This is a Pakpotpourri Exclusive
A humane and personal account Of Cecil Chaudhry-the man!
By:Group Captain Ali Kazim(R) (Awarded Tamgha-e-Basalat in 1965 war)
Cecil Chaudhry, or Guppoo(for his treasure of anecdotes that never exhausted) as he was known to his friends, died on 13th April 2012. So ended my 53 year old relationship with him. Cyril, his elder brother was my course mate when I joined P.A.F Academy Risalpur in 1957. I recall, during one winter break,these used to be pretty short, Cyril invited some course mates to spend the break at his house. It was a big house. The “boys” bunked in a big sized room with extra mattresses and comforters.That is when I met Cec. Cec he remained to me always.My friends planned to go out,to proverbially paint the town red. Cec asked me to stay back. Stay back I did having immediately struck a cord with him.We went for a walk till we got to a Church compound.Sitting on the steps of the main building, out came a flask from his hip pocket. One swig and it was offered to me.That was my first taste of scotch! Ofcourse drinks were not banned back then.We ended up at the Burt Institute where a dance competition was arranged. Cec’s partner was already there. He was a great dancer, light on his feet. They went on to win the first prize.
That day was the start of a beautiful friendship!
Most know Cec. as a war hero. He was.Especially the mission at Halwara in 1965. I would like to share here the events of that fateful day of 6th September 1965. Prior to the 1965 war, P.A.F. was operating in the Runn of Kutch from Mauripur Air Base. The Air Force was convinced that war with India was inevitable and therefore was prepared. We knew our targets, our formation composition and from which field to operate. The time over target (TOT) was simultaneous for all assigned targets.In 1964 I was posted Test Pilot and Quality Control Officer at Mauripur,thereby posted out of No 14 Squadron. I was under the command of Officer Commanding Maintenance Wing and not The O.C. Flying Wing. However, I flew Runn of Kutch missions, whenever required and was to be attached to 32 Fighter Wing, Mauripur in case of war.On the morning of 2nd. September I was #3 in a 4 aircraft formation lead by Shaheed ‘Butch’ Ahmed and reached Sargodha around 7am. That day I flew two missions in support of our Army heading for Akhnur in Kashmir. I went back to Mauripur on the 5th. of September and on the 6th.morning took off from Mauripur under the leadership of Sqn.Ldr. Azim Daudpota (Later Air Marshal Daudpota, SJ) in a large formation which was to land at Risalewala and my assigned target was IAF Base Halwara, whenever the strike was ordered by the Air Staff. However, we were told to proceed to Sargodha where we parked the aircraft (F-86s) in the strike area pens.
On the afternoon of 6th September, preemptive strikes were ordered as planned earlier. Here, I must mention that the Indian Army had launched a massive attack, backed by Armour to capture Lahore and have a drink in the evening at Punjab Club/Lahore Gymkhana. Our Army was not prepared for such a massive onslaught. P.A.F had not planned for any extensive Air Support for our Army in this sector but the very sovereignty of Pakistan was at stake. The PAF, under the command of dynamic leader like Air Marshal Nur Khan, was ordered to neutralize the Indian Army designs. Despite our meager resources, our 2nd. to none fighter pilots flew continuous mission the whole day.
Coming back to the strikes on IAF Air Bases. Well past the time that the aircraft should have taken off to strike Halwara, I was told that I was required for briefing by Sqn.Ldr. Rafiqui for Halwara strike.Rafiqui Sahib was briefing,as he sat n the ground. Hardly a few minutes had passed when Flt.Lt. Yunus Hussain walked in. He had just come back from a mission from Lahore. Rafiqui Saheb asked me, ‘Kazim if you dont mind let me take Yunus, he is my Flight Commander and you follow in the 2nd. wave”. So I got up and went for briefing of the 2nd wave of four that was to be lead by Sqn.Ldr. Moin ur Rab (Later Air Vice Marshal,). We were briefed and were to fly the aircraft that had been brought that morning from Mauripur. We were shocked to find that they had neither been refueled nor rearmed!.
In the meantime, some of the senior colleagues had approached the Base Commander, (late) Air Commodore ‘Mitty’ Masud, HJ to call off this mission as it was too late and Halwara would be up in the air with all their aircraft.It will be pertinent to mention here that on this day, 6th. Sep. at around 1400hrs. we had sent a 104 to Halwara to check out the activity there and that would have warned them that something was up. Additionally, other IAF Bases had already been struck therefore there is no doubt that Halwara was ready to face a strike by PAF and would not be taken by surprise like other bases.
