Sattar Alvi: PAF Pilot Who Shot down an Israeli Mirage while flying a Syrian MiG-21

Syrian President also presented the flying coverall (suit) of the deceased Israeli pilot (Capt Lutz) to Mr Alvi which he  later  presented  to the PAF Museum  located in PAF base Faisal Karachi.

During the 1973 Arab–Israeli ‘Yom Kippur’ War, 16 Pakistan Air Force pilots volunteered to leave for the Middle East in order to support Egypt and Syria but by the time they arrived, Egypt had already agreed on a cease-fire.

Syria remained in a state of war against Israel so the PAF pilots became instructors there and formed the A-flight of 67 Squadron at Dumayr AB. One of the PAF pilots, Flt. Lt. Sattar Alvi flying a MiG-21 shot down an Israeli Air Force Mirage and was honored by the Syrian government.

Alvi came to worldwide international notice when he shot down the IAF’s Mirage IIICJ flown by Captain M. Lutz. On 26 April 1974,

Incident Details:

On 26 April 1974, PAF fighter pilot Flight Lieutenant Sattar Alvi on deputation to No. 67A Squadron, Syrian Air Force (SAF) was flying a SAF MiG-21F-13 (Serial No. 1863) out of Dumayr Air Base, Syria in an eight-ship formation with a fellow PAF pilot and the Flight Leader, Squadron Leader Arif Manzoor.

while on an aerial patrol, the PAF fighter pilot team including, Flight Lieutenant Captain Sattar Alvi, Squadron Leader Major Saleem Metla, and the formation’s leader Squadron Leader Major Arif Manzoor had an encounter over the Golan Heights between a Mig-21 of the Syrian Air Force and two Israeli Mirages.

Sattar Alvi: Rewarded PAF pilot who shot down an Isreali Mirage while flying a Syrian MiG-21

While leading a Mig-21 patrol along the border, Squadron Leader Arif Manzoor was apprised of the presence of two Israeli Phantom aircraft and was cautioned that these could be decoys while two other fast tracks approaching from the opposite direction might be the real threat. The latter turned out to be Mirages and a moment later Alvi, in Arif’s formation saw the No 2 Mirage breaking towards him. All this time, heavy radio jamming by Israeli ground stations was making things difficult but the Pakistani pilots were used to such tactics. He managed to shoot down the jet piloted by Captain Lutz while the wingman quickly disengaged.

After the engagements, Flight Lieutenant Captain Sattar Alvi and Shahbaz formation leader Squadron Leader Major Arif Manzoor were awarded two of Syria's highest decorations for gallantry, the Wisaam Faris and Wisaam Shuja'at in 1973 by the President of Syria Hafez al-Assad in a public ceremony.

After the engagements, Flight Lieutenant Captain Sattar Alvi and Shahbaz formation leader Squadron Leader Major Arif Manzoor were awarded two of Syria’s highest decorations for gallantry, the Wisaam Faris and Wisaam Shuja’at in 1973 by the President of Syria Hafez al-Assad in a public ceremony.

Syrian President also presented the flying coverall (suit) of the deceased Israeli pilot (Capt Lutz) to Mr Alvi which he  later  presented  to the PAF Museum  located in PAF base Faisal Karachi.

The flying coverall suit of the deceased Israeli pilot Capt Lutz
The flying coverall suit of the deceased Israeli pilot Capt Lutz
The flying coverall suit of the deceased Israeli pilot Capt Lutz 1

The government of Pakistan also awarded each PAF pilot the Sitara-e-Jur’at. Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto personally met each of them and was awarded the gallantry awards in public ceremonies.

Pakistan Air-force Claims 10+ Aerial victories over Israeli Fighter jets but we can not confirm this claim

Here are Details of PAF Aerial victories over Israeli Fighter jets  claimed by PAF

During the  Six Day War (1967) the first time Pakistani pilot Saiful Azam joined the tiny Jordanian Air Force.

