Group Captain Muhammad Ali
Rohtaq born Amanullah was the son of a well-reputed Police officer of East Punjab. He excelled in curricular and co-curricular activities. During Mianwali days, he was spotted by the visiting RPAF selection team, which was on a hunt to select young promising candidates to become fighter pilots. Qualifying the ISSB with ease, he subsequently joined RPAF College, Risalpur in 1956. Amanullah completed initial flying training on venerable Harvard trainer aircraft and owing to his outstanding performance, he was selected for Advanced Flying Training in USA. During two years of training in USA, Aman learned the art of fighter flying on various aircraft, which included T-34, T-28, T-33 and F-86 Sabre. He was also among the very few selected for Advanced Fighter Conversion and Advanced Gunnery Course on F-86 aircraft in USA. While training in USA, Amanullah earned his wings and was already an operational pilot by the time he returned to Pakistan. Flg Off Amanullah joined No 17 Sqn equipped with F-86 Sabres, stationed at Peshawar. After a short stint at Peshawar, he was posted to No 18 Sqn commanded by legendary Sqn Ldr Alauddin (Butch) Ahmed at Mauripur. With consistent hard work and focused approach, young Amanullah soon emerged as the promising fighter pilot of PAF.
In the mid of 1965, when the desired results from Operation ‘Gibraltar’ launched by Pak Army were not achieved and the Indian Army started its build up in Haji Pir and Bharat Gali, tensions started to build between the two countries. Flt Lt Amanullah moved to Sargodha from Mauripur along with a flight of No 18 Sqn. Flt Lt Amanullah flew his first operational mission on the morning of 3 Sep with Sqn Ldr Waqar Azeem as the leader.
It was an armed recce mission in Akhnur area, and despite heavy ack-ack fire, the formation achieved its mission and passed on very valuable information to Pak Army about enemy movement and concentration.
On 4 Sep, he flew two missions. First, an armed recce mission in which he destroyed Indian tanks close to Akhnur Bridge. In the second mission, his four-ship formation launched an attack on Indian convoy in Akhnur area. Then came 6 Sep, when the limited air and ground actions in Kashmir turned into an all-out war, the Indian Army launched a full-scale offensive on Lahore.
In the morning of 6 Sep, Flt Lt Amanullah in a four-ship formation launched an attack on the Indian Army convoys marching towards Lahore. Their formation destroyed scores of tanks and fleets of trucks on Lahore-Amritsar road and blunted the Indian Army attack.
On 7 and 8 Sep, Amanullah flew two close support missions each against Indian Army tank concentration in Charwa and Philora sectors and delivered lethal blow to advancing Indian armour. From 9 to 12 Sep, he flew close support and armed recce missions extensively in Chima, Khem Karan, Wagah and Sialkot sector.
Flt Lt Amanullah Khan carried out 26 strike missions and one Air Defence mission against the enemy. He flew in the most aggressive, alert manner, and was responsible for inspiring great confidence in his formation members.
His leadership left nothing more to be desired. He participated in attacks on Amritsar and Ferozepur Radar, Gurdaspur Railway Station, ammunition Train at Gurdaspur and many other close support missions and invariably achieved most convincing results against enemy ground fire. On 21 Sep 1965, his formation achieved great success with the destruction of enemy’s heavy guns that were shelling Lahore incessantly. For his aggressive and determined leadership and display of unbeatable courage in the face of heavy enemy ground fire, Flt Lt Amanullah Khan is awarded SJ.
After 1965 War, Wg Cdr Amanullah served in various fighter Sqns of PAF, flying a variety of aircraft. In 1966, he went on deputation to Saudi Air Force and played a key role in grooming their fighter pilots. His meritorious and eventful career ended in 1979 when he retired from PAF as Wg Cdr.