Regarding calling off the mission, to the best of my knowledge, Base Commander had agreed and called Air Headquarters to permit cancellation of mission by them. Certainly not the Air Chief, I am sure. Rafiqui, the lion hearted , began his take off roll and during the take off one formation member had a technical failure and was forced to abort take off. That left three Sqn.Ldr. Rafiqui (leader), Flt.Lt. Cecil (No.2) and Flt.Lt. Yunus Hussain (No.3) When this formation was heading for Halwara, Sqn.Ldr. M.M. Alam was returing fro a mission and he called up on the radio and asked Rafiqui Saheb not to proceed as he had spotted a large number of Indian Fighter Aircraft in the vicinity of Halwara. But Rafiqui and his colleagues had already signed and delivered a cheque in the name of their NATION where the amount column had said ” Up to and Including My Life.” Rafiqui, lovingly called RAF by his mates carried on, knowing fully well what was the expected outcome. In the Air Combat of 3 vs innumerable, Yunus was shot down, Rafiqui shot down 2 before his guns jammed and he handed over the lead to Cecil who shot down 3 and overwhelmed, disengaged and used all the skill at his command to evade the pursuing IAF Fighters and landed at Sargodhia with the sun setting on a day which we, the colleagues of Shaheed Sqn.Ldr. Sarfraz Rafiqui, HJ. Shaheed Flt.Lt. Yunus Hussain, SJ. and Gp.Capt. Cecil Chaudhry, SJ, S.Bt. (RIP) will never ever forget.
The evening of 6th. September, 1965 was our Sham-e-Ghariban. Cecil and I stood next to the mess swimming pool, which was as empty as our hearts. The night was dark and quiet, the lights were dim and the sadness was just so loud. We just just stood in silence.A silence that spoke louder than words. Then Cec. broke the wall of silence saying ”why are they saying that my leader is alive?”, I replied, “Cec you were there and you know the gloom in the heart of all pilots and men, a bit of hope is required to let them sleep. We have to fight again, come sun rise”.
As I write this, a tribute to one of the bravest man I knew, and all those who gave up their lives for our motherland, I reaffirm, that the men of Pak Armed Forces pledge their lives to the Nation.That blank cheque the motherland can call upon any time, to deliver!
The writer is based in Karachi.
Comments
What a beautifully expressed article. Cecil the human being.Cecil the hero.Cecil the naughty boy!
It shook me.
L
My salute to you Ali Kazim Sahib.We had heroes then! You included.
Correct me if I am wrong, I think it was Cecil Chaudhry, who during the 1971 war by now a Squadron Leader, fought with valour. On 7 December, during his second mission of the day over Zafarwal-Shakargarh sector, Cecil’s aircraft was hit by ground fire and badly damaged. He had to eject in enemy territory but he managed to make good his escape and reached Sargodha base safely. He continued to fight valiantly despite fractured ribs and exacted his revenue on 11 December, when he managed to shoot down an Indian SU-7
fighter right over the area where he had lost his aircraft.
Or am I confusing him with someone else?
Ijaz
You are absolutely right Ijaz Khan Saheb. Your narration is absolutely correct. I was Flight Commander 14 squadron, Dacca in 1971. I came back in June/July and Sqn.Ldr. Dilawar(later Air Marshal) took over from me and did wonderful job facing the IAF. Cecil told me about his ejection, escape and subsequent missions. It was the sam gallant Cecil of 1965 except more experienced and deadlier for the enemy. Best Regards.
Late Grp Captin (R) Cecil Ch. narrated the story of Pakistan’s Airforce’s gallant operation on Halwara, lead by Sqdrn Leader Sarfaraz Rafeeqi, in a programe of Defense Day Celebrations on PTV. It was to stop IAF’s fearous attacks on Pakistani soil. Cecil was the only Pakistani pilot who came back alive upon completion of operation and achieving the task to the fullest, where as our all pilots embraced shahadat, and IAF was not able to use that airfield again to launch any operation during the entire war of 65.
He narrated, that when they were going to the cockpits Rafeeqi came to him, punched him on the shoulder and said, I m sorry cecil …. I m leading u to a mission from where we might not return ! Cecil said that I turned back to him … saluted him and said…….’Sir…I love you so much that I can follow you to hell’…..Rafiqui smiled and said…..Your wife will hate me for this….and Cecil said…..I laughed and replied ‘Sir you wont be there….I wont be there….who cares’ !
