A Letter from
Air Vice Marshal MG Tawab

to

Air Commodore Masud Akhtar

This is a very special letter written by a very special person on the 50th anniversary of PAF's 14 Sqn

October 29, 1998

Air Commodore
Masud Akhtar
PAF Base, Minhas
Kamra (Attock) Pakistan
Fax # 0097-52-9280041

Dear Air Cdre Masud,

This is to thank you for your phone call and your kind invitation for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of No 14 Sqn. Nothing would have made me happier than to be present on this occasion. However, as explained on phone I was released on 15th October after four and half months of hospitalization and am still too weak to travel. Notwithstanding the above I am scheduled to go to a rehabilitation clinic on 29th October, 1998 for a period of 4 weeks.

I commanded 14 Sqn from June 1967 to April, 1969. It was a pleasure to have worked with a group of officers who were extremely dedicated and motivated. No 14 Sqn has a special place in my heart for the following reasons:-

1) We won the Flight Safety Trophy consecutively for two years during my time. To the best of my recollection, for the squadron it was consecutive 2nd and 3rd year.

2) We achieved a utilization rate of 39 hours for the F-86E (with Oranda Engine). Thanks to then Wg Cdr Ashfaque Mian, OC Maint Wing.

3) On 15th June, 1968 during a High-low-High strike mission with a cloud base of 1,000 feet and top over 38,000 feet, while returning to base at 35,000 feet and 70 miles away; myself, my No 2 (Flg Off Mehdi) and No 4 (Sqn Ldr Habibur Rahman) flamed out. In this sortie I put in two 'may day' calls (the only ones in my entire career). I asked No 2 and 4 to eject which, they did and were later picked up. I made a dead stick landing at Dacca through the clouds for which I was awarded a Commendation Certificate by then C-in-C Air Marshal Nur Khan.

4) While commanding No 14 Squadron I was awarded the Sitara-e-Basalat (Sbt)

5) It was from 14 Squadron that I was sent to USSR along with an Engineering and a Signals officer to evaluate MiG-21 and SU-7 aircraft.

6) Finally, it was from No 14 Squadron that I was promoted to Gp Capt and posted to Air HQ as ACAS (Training).

Please convey to the Officer Commanding, Officers and men of No 14 Squadron my heartiest congratulations and that I wish them all the success and glory in the future. I shall always cherish my association with the PAF in general and No 14 Squadron in particular with pride and affection.

With very best wishes

(M G TAWAB)