The Man Who Shot Down An Enemy Aircraft With A Rifle

The Man Who Shot Down An Enemy Aircraft With A Rifle
Artwork Located: Officer’s Mess Headquarters 10 Corps

Pakistan Air Force Warrant Officer Muhammad Ghazanfar Cpl Tech(at that time) Muhammad Gazanfar was serving in PAF No 243 Sqn, under the mobile observer wing.

He was sent to Bahawalnagar in the 1971 war. His duty was to keep eyes in the sky and to report the presence of any enemy Aircraft.

The Man Who Shot Down An Enemy Aircraft With A Rifle
Corporal Muhammad Ghazanfar TJ (Tamgha-i-Jurat)

With another NCO Asghar Ali, they established their observation post on a high water tank near the railway station.

The very next day, On 08 December 1971, they noticed a low-level IAF Mystère IVA aircraft flying at high-speed approaching towards their post, The Mystere opened fire on them but luckily it didn’t hit the target.

The Man Who Shot Down An Enemy Aircraft With A Rifle
A Mystere IV displaying its complete weapon arsenal

For the Second attack when aircraft was coming both men grabbed their G-3 rifles. Cpl tech opened fire on aircraft and shot 18 fires with great accuracy. By this time aircraft started emitting smoke. And the aircraft nose-dived and crashed few miles away.

Cpl tech Ghazanfar chased the aircraft by asking a motorcyclist for a lift and he chased it to that he could. Then he returned and later it was confirmed.

For this unbelievable act of valour he was awarded with Tamgha e Jurat.

Check Also

That Time F-15 Eagle Defected to Sudan

That Time F-15 Eagle Defected to Sudan

F-15Cs from the 122nd Fighter Squadron of the 159th Fighter Wing, Naval Air Station Joint …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *