Eric G. Hall

Eric Gordon Hall (12 October 1922 — 17 June 1998) also known as Eric G. Hall and E.G. Hall, was a transport pilot, fighter pilot, aerobatic pilot, and a two-star rank officer in the Pakistan Air Force. He served as its eighth and last Chief of Staff from 1970 to 1972, and retired in 1975 as Commandant of the PAF Staff College. Subsequently, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto appointed him as the Director General of Civil Aviation, where he served from 1976 to 1978. He was also a businessman.

Born in Rangoon, Hall and his younger brother undertook the journey to British India on foot following the Japanese invasion of Burma, after the women in their family were airlifted. They walked for weeks through the jungles of Myitkyina to finally arrive in Dibrugarh. On his arrival, Hall was hospitalised for the injuries he had sustained from the journey. Afterwards, he joined the Royal Indian Air Force in 1943.

Deployed to Burma in a fighter-recon squadron, he participated in aerial operations against Japanese forces in World War II. After the Partition of British India, he opted to join the Royal Pakistan Air Force in 1947. Among its pioneer officers, he joined the team which assisted Wing Commander Asghar Khan to establish the RPAF Flying Training School. By 1958, he served as an instructor on the directing staff of the PAF Staff College, which he also helped establish and was appointed as the Assistant Commandant of the college on his promotion to Group Captain in 1960.

At the onset of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Hall was the Commander of PAF Station Chaklala and pioneered the idea of converting C-130 Hercules transport aircraft into heavy bombers, enhancing their capacity to carry of explosives with modifications. Although the C-130 was unarmoured and lacked the ability to tolerate any Ack-ack, Hall volunteered to lead the first bombing mission on the heavily guarded Kathua bridge, on 11 September. This strike significantly hampered the Indian advance into the Chumb sector. The success of the mission prompted the Pakistan military leadership to approve 13 further bombing runs using the modified C-130s including precision-weapons strikes on Indian weaponry along the BRB Canal. For his leadership, Hall was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat and nicknamed "The Heavy Hitter".

Early life Born on 12 October 1922 into a Christian Anglo-Burmese family during the British rule in Burma, Eric matriculated from the Diocesan Boys High School in Rangoon. His father, Captain E. E. Hall was a combat engineer in the British Army and after the Japanese invasion of Burma was assigned to destroy facilities and equipment before it could be seized by the advancing Japanese. He went missing in action and was declared dead shortly after.

Due to the war, the women of Eric's family, namely his mother, sister and aunt were airlifted to British India, while he and his younger brother left on foot.

Personal life

He married Marjorie May Wells, also an Anglo-Burmese Christian, and they had two children: a daughter Gillian Hall born on 1 December 1949 and son Clive Hall born on 5 May 1953.

In 1966, Marjorie served as Chairwoman of the Chaklala division of the PAF Women's Association.

Service years Royal Indian Air Force (1943-1947) Upon his release from the hospital, he enlisted in the Royal Indian Air Force as part of the 20 Pilot course of the Initial Training Wing (Lahore) on 18 March 1943 and completed ground training by 31 August 1943.

The course trained at No. 2 Elementary Flying Training School in Jodhpur from 19 September to 11 December 1943. They were commissioned into the Royal Indian Air Force on 20 December 1943, upon reporting to No. 1 (Indian) Service Flying Training School RAF for advanced training which concluded on 21 April 1944. They then attended the 31st Fighter Course at No. 151 OTU from 15 May to 5 August 1944, followed by a Low Attack Course at Ranchi from 27 August to 21 September 1944.

Pakistan Air Force (1947-1975)

After the Partition of British India in August 1947, he opted for Pakistan, moved his family to Lahore, and transferred his service to the Royal Pakistan Air Force.

From April 1950 to November 1952, he was employed on staff duties at the Air Headquarters. Promoted to Wing Commander, he commanded No. 6 Sqn for 3 ½ years. He was selected to attend the RAF Staff College, Andover in May 1956 and on his return, he commanded the Officers' Advanced Administration School.

In October 1958, he was posted to PAF Staff College as an instructor on the directing staff.

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

When the war began, Group Captain Eric G. Hall was serving as Commander Station Chaklala. He pioneered the innovative concept of converting C-130 Hercules transport aircraft into heavy bombers, enhancing their capacity to carry of explosives with specific modifications. On 11 September, Hall volunteered to lead the initial bombing mission over a strategically vital bridge in Kathua which was used to deliver supplies to the Indian Army. Despite the transport-turned-bomber being unarmoured and vulnerable to Indian anti-aircraft guns, the mission was successful. As a result, the Pakistani military leadership authorized 13 additional strategic bombing runs using the converted C-130s, including precision strikes on Indian weaponry at Attari along the BRB Canal. The effectiveness of these missions solidified his innovative concept, earning him the Sitara-e-Jurat, the third highest military award in Pakistan.

Sitara-e-Jurat His Sitara-e-Jurat citation reads: and played a key role in ensuring war plans were executed effectively during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He served until 3 June 1972 and was the last Chief of Staff when the position was abolished and replaced with its equivalent, the Deputy Chief of Air Staff.

On his return to Pakistan in October 1974, he served as the ninth Commandant of the PAF Staff College until his retirement on 30 June 1975. Hall relinquished charge on the afternoon of 6 March 1978.

Business career Sometime after, Hall ran an export-import company in Karachi for a year. By 1980, he moved to the United States with his family and settled in the Washington, D.C. area, later becoming a resident of Gaithersburg, Maryland. From August 1982 to 1995, he was the President of Hall Enterprises, a business he started with his wife, which imported-exported Pakistani furniture, giftware, and military spare parts. In addition to that, he had a shop which specialized in ceramics, jewelry and gifts in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Death Hospitalized after a stroke, Hall died on 17 June 1998 at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center. He was buried at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery (Silver Spring, Maryland) and survived by his widow, children, and sister Cindy Hollyer.