfighter passed through the dogfight at supersonic speed; the Gnats, after scoring a kill, began to leave. IAF Squadron Leader Trevor Keelor of No. 23 Squadron claimed to have shot down an F-86 Sabre on 3 September for the IAF's first air-combat victory of the war, and received the Vir Chakra; however, the Sabre made it back to the base. Its pilot, Khan, received the Sitara-e-Jurat for surviving the dogfight against six Gnats and bringing the damaged Sabre back home. An IAF Gnat pilot was overheard warning others of the incoming Starfighter. A Gnat flown by S/L Brij Pal Singh Sikand mistakenly landed at an abandoned airstrip in Pasrur after Sikand thought he had safely crossed the border. After realising his mistake, Sikand's takeoff attempt was aborted due to a Pakistan Army jeep on the runway; he was taken prisoner, and later handed over to the PAF. A Starfighter flown by F/L Hakimullah Khan at supersonic speed was credited with forcing the Gnat down, and the Gnat is on display at the Pakistan Air Force Museum in Karachi. It was flown from Pasrur to Sargodha by S/L Saad Hatmi, who evaluated its flight performance and downplayed its effectiveness in a dogfight.

On 4 September, an F-86 Sabre was lost. The PAF said that the cause was friendly ground fire, but the IAF said that they shot it down.

Grey fighter plane in a museum
IAF Folland Gnat at the PAF Museum

Bhatti had 34 combat missions, the most flown by any pilot during the war. According to Pakistani sources, Muhammad Mahmood Alam reportedly shot down seven Indian aircraft (two of which were "probable". During a sortie on 7 September, five IAF Hawker Hunter aircraft were shot down by Alam over the Sargodha airbase in one minute; Alam claimed victory over four in 30 seconds. His claim was contested by the IAF, which denied losing five Hawker Hunter aircraft that day; several experts, including retired PAF Air Commodore Sajad Haider, also discredited Alam's claim about the sortie. No verifiable gun camera footage of Alam's kills was made public by Pakistani authorities.

Aerial photo of smoke rising from an airstrip
Smoke rises from India's Pathankot airbase during airstrikes by the PAF's No. 19 Squadron led by Sajad Haider.

On 6 September, the Indian Army crossed the border at Lahore to relieve pressure on the Chamb Jaurian sector. That evening, the PAF responded with attacks on Indian airfields at Pathankot, Adampur and Halwara. The IAF lost almost ten aircraft on the ground at Pathankot, but the attacks on Adampur and Halwara were unsuccessful. The Adampur strike, led by S/L M. M. Alam, turned back before reaching Adampur; the Halwara strike, led by S/L Sarfraz Rafiqi, was impossible due to IAF combat air patrol. Two Indian Hunters were lost in air combat. Both Indian pilots survived, ejecting over their base, but both Pakistani pilots (including Rafiqui) were killed. Rafiqui had shot down two Vampires and the first of the Hunters, posthumously receiving the Sitara-e-Jurat for the Chhamb action and the Hilal-i-Jurat for Halwara. F/L Cecil Chaudhry returned from the pursuit.

According to Indian sources, the PAF parachuted 135 Special Services Group (SSG) commandos at three Indian airfields (Halwara, Pathankot and Adampur) on 7 September. The attempt was an "unmitigated disaster". Only ten commandos returned to Pakistan, and the rest were prisoners of war (including a commander, Major Khalid Butt). The troops landed in residential areas of Halwara and Adampur, where villagers caught them and handed them over to police.

That day, the IAF mounted 33 sorties against the heavily guarded Sargodha Airfield Complex, owned by the PAF. They lost two Mysteres and three Hunters to local PAF squadrons. One of the Indian Hunter pilots, who ejected near Sargodha, was taken prisoner and released after the war. One of the crippled Mysteres was involved in a dogfight with a Starfighter, shooting each other down. The Pakistani pilot ejected; S/L Ajamada B. Devayya was killed, and received a posthumous Maha Vir Chakra.

