A TRUE hero who would keep every Pakistani’s head high for generations is no more with us: Air Commodore (r) M. M. Alam, Sitara-i-Jurat ‘Bar’, the legendary fighter pilot has passed away.

Pakistan Air Force is much smaller in size as compared to the army, but it has been very lucky to proportionally produce more legendary figures than its sister services. Mr Alam was definitely one of the best Pakistan Air Force has produced.

He made a world record in less than a minute, i.e., he shot down five Indian fighter aircraft in 55 seconds, thus becoming an ‘ace’ pilot in the 1965 war against India in the shortest possible time.

This unique feat was neither achieved by American fighter pilots in Korea or Vietnam or in the Middle East nor by any European or American fighter pilots during World War II despite their long engagements.

Those 55 seconds in the murky weather of September 1965 unleashed an unprecedented fury into the veins of Indian Air Force whose backbone was virtually crushed by this greatest fighter pilot of the modern jet warfare era and, overall, one of the best in the history of fighter flying.

I commend the present Chief of Air Staff who visited him from time to time during Mr Alam’s illness and spent time with him despite his busy schedule.

Mr Alam will be remembered forever.

M. ASIF Karachi