Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar

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 veteran, he is most known for his participation in Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 when he had intercepted 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).

Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar
Birth name	Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar
Nickname(s)	Dakota
Allegiance	Pakistan
Service/branch	Pakistan Air Force
Years of service	1940-1968
Rank	Air Commodore
Unit	No. 5 Squadron Falcons
Commands held	No. 6 Squadron Globe Trotters No. 9 Squadron Griffins Special Service Wing
Battles/wars	World War II Burma Campaign 1944-1945 Indo-Pakistan War of 1947 Indo-Pakistan War of 1965
Awards	Sitara-e-Jurat (1948)

Air Force career

Indo-Pak War of 1947

Dogar gained a commission in Royal Air Force, 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 participated in Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. On 4 November 1948, Dogar, a fighter pilot of Dakota, in the valleys of Kashmir was attacked by two Indian Air Force (IAF) Hawker 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 government of Pakistan had given orders to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to stay away from the conflict. Pakistan, faced with limited aircraft and the hazardous weather, issued specific orders to PAF to not be involved in the conflict while the ground operations were undertaken by the Army. In the 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. Aggravated, the IAF pilots threatened to shoot down Dogar and Jagjivan if the orders weren't followed. The IAF pilots fired a free burst to show that they were armed. Dogar and Jagjivan tried to avoid to respond as they had given orders by the Government of Pakistan. The army personnel on the 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 pilots broke off, gained a little height and came in to attack. He fired a full burst of 20 mm at the 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 shot down the IAF pilots, killing all the IAF pilots in action.[1]

Air Commodore Dogar and Air Commodore Alfred Jagjivan were awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat for his daring handling of the belligerent Indian Air Force fighters on 4 November 1948. His Sitara-e-Jurat is the first for Pakistan Air Force.[1][2]

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

Dogar, as Air Commodore (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 the 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.

Career highlights

Dogar remained on various command and staff assignments during his career in PAF, which included OC Flying Wing Lahore in 1956, Deputy Director Plans at AHQ in 1957, Director Operations at PIA in 1960 and Officer Commanding Dacca Base from 1960-1963. He commanded PAF Base, Chaklala and Peshawar as well.

A rare honour

Dogar was the only PAF officer who had flown such a large variety of aircraft during his long and illustrious service. He had flown more than 35 fighter, transport, light communication and bomber aircraft. Dogar retired from service in 1968.

References

1. http://www.defencejournal.com/nov98/firstsitara.htm
2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

3. Air Commodore Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar SJ

External links

• Air Cdre Mukhtar Ahmad Dogar SJ | Ghazi of 1948 War