During the 7 September PAF raid on Kalaikunda, Indian F/L A. T. Cooke engaged three PAF Sabres. Cooke shot one down and damaged a second; out of ammunition, he chased away the third Sabre (which was shot down by his wingman). On 8 September, an Indian S-75 Dvina missile was fired against an unidentified target believed to have been on a night mission above Ghaziabad (near Delhi).

The war then lessened in intensity, with occasional clashes between the IAF and the PAF. Both air forces changed their strategy from air interdiction to ground attack and concentrated their efforts on soft-skinned vehicles, supply lines, wagons carrying ammunition, and armoured vehicles. IAF English Electric Canberras raided several Pakistani bases. A 10 September battle involved eight aeroplanes over the River Beas: two PAF F-86 Sabres (flown by S/L Muniruddin Ahmad and F/L Imtiaz Bhatti) and six IAF planes – four Mysteres and two Gnats – with two 30 mm Aden cannons, led by F/L V. Kapila and F/L Harry Sidhu. Both IAF pilots said that their guns jammed. Both PAF pilots said that they shot and damaged one IAF aeroplane each. Same-day IAF records acknowledge losing one Mystere, with the pilot (Fg Off D. P. Chinoy safely ejecting in Pakistan during the evening and walking back to safety at night.

On 13 September, another encounter took place between PAF Sabres from Sargodha and IAF Gnats from the No. 2 Squadron. An Indian Gnat was shot down by a PAF F-86 Sabre flown by F/L Yusaf Ali Khan, but the Indian pilot ejected safely. The other Gnat was damaged in combat by F/L Imtiaz Bhatti. Although its pilot returned to the base, All India Radio said that he died of injuries sustained during combat. After he reportedly died on landing, his funeral was attended by the president of India. Khan was credited with a kill; Bhatti was credited with damaging the IAF Gnat, despite later confirmation that the injured pilot and the Gnat crash-landed. Later on the night of 13/14 September, Indian Canberras made the war's deepest penetration into Pakistani airspace and attacked bases near Peshawar and Kohat. Instead of bombing the Peshawer runway, however, IAF bombers mistook the mall road in Peshawer as the runway and dropped their bombs there instead. The Canberras were intercepted by a Pakistani F-104 near Lahore, but evaded the Starfighter and returned home safely. They also encountered F-86 Sabres, one of which damaged the Canberras. A Pakistani F-86 Sabre crashed while making an evasive maneuver in an attempt to escape pursuit by a Gnat which was defending the Canberra bombers, and the PAF pilot was killed. The Gnat pilot, W/C Singh, was credited with an aerial victory for the incident near Amritsar. Pakistan acknowledged losing an F-86 Sabre and its pilot, S/L Allaudin "Butch" Ahmad, who was killed in action while leading four aeroplanes attacking an ammunition train near Gurdaspur, Amritsar.

On 16 September, an IAF Hunter and a PAF F-86 Sabre were shot down over Halwara. The IAF pilot was killed, but the Pakistani pilot ejected and spent the rest of the war as a POW. A Pakistani Cessna and an Auster observation aircraft were also shot down that day.

On 18 September, a Sabre was shot down by a Gnat over Amritsar piloted by Amar Jit Singh Sandhu; the incident was reported by the District Collector, who witnessed the dogfight. That day, a Pakistani Sabre shot down a civilian Indian aircraft after the civilian plane identified itself; the PAF pilot assumed that it was on a reconnaissance mission. Years later, the pilot wrote to the Indian pilot's daughter and apologized for shooting down the aircraft. The plane was carrying Gujarat Chief Minister Balwant Rai.

On 19 September, a Gnat and two Sabres were shot down over Chawinda. One of the Sabres was credited to S/L Denzil Keelor, the brother of Trevor Keelor, who was credited with the first Indian aerial victory of the war. The following day, another two Hunters and an F-86 Sabre were lost over Kasur, Pakistan.

The F-86 was vulnerable against the Folland Gnat, nicknamed "Sabre Slayer." The Gnat is credited by independent and Indian sources with shooting down seven Pakistani Canadair Sabres in the 1965 war; two Gnats were downed by PAF fighters.

