ISLAMABAD – The Pakistani nation commemorated the eleventh death anniversary of one of the legendary fighter pilots of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Mohammad Mahmood Alam, on Monday.
The Pakistan Air Force paid tribute to Air Commodore Mohammad Mahmood Alam, who achieved the remarkable feat of downing five Indian Air Force jets in under one minute during the 1965 war – a record that remains unmatched to this day.
In a press release, the Air Force stated that MM Alam shot down five Indian fighter jets while piloting his F-86 Sabre jet plane, earning the title of “Ace in a Day” on September 7, 1965.
He claimed a total of 9 kills and 2 enemy aircraft damages to his credit during a span of 11 days. The war hero was honored with the prestigious ‘Sitara-e-Jurat’ with BAR for his exceptional performance in the 1965 war.
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Alam is revered as a national hero in the South Asian nation for his extraordinary bravery during the 1965 Pakistan-India war. He holds a world record with his F-86 Sabre, having downed a total of nine Indian fighters in record time.
Born in Calcutta, India, Alam was the eldest of 11 siblings. His family later moved to East Pakistan, and he joined the military in 1952, becoming a commissioned officer on October 2, 1953.
Alam was also bestowed with the ‘Sitara-e-Jurrat’, the third-highest military award. A celebrated war hero, Alam was the Pakistan Air Force’s first fighter pilot and is prominently featured in the hall of fame at the PAF Museum in Karachi.
After serving the PAF for 29 years, he retired as Air Commodore in 1982. Alam, fondly known as the ‘little dragon’, passed away in Karachi after a prolonged illness on March 18, 2013.
