Air Commodore Muhammad Mahmood Alam, also known as MM Alam, is a legendary figure in the history of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). He has become a defining name in the historical accounts of 1965 for shooting down five Indian Air Force (IAF) Hawker Hunter planes in a single mission on 7 September during the Indo-Pakistani War. His legacy has lived on to inspire and define the lives of aspiring and serving pilots in the PAF.
The Official Account and the Creation of a Legend
The official PAF narratives and many Pakistani sources claim that Squadron Leader MM Alam was operating an F-86 Sabre. He attacked a group of six IAF Hawker Hunters near Sargodha Airbase. In one of the most impressive demonstrations of air warfare and gunnery in history, Alam is credited with downing five IAF Hunters in less than a minute, with four of them within about 30 seconds. This is a world record in itself. This unprecedented achievement immediately made MM Alam a national hero and was rewarded with the Sitara-i-Jurat, Pakistan’s third-highest military honor. One of the reasons this dogfight holds such a significant position in aerial warfare is that an F-86 Sabre went against the Hawker Hunter, which was a more developed aircraft. MM Alam, commanding Number 11 Squadron, was not only able to overcome this technological inferiority but also displayed valor and technical genius by downing five of these hunters. This heroic feat has been mentioned time and again throughout Pakistani popular culture, military history, and national accounts.
Source: Independent News Pakistan
IAF Accounts
Source: Pinterest
Although the PAF’s version of Alam’s exploit is popularly celebrated in Pakistan, a different version is offered by the Indian Air Force. Their records confirm the loss of a number of Hawker Hunters on 7 September 1965 but claim that losses were a result of PAF pilots and alternate engagements during the day. IAF sources of the 1965 air conflict only accept that three Hawker Hunters were lost in the sector in which Alam was airborne. IAF, to date, asserts that it was various PAF pilots in different skirmishes who downed the Hunters. Their accepted pilots, whose jets were downed, include Squadron Leader (later Air Vice Marshal) S. K. Gupta of No. 7 Squadron, who was killed in action when his Hunter was shot down. Flight Lieutenant (later Air Marshal) A. R. Dawood of No. 27 Squadron’s jet was also shot down, but he ejected safely. The third Hunter, flown by Flying Officer (later Air Marshal) D. Keelor of No. 27 Squadron, was damaged, but he ejected safely. IAF has yet to disprove the Pakistani claim.
Source: Bharatrakshak
Beyond the Myth: Appreciating Skill and the Nature of Air Combat
Though India may never accept the ‘5-in-1 kill day’, it is important to recognize MM Alam’s world-class flight skills and his services to the PAF in the 1965 war. Alam was certainly a very skilled fighter pilot of his time who was single-handedly responsible for multiple confirmed air victories. His total number of downed IAF planes in 1965 is actually nine: two Hunters on September 6th and the record-breaking five in addition to two others on September 7th. “A 12-year veteran of the Pakistan Air Force commanding the first fighter-jet-equipped attack squadron in his country’s history, Squadron Leader Alam was already being hailed as the PAF’s greatest hero”. This remains one of the most significant aerial encounters of the 1965 war.
Sources: Badass of the Week
Enduring Legacy
Despite the controversy surrounding the details of his most renowned involvement, MM Alam’s reputation as a brave and competent fighter pilot remains unchallenged in Pakistan. He is a hero and a source of inspiration for all generations of PAF pilots. His success, even when examined critically, is a testament to the passion and the personal nature of air warfare. Returning to the ‘5-in-1 kill day’ beyond myth facilitates a more mature reading of history. It invites us to examine alternative visions, consider the evidence, and respond to the nuances of war stories. Although the reputation of MM Alam may never be dented in Pakistan, recognizing the variations in accounts permits us to accept him more critically and objectively in terms of his contribution to the 1965 war. One of the reasons this incident is largely accepted as fact is that neither the IAF nor the PAF has provided any evidence to counter it. His flying ability is unquestionable. His contribution in general to the PAF continues to be substantial, even if the specifics of that single mission have been argued upon. The real legend is not in the statistics but in the attitude and commitment that MM Alam had as a defender of his country’s airspace.
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