Windjammer
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A PAF F-86 Sabre, was recently put on display at a prominent location. The aircraft serial number "55-4029" is a veteran of the 1965 and '71 war with India during which, while flying with No 14 Squadron, it saw heavy combat and scored several air-to-air and air-to-ground confirmed victories. It also participated in the decisive strike against IAF Base Kalaikunda, thus earning the unit the distinguished title of "The Tail Choppers".
1965 Indo-Pak war hero Squadron Leader Shabbir Hussain Syed standing in front of "Sabre 029"
The same F-86F Sabre with serial number '54029' is shown in painting by Group Captain (R) Syed Masood Akhtar Hussaini that shows strike mission led by Squadron Leader Shabbir Hussain Syed against Indian Air Force (IAF) Canberra bomber station at Kalaikunda on September 7, 1965.
1965 Indo-Pak war hero Squadron Leader Shabbir Hussain Syed standing in front of "Sabre 029"
The same F-86F Sabre with serial number '54029' is shown in painting by Group Captain (R) Syed Masood Akhtar Hussaini that shows strike mission led by Squadron Leader Shabbir Hussain Syed against Indian Air Force (IAF) Canberra bomber station at Kalaikunda on September 7, 1965.
Depiction
The painting shows 2 of the 5 Dacca-based F-86 Sabres attacking the IAF bomber station at Kalaikunda. The Sabre pilots, quickly overcoming their initial surprise at finding so many bombers neatly lined up, wasted no time in making the best of it. The formation leader was Squadron Leader Shabbir H. Syed with Flight Lieutenants Abdul Baseer, Tariq Habib, Abdul Haleem and Flying Officer Afzal Khan in his formation. In his memoirs written after the 1965 India-Pakistan war, Air Chief Marshal P.C. Lal, Chief of the Air Staff, IAF, conceded the losses suffered by the IAF during this daring attack. He wrote: A sharp lesson was taught by the PAF in an attack on an IAF base near Kharagpur (Kalaikunda). In one raid that it mounted, it destroyed several Canberra bombers and Hunter fighter aircraft on the ground.