Pakistan remembers Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) ‘ACE’ – Muhammad Mahmood Alam commonly known as M.M. Alam on his death anniversary today.
Pakistan commemorates M.M. Alam – a veteran of 1965 Indo-Pak War, on his eighth death anniversary on March 18th today.
Air Commodore M.M. Alam gained commission in PAF (then RPAF) in October 1952. He was a war veteran and participated in 1965 Indo-Pak war. M.M. Alam while flying an F-86 Sabre, made his mark on the history on September 7th when he scored ‘ace in a day’ by shooting five Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets in less than 60 seconds.
“Before we had completed more than of about 270 degrees of the turn, at around 12 degrees per second, all four Hunters had been shot down,” said M.M. Alam recalling the day (Fricker, John (1979). Battle for Pakistan: the air war of 1965).
M.M. Alam is said to have downed a total of nine IAF jets over an 11-day period during the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
Furthermore, M.M. Alam was appointed Squadron Commander of the first squadron of Dassault Mirage III fighters procured by the PAF in 1967.
In honor for his services to the nation, M.M. Alam was awarded with Sitara-e-Jurat (“The star of courage”) – the country’s third highest military award.
M.M. Alam passed away in Karachi on March 18th 2013 at the age of 77. His funeral prayers were held at PAF Base Masroor followed by his burial at the Shuhuda (Martyrs) Graveyard.