He was indeed the hero. we owe alot to him indeed, and to all those like Rafeequi shaheed like Younus Shaheed and all those who volunteered for that operation from which the chances of return were almost zero, they went like hawks stormed Indian Air Forced, jolted them taught them a lesson and laid their life for a safe future of their homeland and their people…. Sometime I wonder that its their debt on us, on all of us…of all those who deliberately, went to the places where even the death fears to go,with smiles on their faces, fully aware that they will not return, but this will make Pakistan and Pakistani’s live a better life….
R.I.P. Cecil and thank you very much, we cant pay you back, even for one moment of that entire operation !
Long Live Pakistan !
He was a brave man and a Pakistani.
*** This Message Has Been Sent Using BlackBerry Internet Service from Mobilink ***
Cecil was a great son of the soil………………….Inam Khan
Very moving and I’m sure a a very truthful, accurate account of those sad days.
Only ONE sentence is totally inaccurate, an utter misinterpretation of events. This the last sentence: “As I write this, a tribute to one of the bravest man I knew, and all those who gave up their lives for our motherland, I reaffirm, that the men of Pak Armed Forces pledge their lives to the Nation.That blank cheque the motherland can call upon any time, to deliver!”
All those who gave up their lives, “thought like Group Captain Ali Kazim and were also wrong, VERY wrong. The TRUTH is: they gave up their lives for the happiness and wealth of weapon manufacturers, bankers, politicians, diplomats and military personnel involved in military buying and selling, (this, in many countries, not just India and Pakistan). Among “politicians” I include several Royal Families.
Alberto
East & West,are two different worlds,our Values are hence different,Alberto.
The weapons of today are ,but,the means,to fight our enemies,we have a long
heritage of wars,fought,with weapons of those times !
And hence,the Blank Cheque,as stated by the Author !
I,entirely endorse your views,particularly when are having very diminishing number of this breed left with us as the time passes.
msc
Dear Portugheis Albert
Our pledge is to the PEOPLE of Pakistan not to the politicians who hitherto have given nothing to the people. It is sad that NONE have made any effort to follow the vision of Pakistan as clearly defined by it’s founder, Quaid e Azam M.A. Jinnah.
War is a game of economics. When war brings massive destruction. The re-building brings economic prosperity in all sectors of economic activity. When a country is being destroyed or built, the unscrupulous are the biggest gainers.
Beautiful account.What fighters we had. Brave men. Men of valor!A salute to them all.
Such a heart moving accounts.Where are such friendships these days?
My tributes to Gp Capt Ali Kazim, for his nostalgic write up. Ali Kazim himself was a great leader and always looked up to by all around him including me. Thank you sir for this write up. Cec will remain a hero eternally.
Tan
Cecil ch was a Formanite, so was my elder brother than I became one….
What a great Pakistani!
YAA
He was, we salute him. Wish we are left with some Pakistanis, here
The DEED’S of the Man,is the homage given;to him,after his death.
And if remembered,so, with respect and honour,that,being his sum total
of a Life,well spent.
So a standing salute to the man !
And to the Author for giving him,the homage due !
I feel I owe it to my mentor and a fellow Officer to pen a few words
in tribute to one of the finest man I ever knew. Cecil Chaudhry was an
officer and a gentleman par excellence. He was a thorough
professional, an outstandingly brave office, matched by a pleasant
personality. At one time I served with him in the same Squadron and
flew with him many times. My God! What a fighter pilot. Awesome. More
importantly he was a real gentleman very friendly . He and his wife
maintained an open house and anybody could walk in, regardless of his
rank. Us bachelor lot were always welcome to a meal though
unannounced.
Let me tell you about his well deserved SJ in 1965 war.
Fighters always fly in formation of two or four because of mutual
support strategy. In a formation of four led by Sqn.Ldr. Rafiqui ,
Cecil was his number two , on the wing. One aircraft aborted at take
off point due to engine trouble. Normally three aircraft never go on a
combat mission but Flt.Lt. Yunus was a very brave officer who decided
that he cannot miss out on a strike mission on an Indian airfield. So
three of them took off. Over the target they were swamped by hunters
of IAF who were waiting for them . In the ensuing air combat Yunus got
separated from his formation leader and was shot down, bec there was
nobody to cover his tail and the IAF were in over whelming majority.
Meanwhile Rafique shot down two Indian aircraft but his guns jammed.
