The No 24th Electronic Intelligence squadron:-
In addition, two General Dynamics/Martin-RB-57Fs ultra-high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft were also supplied to Pakistan Air Force in the early 1960s. The RB-57Fs was known as droopy because of enormous 122 ft wingspan and capable to fly at the cruising height of 80000 ft beyond the range of enemy interceptors and SAMs of that period. This was state of the art highly specialized aircraft for ECM/ESM missions.
The No 24 Squadron was formed in December 1962 to undertake specialized aerial missions from Peshawar air base. Primarily its crew were all drawn from No 31 Bomber Wing including CO Sqn Ldr M. Iqbal.
The No 24th Elint squadron operated the RB-57Fs along with two RB-57Bs for electronic counter & support measures missions and photographic surveillance missions against IAF during and after the war of 1965.These aircraft extensively over flew most of the IAF air bases up to Agra and Ambala at the height of 67000ft or more to carry out monitoring/ reconnaissance missions. The following missions were assigned to the No 24 Elint squadron deployed at Peshawar air base:-
Operational Missions Profile:-
1. Low level homing on to enemy radars.
2. Monitoring of enemy radars for which daily surveillance was kept up to locate their grid reference as well as any change.
3. Monitoring & Jamming of enemy radio channels particularly for GCI transmissions.
Operational Missions Profile during 1965:-
When the PAF s' C-130 took off from Chaklala air base on the night of 23 August, 1965 for ration and ammunition supply drop in held Kashmir for Gibraltor Force operating behind the enemy lines in Kashmir, an Elint RB-57F flown by Sqn Ldr M Iqbal was arranged to fly at 40,000 ft to monitor the IAF s' radars. The Elint aircraft was also intended to act as a vital link in code with the PAF s' radar network, since C-130 was out of direct VHF ( radio) range with the ground stations because of intervening high terrain in Kashmir.
As soon the C-130 escorted by RB-57s headed to the targeted area, the Elint aircraft timely triangulated the radar transmission of the enemy radar located at Jammu being switched on as both the aircraft crossed the Indo-Pak borders.
During the 1965 Indo-Pak war, 24th squadron flew several operational missions to provide electronic support measures (ESM) for Air Force s' air strikes plan. An F-86s strike mission against the IAF s' Radar network at Amritsar was also provided effective ESM by Sqn Ldr M Iqbal as pathfinder leader along with Sqn Ldr G A Khan.
Squadron Leader Muhammad Iqbal SJ was the first OC, who later embraced shahadat being Officer Commanding of No 24 Elint Squadron along with his navigator Saifullah Lodhi SJ during a bombing practice mission on a PAF s' radar unit near Rahwali in the 1965 War.
Since the start of the 1965 war. The PAF s' F-86s Sabre wing operating from Sargodha air base tried to neutralize the IAF Amritsar radar, but could not deliver accurate attacks due to difficulty experienced in triangulating the exact location of the radar system. Squadron Leader Iqbal floated a novel idea of locating the enemy radar by utilizing the electronic devices fitted RB-57 aircraft. He led in his electronic intelligence RB-57 as a pathfinder, a formation of four B-57s to Amritsar radar on a daylight bombing mission and did not seem to be satisfied with the practical results.
He, therefore, decided to make some practice attacks on a PAF s' radar station deployed at Rahwali, near Gujranwala. Squadron Leader Muhammad Iqbal OC of No 24 Elint Squadron and his navigator Flt.Lt.Saifullah Lodhi were busy in making low dive bombing practice on radar station. The Army ack ack unit deployed around radar station opened fire on diving B-57 and shot it down, killing both the pilot and navigator. A first rate thorough professional, dedicated and lion hearted pioneer OC of No 24 Elint Squadron along with his outstanding professional navigator Saifullah Lodhi embraced shahadat during mid stream of the war. Both were awarded well deserved Sitara-e-Jurat posthumously. A very tragic loss of invaluable lives of pilot and navigator along with a specilized RB-57 aircraft and an incident that could have been avoided through timely liasion with Air Force and Army ack ack regiment.
If wing operation officer Squadron Leader Munir Ahmed SJ of F-86 Sabre wing would shed his blood for his noble air strike mission to destroy IAF radar station at Amritsar, Squadron Leader Muhammad Iqbal SJ OC of No 24 Elint Squadron and his navigator Flt.Lt.Saifullah Lodhi SJ were also there to shed their blood in the line of the duty.
Then Sqn Ldr Rashid Mir took over as squadron commander.
Shaheeds Gallery:-
No 24th Elint Squadron:-
1. Squadron Leader Muhammad Iqbal (Pilot)
2. Flt.Lt. Saifullah Lodhi (Navigator)
Gallantry Awards:-
The Government of Pakistan gallantry awards to the 24th Elint Squadron for outstanding perforce in the line of duty.
No 24th Elint Squadron:-
1. Squadron Leader Muhammad Iqbal OC (Pilot) Sitara-e-Jurat (SJ)
2. Flt.Lt. Saifullah Lodhi (Navigator) Sitara-e-Jurat (SJ)
3. Squadron Leader Rashid Mir OC (Pilot) Sitara-e-Jurat (SJ)
RB-57s encountered MIG-21s & SAMs-II over IAF Agra
During the post war reconnaissance mission by the RF-57F piloted by its Sqn Ldr Rashid Mir and Navigator Flying Officer Sultan Malik penetrated deep into the IAF Agra area, another RB-57 was also following its progress from many miles away.
The IAF was on the red alert to engage and intercept the high flying PAF aircraft and was tracking its route and direction through high powered 3 dimensional P-35 radar network with early warning & GCI facilities as the aircraft headed its target.
Just as Sqn Ldr Rashid & FO Sultan came over Agra, the enemy Air Force tried to engage the RF-57F flying at about 67,000 ft by firing SAM-2, but missile exploded on the launching pad and caused many casualties there. Nevertheless, daredevil Rashid and Sultan pressed for the mission over the enemy air base.
Later on when the RB-57F was over the Pathankot –Amritsar , the IAF tried to launched its supersonic MIG-21s but enemy pilots could not chase owing to superior tactics applied by the mission oriented PAF s' Falcons beyond enemy interceptor aircraft s' range. This was another futile attempt by the enemy air force.
In the final phase of its reconnaissance mission over enemy territory, the RB-57 headed towards Ambala again. The IAF finally cleared the area from its interceptor aircraft MIG-21s and well prepared for launching more SAM-2s to shoot down the RB-57. As soon the aircraft over flew its targeted area, many SAM-2s tried to engage it. The aircraft was hit and badly damaged, when its lost some height over Ambala during turning towards its Peshawar air base. The fragments of exploding SAMs around the aircraft caused major structural damage and almost knocked out the vertical stabilizer and one of its auxiliary turbojets.
But, Squadron Leader Rashid and Flying Officer Sultan daringly and skillfully handled the situation making it possible to fly the damaged aircraft during the intense hostile missile and interception activities by the IAF.
As the RB-57 returned from the mission, the enemy air force again scrambled its MIG-21s to catch the aircraft as it lost height but when it re entered Pakistan the hostile chase was given up by the IAF s' interceptors due to the presence of orbiting flight F-104s to receive them in the mid stream of the mission.
The damaged aircraft was landed back safely by its gallant pilot Squadron Leader Rashid Mir and Navigator Flying Officer Sultan Malik at Peshawar air base with flying colours.
To be Continued.... |