At one point, the IAF was operating 200 air missions simultaneously. Gnats from the 9th and 23rd squadrons played a significant role in major air battles. On 21 September, IAF Canberras made a daylight strike in Pakistan on the radar complex in Badin. Under Wing Commander Peter Wilson, six Canberras from No. 16 Squadron took off from Agra (over 1,000 km from Badin) and proceeded towards the radar complex at low altitude. About 80 miles (130 km) short of the target, one Canberra climbed to an altitude of 10,000 feet as a decoy before returning to base; the other five Canberras continued towards the target. The group then separated; four aircraft approached the target in two sections, two minutes apart, at low altitude before climbing to 7,000 feet. They made bombing runs, dropping about 10,000 lbs of explosives. Wilson then approached from the south at an altitude of 30 feet, firing a salvo of 68 mm rockets at the radar dome.

That day, a PAF F-104 intercepted a Canberra bomber on its way back from Sargodha and shot it down. Hunter pilot F/L K. C. Cariappa, son of Field Marshal K. M. Cariappa (the Indian Army's first commander-in-chief) was shot down by anti-aircraft fire; he ejected, and became a POW. Identifying the wounded soldier at Kargil, Radio Pakistan announced the capture of the younger Cariappa. General Ayub Khan contacted General Cariappa, who was retired in his hometown of Mercara, with information about his son's safety. When Khan offered to release his son immediately, Cariappa reportedly told him to treat his son no differently from any other POW: "He is my son no longer. He is the child of this country, a soldier fighting for his motherland like a true patriot. My many thanks for your kind gesture, but I request you to release all or release none. Give him no special treatment." A ceasefire was declared on the night of 22 September.

Losses

See also: List of aerial victories during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965
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Each side made conflicting claims. Pakistani sources said that Indian losses ranged from 59 to 110, and Pakistani losses ranged from 18 to 43. According to Indian sources, the Indian Air Force's aircraft-attrition rate (1.5%) was lower than that of the PAF (1.82%).

One factor which makes it difficult to determine the outcome of the 1965 air war is the number of planes lost in the air versus those lost on the ground due to bombing. Up to 60 percent of Indian aircraft losses occurred on the ground during the attacks on Kalaikkunda and Pathankot.

IAF Marshal Arjan Singh said that despite being inferior in quality, his air force achieved air superiority in three days. Kenneth Werrell wrote that the PAF "did well in the conflict and probably had the edge". When the war began, it had about 100 F-86s; India had five times the number of more-modern combat aircraft. Pakistan had a "decade's experience with the Sabre", however, and experienced pilots. India and Pakistan made disputed claims of losses in the air war.

Indian claims Pakistani claims Independent sources
Combat flying 4,073+ sorties 2,279 sorties
Aircraft lost 59 IAF, 43 PAF. Indian sources claim an additional 13 IAF aircraft were lost in accidents. 19 PAF, 104 IAF 20 PAF, 60–75 IAF
Aerial victories 17 (+ 3 postwar) 30  –

Legacy

The 1965 war led India to refine its tactics, which were decisive in the 1971 war; Pakistani forces did not realize how much they relied on full ground-based defensive radar coverage and an adequate supply of air-to-air missiles. India established a modern early warning radar system with Soviet aid, including the recently introduced Fansong-E low-level radar linked to the SA-2 Guideline system and a large number of anit-aircraft guns. By December 1971, the IAF had 36 squadrons (10 of which were deployed in the Bengal sector) and about 650 combat aircraft.

The US imposed a 10-year arms embargo on both sides as a result of the 1965 war. This had no effect on India (which looked to Britain, France and the Soviet Union for arms) but was disastrous for Pakistan, which was limited to 90 obsolete, second-hand Sabres from Iran, 28 Mirage IIIs from France, and 74 maintenance-intensive Shenyang F-6s. It could not replace losses to its (already weak) force of B-57s or acquire realistic numbers of modern interceptors.

Notes

  1. Licence-built North American F-86 Sabres with Canadian engines.

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