Technically both should have disengaged and returned to Base but both
Rafique and Cecil were made of sterner stuff.
Rafique asked Cecil to take over the lead while he fell back as his
wingman. The fight continued; Cecil shot down one aircraft, but
Rafique was also shot down. The sheer numerical superiority got to
them. Cecil, all alone in hostile airspace, hundred miles inside
enemy territory, running low on fuel, being hounded by enemy fighters
hit the deck and exited low level the fastest that he could manage. He
flew so low that on Gurdaspur Road he was lower than the tree tops on
either side. He managed to evade the enemy as no average fighter pilot
could do that kind of dare devil flying. When he landed his under
belly and under carriage area had tree branches/leaves. You can
imagine the level of flying skill required for such a feat.
He was Instructor in a Unit which was established to train other
Instructors in basic weapons firing and fighter flying. In other words
it was a unit where F-86 pilots were trained to be Instructors.
Unfortunately the services have a tradition. Those who are brilliant
are perceived as a threat by the majority of average officers and the
many mediocres which flood the ranks. These brilliant officers are
either burnt out by others due professional rivalry or they burn
themselves out due to discrimination meted out. Cecil was a victim of
the second reason. I had been medically grounded and voluntarily left
the PAF by the time Cecil made it as a Gp. Capt. I don’t know the
exact circumstances but I was told that he left out of disgust.
The Air Force lost one of its finest, due to bigotry and prejudice and
favoritism. .
He is gone but has left a legacy of indomitable courage. It was men
like him who brought glory and victory to PAF in 1965.
I am proud to have served with such an Officer.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Varris
Good article, real nice tribute to Cecil Saheb. He was a brave son of the soil.
Sir, “Heavens 12 o clock clear land”.
A great admirer of yours , Asim
God bless his noble soul !!!
Amen !!!
Durrani
A legend of the air force and a very humble man. May allah admit him in his graces.
Indeed a very competent and brave professional fighter-pilot (earned TWO Sitara-e-Jurrat ) , dedicated to his home-land Pakistan, a worthy leader of his community , a great educationalist, and yet a very humble man. I have heared his service-seniors and colleagues speak with great respect and admiration for Cecil Chaudhry.
May God-Almighty bless his soul, and give courage to his family to bear the loss of this great man.
Great fighter.
NKS
Cecil was a true soldier of Pakistan and a good clean man. Piloting for air force was his profession. Being gentleman and brave was optional and rare even in the officer class.
Sent from my iPad
May he Rest in Peace.
Without doubt a legendary pilot and till recently also the principal of St Mary’s Academy, Lalazar, Rawalpindi; my Alma Mater.
Indeed a loss to the country, majority and minority alike, because he belonged to an age when these terms were not used to describe Pakistanis.
Adeel
A wonderful tribute. Thank you Ali Kazim for giving us a fist hand glimpse into life and times of Cecil Chaudhry. He was a magnificent son of Pakistan, and no amount of bigotry, prejudice and favoritism can ever diminish that honor. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.
HH
May God bless his soul. Amen. He was a great man.
Munir Varraich
I never served with Gp Capt Cecil Chaudhry, but as young fighter pilots heard and had the privilege of seeing this great and genuine man. He was always considered the idol of all the budding fighter pilots. He was jovial, friendly and flamboyant, extremely approachable, always smiling and a living legend. We were all in awe of him and never got tired listening to his great exploits and were always spell bound by his bravery and nationalism. He was a true and die-hard Pakistani, a brilliant pilot and a great motivator and leader. He has also contributed much to inter faith harmony and always encouraged Pakistanis to follow the true ideals of our great founder, the Quaid-e-Azam.
He will be greatly missed but his legacy and example will always remain to motivate and guide our great air force and nation. He was true son of the soil, a patriotic and a human being par excellence. May his soul rest in peace.
Ata
a true hero of Pakistan. A son of the soil we can be proud of.
Knew him well, a good man, a patriot……. and look at the pygmies that surround us today !
Truly a good, patriotic Pakistani. He could have migrated to any Western country of his choice, but he chose to remain in his native land. May Allah rest his soul in peace. Amen.
He also remained Principal of prestigious school Saint Anthony School.Lahore for quite some time. He also saw some bad days after retirement. As usual the way we treat/forget our heroes. He was life of the PAF Mess as young officer liked by most Officers. What a man?
FM
HE was a brave and true Pakistani. i last talked to him during a 6th september live tv program in 2011. He will be long remembered for his heroic feats in 1965/71 wars. May his soul rest in peace.
