Remembering the sacrifice of Flt Lt Yunus Hussain

One of the bravest officers of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Flight Lieutenant Yunus Hussain had the most humble of beginnings. Born eighteen years after the marriage of his father, Khawaja Yusuf Hussain, a businessman by profession, Yunus belonged to the historic city of Panipat in India. During his early years he faced many hardships for the acquisition of the basic amenities of life – particularly education. At the time of partition, his family migrated to Pakistan and settled in Jhang. He began studying at Government High School, Jhang where he passed his matriculation exams and later his FSc from Multan. Unable to continue further education, Yunus was forced to take up a job in Lahore. Restless and dissatisfied with his job, he pushed on knowing this could not be his destiny. His efforts for improvement took him to PAF Selection Centre in Lahore; he was rejected in his first attempt for being overage. However, who could deny him the destiny and glory preordained. Sometime later, as tensions grew between Pakistan and India, the PAF asked for volunteers under slightly relaxed rules. He once again presented himself, this time successfully, and  joined Royal Pakistan Air Force (RPAF) College in 1956. Brilliant and hardworking, Yunus showed outstanding promiese during training and became the Squadron Under Officer (SUO) in his final term. After spending two busy years at the RPAF College, Yunus earned his wings in 1958.

After graduation, his professionalism saw no bounds. Flying was like second nature to him. His craze for flying led him to record the fastest 500 and then 1,000 flying hours of the PAF, a feat for which he was twice green endorsed by non other than Air Marshall Asghar Khan, the then commander-in-chief. His performance in various service courses was always second to none, be it the Fighter Leaders’ Course or the F-104 Conversion Course. His active participation in the skirmishes in the Dir-Bajaur Operations between 1960 and 1962 was acknowledged and he was awarded with ‘Tamgha-i-Diffa.’ After serving various squdrons of the PAF with pride, Yunus joined the Number Five Squadron under the leadership of  the brilliant Squadron Commander, Rafiqui. Together they fought the war in 1965 and together they attained Shahadat in the line of duty.

Brief Description of Gallantry

The fateful day of September 6, 1965 was ending. The sky was hazy and the sun had nearly gone down when a formation of three Sabre fighter-bombers of the PAF roared into the enemy territory. As they entered the hostile area, the leader of a returning the PAF offensive mission came up on the radio, warning the leader about the presence of a large number of Indian Air Force (IAF) aircrafts inside enemy territory. Disregarding, the debonair and determined Rafiqui pressed on single-mindedly with his two compatriots, Flight Lieutenants Cecil Chaudhry and Yunus Hussain, following close behind on his wings. It was the last mission for the day; and at that time theirs were the only PAF aircrafts in the enemy territory with no surprise element whatsoever in their favour. Their target was the important IAF Base, Halwara, about 40 miles south of Jalandhar.

With eyes scanning the vast expanse of the Indian sky for enemy interceptors, the three fighters approached their target. By then the last rays of the setting sun were completely engulfed by the thick haze on the western horizon. The Sabres, looking like hawks, searched for their prey but the failing light had obliterated the ground features beyond identification. Another three minutes passed when Rafiqui’s voice came over the radio link,“Boys, let’s go back; the light conditions are against us.” With reluctance and heavy hearts, the three valiant fighters banked into a turn. They had hardly set course for the base when a swarm of enemy Hunters zoomed in for attack. They came in pairs, one after the other. “Jettison stores,” yelled the leader, and the Sabres bucked like wild horses as the external fuel tanks dropped off the wings. Soon Yunus came on the radio and said, ‘leader, let’s go for them.”

Rafiqui, in the meantime had manoeuvred his Sabre close behind his target. He pressed the gun-button and a stream of armour-piercing and incendiary bullets slammed into the fuselage and engine of the enemy, Point-Blank range! They relentlessly raked the Hunter and suddenly the darkening Indian sky was lit with a crimson flash as the enemy aircraft exploded.

The grim battle continued. Yards away from Rafiqui, Yunus was chasing another enemy fighter. He pulled up into a tight barrel roll, which helped him to get behind the Hunter. As the enemy aircraft came within range, Yunus opened a telling burst from his six lethal guns; the barrage of cannon fire touched off a fast-billowing smoke from the left wing of the ill-fated Hunter. Next moment a parachute blossomed and went down as the pilot bailed out. Suddenly, more Hunters joined the battle and the area became a hornet’s nest sprawling with enemy aircraft.

Meanwhile, Rafiqui’s aerial heroics continued. As one of the Hunters came within range, Rafiqui pressed his firing button. The guns remained silent; he pressed the button again but to no effect. The guns had jammed.

“My guns have jammed, Cecil, take over the lead. I’ll cover you,” called out Rafiqui and pulled sharply to one side to let Chaudhry get ahead. The gallant hero, though unarmed, refused to quit the battle and supported his wingmen, so that they could continue the fight. Undaunted by the numerical superiority of the enemy aircraft, Yunus and Chaudhry leaped on the Hunters. Meanwhile, Rafiqui, like a seasoned leader, flew on the defence covering Chaudhry and Yunus while they were blasting the enemy. As the dogfight continued, Yunus scanned the skies but there was no trace of their gallant leader. Rafiqui was gone. He attained Shahadat in keeping with the rich traditions of the PAF.

Stung by the loss of their leader, Chaudhry and Yunus made a tight turn and furiously broke into the two Hunters. With Yunus covering the ‘tail,’ Chaudhry manoeuvred to get behind the second Hunter; and as the enemy came within range and he was about to press the trigger, he heard a thud. He looked back and saw Yunus’ aircraft explode in the air. He did not see him bailing out. The courageous Yunus was also gone.

The journey that had started in 1936 had come to an abrupt end, though, in the finest traditions of PAF. With Rafiqui and Yunus gone, Chaudhry banked for home with four enemy fighters after his blood. He was in a grim situation with Hunters trying all the tricks to get the lone Sabre. He made tight turns to dodge them but they followed. Then suddenly he peeled off into a steep dive down to the deck. He pulled up just above the trees and levelled off. Seconds after agonising seconds passed until the lone fighter crossed the Beas River. The land of safety was a couple of minutes away and the enemy thought it futile to continue the chase. Cecil Chaudhry landed back at Sargodha alone, without his gallant leader and the brave comrade.

Brave men must die so that the nation lives. Squadron Leader Rafiqui and Flight Lieutenant Yunus had done just that to keep alight the torch of honour and freedom. They are gone but one thing is for sure; their heroic deeds during 1965 war continue to inspire generations of PAF fighter pilots.