On June 5, Saiful Azam engaged four Israeli jets over the Jordanian Mafraq air base. He shot down a Mystre commanded by Israeli pilot H. Boleh and damaged another that crash-landed in Israeli territory.

Two days later, the Jordanian air force commander sent Saiful Azam to help the Iraqi air force. While piloting the Iraqi Hunter Azam shot down two of the Israeli attacking planes. Pakistani pilots shot down a total of ten Israeli jets during the 1967 war without losing a pilot or aircraft.

Saiful Azam, a native of East Pakistan joined Bangladesh Air Force in 1971. Saiful Azam has the unique honor of being the only pilot in the world who downed four Israeli jets and served in four airforces; Pakistan, Jordan, Iraq, and Bangladesh. He also holds a world record for shooting down three kinds of military aircraft in two different air forces.

During October 1973 Israel’s Yom Kippur war on its Arab neighboring countries A squadron of Pakistans Pakistan Air Force (PAF) arrived in Syria to fight alongside the SAF and halt the Israeli advance over the Golan Heights.

Other Pakistani pilots who joined the Syrian force as volunteers included future Air Marshal Nur Khan, Salem Metla, Shahbaz Khan, Wisaam Faris, and Wisaam Shujaat. Late President of Syria Hafiz Assad awarded two of the pilots country’s highest decorations for gallantry.

Pakistani air force states that all its 12 volunteer pilots scored direct hits against Israeli aircraft and suffered no losses. During the 1973 war, Flt. Lt. A. Sattar Alvi became the first Pakistani pilot, flying a Syrian aircraft to shoot down an Israeli Mirage in air combat. Similarly on the Egyptian front, PAF pilot Flt. Lt. M. Hatif, flying an Egyptian MiG-21 shot down an Israeli F-4 phantom in air combat. Pakistani Air Force did not lose a single pilot or aircraft in any of the wars.

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9 comments

  1. What a pile of crap!! For shooting down one IAF plane the Arab world makes such a “war trophy”. Please inform these mediocre military man that the Arab forces lost the war, 53 years ago!!!! they lost 20 times more planes than the Israelis. What a beating!!!! Thank you very much. Besides, currently Israel and its former enemies, Egypt and Jordan sign peace agreements, also, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Unites Arab Emirates have diplomatic relations and Israel is providing all of the former with security advice and technology, to curtail extremist terrorist groups in the Middle East.

  2. Also, the Six day War, forced by the Arab League on Israel, launched the post Zionist era because since then the undisputed capital city of Israel is JERUSALEM. The Jordanian forces lost control of the the Holy City and the West Bank in less than two days of fighting. So, where is the War Trophy for Israel IDF?

  3. Mediocrity at its best……………..

    • I will only say that due to such like bravery Israel never ever think to attack on Pakistani nuclear installation or other miltay or Air Force Basees. Pakistan has the ability to get learned the lesson.

    • Now the world has changed. Countries are more powerful than before. New war strategies are there. Pakistan has Very trained forces. It is providing training to many countries. Come out from the fool’s. We are the
      sixth nuclear power. From your comments unawareness at its best. Don’t understand other weak. We can change the Atlas.

  4. I will only say that due to such like bravery Israel never ever think to attack on Pakistani nuclear installation or other miltay or Air Force Basees. Pakistan has the ability to get learned the lesson to Israel.

    • Now the world has changed. Countries are more powerful than before. New war strategies are there. Pakistan has Very trained forces. It is providing training to many countries. Come out from the fool’s paradise. We are the sixth nuclear power. From your comments unawareness at its best. Don’t understand other weak. We can change the Atlas.

  5. Now the world has changed. Countries are more powerful than before. New war strategies are there. Pakistan has Very trained forces. It is providing training to many countries. Come out from the fool’s paradise. We are the sixth nuclear power. From your comments unawareness at its best. Don’t understand other weak. We can change the Atlas.

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