Brig Farooq Hameed Khan
A great and patriotic son of the soil. May Allah bless his boble soul. We have had long association both in the PAF and Iraq for three years.
Zubair
Thanks. Many of the persons mentioned by Ali Kazim were colleagues and some very close friends, like Sarfraz Rafiqui —- May Allah rest his soul in peace. Ameen.
Mr Chaudhry,
say,what,others may,more then half the;Pyramid, of the related services
is still, Alive !
A very good write up, Ali, and a fitting tribute to a great pilot and a fine man. Ali is a modest chap so you almost never hear of HIS contribution in the wars! It was considerable. In these dark days it is good to remember, as a Nation, that we had such men to be proud of.
If I remember it correctly, when Cecil was about to posted abroad as an Air Attache, he made the mistake of playing tennis with a member of the Russian Embassy at the Islamabad Club. Our brave intelligence sleuths, who had probably never heard a shot fired in combat, made sure that he lost his posting and was not to be considered for further promotion. A patriot and a war hero meant nothing to these ‘guardians of our Nation.’
I hope that the angels give you an F86 up there to play around with, Cecil–but they had better watch out if they try and dog-fight with you!!!
Rest in peace, Cecil–real Pakistanis will always remember you!
Capt. ‘Johnny’ Sadiq (retd)
A heartfelt tribute to a great man. May Cecil’s gentle soul rest in eternal peace.
Cecil was not only my contemporary school-fellow at St Anthony’s High School Lahore but also my close neighbor as we lived in the same lane off Jail Road near Mozang Chungi (Chowk Qartaba)
very moving. also extremely valuable.
a small suggestion. would it be possible to put together all the material that has appeared on him? i would like to help in editing it for publication.
muzaffar mahmood qurashi
You are right, a moving tribute, but, as I wrote before, the last sentence is “unreal”.
“As I write this, a tribute to one of the bravest man I knew, and all those who gave up their lives for our motherland, I reaffirm, that the men of Pak Armed Forces pledge their lives to the Nation.That blank cheque the motherland can call upon any time, to deliver!!”
The author is of course genuine, sincere and he says what he – and million others – believe to be the Truth. However, the Truth is: ALL THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN MILITARY CONFLICT, DID IT – UNKNOWINGLY AND SADLY – FOR THEIR MILITARY AND POLITICAL BOSSES, FOR OIL AND MEDIA MOGULS, FOR MANUFACTURERS OF WAR TOYS (WEAPONS, LAND, SEA AND AIR MILITARY VEHICLES, MORTARS, BOMBS, LANDMINES, SPYING AND TORTURE EQUIPMENT, MILITARY UNIFORMS, ETC) AND FOR THE BANKS WHOSE MAIN BUSINESS IS THE FINANCING OF WARS.
Only the day humankind will wake up and refuse to die for the groups mentioned in the previous paragraph, will I see a glimpse of hope in a better, fair and humane world.
By the way, the author of these otherwise excellent article, forgot to also mention “those who give their lives to God”, Religions being the other beneficiary of human massacres and human sacrifices.
Thank you very much, I do respect your very personal opinion and I believe everybody has a right to see things in his or her perspective. But offcourse as being follower of Islam it is indeed very difficult for me to agree to your last line. Yes all other religions might have been the reasons of Human massacres (but again I am not giving a final word here, I am just taking your lines forward ) but not Islam. Its philosophy, concepts and teaching strongly emphasized on the sacredness of a human life, until it becomes an open threat for other humans, system and over all environment of sanity.
Now the point that how this concept has been used or abused is an entirely different debate.
Warm Regards,
Saad
Sir, its a wonderful read and really heart-touching. You must compile a book of your memoirs of air force career, especially the 1965 and 1971 wars.
Yasmin
While ones heart goes out to all those fine men in shining armour who gave up their everything for the country, worry not, there are many still there awaiting their turn, waiting for the day their country calls upon them to do their duty
Adeel
Adeel Saheb
You are so correct. Allah (SWT) bestows immortality to some but our Nation has a long queue waiting to attain that status. Destiny plays an all important role. I was destined to find Yasmeen as a precious friend who strives to get all of us together, my best wishes to her. I meet so many youngsters in Blue on occasions of joy and sorrow and see a resolve in their attitude to face any and all odds and they are better than what we were, as it ought to be otherwise we cease to progress. GOD Bless Pakistan. AK
Many who will spend their life waiting in hope.
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