Jamal A. Khan

Jamal Ahmad Khan Afridi (born 15 April 1934) is a retired four-star air officer who served as the fourth Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force from 1985 until 1988. He also commanded the United Arab Emirates Air Force from 1977 until 1980.

Biography

In 1952, after the partition of India, he joined the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). He was sent to attend the Pakistan Air Force Academy in Risalpur, and was one of the few cadets who were selected to attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, United States. Upon completing the pilot training program from the USAF Academy in 1953, Jamal was commissioned in the No. 11 Squadron Arrows, initially trained to fly the British Supermarine Attacker.

In 1965, Squadron-Leader Jamal flew his F-104 to intercept an Indian Air Force English Electric Canberra at above, shooting down the Canberra with a Sidewinder missile near the Fazilka district, inside Pakistani territory. This was recorded as the first kill achieved by an F-104 at night after a number of near misses.

After the war, Group Captain Jamal was posted to a Command Operations Center at the Air Headquarters (AHQ) in Islamabad until appointed as base commander of the Sargodha Air Force Base. In 1975, Air Commodore Jamal joined the JAG Corps, Air Force, appointed its chief inspector and later judge advocate general. Upon returning, AVM Jamal flew the MiG-19 and MiG-21 for test trial purposes. During this time, he went to the United States to complete his training to fly the F-16A. He was the first Pakistani to fly the F-16A in the United States, and later returned to Pakistan. In 1987, ACM Jamal launched the project to develop and design a fighter jet, with Grumman Aerospace as its consultant. After completing his tenure, ACM Jamal was succeeded by ACM H.K. Durrani on 6 March 1988. After his retirement, he settled in Islamabad, and worked as an aviation historian, contributing to the book on aerial aviation, The Story of the Pakistan Air Force, 1988-1998: A Battle Against Odds.

Awards & Decorations

PAF GD(P) Badge RED (More than 3000 Flying Hours)Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military)

(Order of Excellence)Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage)

1965 WarSitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)

(Star of Excellence)Sitara-e-Basalat (Star of Valour)Tamgha-e-Diffa (Defence Medal)

1. 1965 War Clasp

2. 1971 War ClaspSitara-e-Harb 1965 War (War Star 1965)Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War (War Star 1971)Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War (War Medal 1965)Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War (War Medal 1971)Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam

(100th Birth Anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

1976Tamgha-e-Qayam-e-Jamhuria (Republic Commemoration Medal)

1956Hijri Tamgha (Hijri Medal)

1979