In June 1951 the PAF entered
the jet age with the "Supermarine Attacker" fighter
equipping the first jet squadron of the growing air force. Until
the mid-1950s, the mainstay of the PAF's fighter force continued
to be the nearly one hundred Hawker Furies and a dwindling number
of Tempests. There were new developments everywhere. New air bases
were being established, the first air defence radar was installed
and the PAF was rapidly setting up its own advanced flying and
technical training institutions. New generations of post independence
youth were gaining skills and confidence under their Pakistani
squadron and wing leaders. In 1955, Pakistan's 4-decade association
with the United States began in the Cold War against the Communist
Bloc states led by the Soviet Union. This alliance transformed
the PAF, with new technology jet fighters, bombers, trainers,
transport aircraft and helicopters. The old fighter squadrons
were gradually re-equipped with jet aircraft and many new ones
were established. Under its first Pakistani Commander in-. Chief,
this modernization was extended to the PAF's organization and
consolidation into a purposefully designed force that could meet
the new challenges to national security. A pervasive quest for
professionalism began in all air and ground units and gradually
replaced the World War II styles of command and leadership. In
their foreign training courses the PAF pilots were now matching
their combat skills with those of the world's best air forces
and achieving ever-higher munitions delivery scores. In 1959 an
F-86 pilot had already shot down a high-flying Indian reconnaissance
Canberra bomber intruding into Pakistan territory and a year earlier
a formation aerobatic team of sixteen Sabers had set a world record.
The engineering, logistic and administrative officers were at
the same time leading the PAF technicians into delivering unprecedented
serviceability rates and efficient management of all resources.
Derived from the national military objectives, the PAF's leadership
had clearly visualized and laid down the operational doctrine
for the nation's air arm and all its personnel were being trained
and judged against the highest adoptable professional standards. |
