Sattar Alvi
{{Short description|Pakistani Air Force pilot (born 1944)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = Air Commodore
| name = Sattar Alvi
| honorific_suffix = SJ, SI(M)
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| birth_name = Abdus Sattar Alvi
| other_name =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1944}}
| birth_place = Jalandhar sammipur, British Punjab, British India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial =
| placeofburial_coordinates =
| allegiance = {{PAK}}
| branch = {{Air Force|PAK}}
| serviceyears = 1963–1998
| serviceyears_label =
| rank = 20px15px Air-Commodore
| rank_label =
| servicenumber = PAK-4534
| unit = No. 11 Squadron Arrows
| commands = PAF Base Rafiqui
Combat Commanders' School
| battles_label =
| battles =
{{tree list}}
{{tree list/end}}
| awards = 60px{{small|Sitara-e-Jurat}}
60px{{small|Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military)}}
| memorials =
| spouse =
| relations =
| children =
| laterwork = Flight instructor
| signature =
| signature_size =
| signature_alt =
| website =
| module =
}}
Abdus Sattar Alvi (Punjabi, Urdu: {{Nastaliq| عبد الستار علوی}}), {{small| SJ, SI(M)}}, is a retired one-star rank air officer and a fighter pilot in the Pakistan Air Force, who is renowned for his gallant actions during the third Indo-Pakistani in 1971, and served as a military advisor in the Syrian Air Force during the Yom Kippur War of 1973.{{cite news|last1=Alvi|first1=Air Cdre. Sattar|title=50 years on: Memories of the 1973 Arab-Israeli Conflict - The Express Tribune|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/855837/50-years-on-memories-of-the-1973-arab-israeli-conflict/|access-date=28 August 2017|work=The Express Tribune|agency=The Express Tribune|publisher=The Express Tribune, Alvi (2015)|date=19 March 2015|location=Islamabad, Pakistan|language=en-pk}}
According to modern Pakistani sources, in 1974, Alvi shot down the Israeli Air Force's Mirage III over the dogfight took place in Golan Heights in Syria, and was honored for his bravery with gallantry war-time medals by Syrian and Pakistan government.{{cite web |title=The PAF Shaheens of International Fame |website=My Voice Unheard|url=http://myvoiceunheard.com/the-paf-shaheens-of-international-fame-pak/ |access-date=28 August 2017|language=en-pk|date=7 September 2016}} However, no major sources from the time reported on such an incident.{{Cite web |title=מעריב {{!}} עמוד 1 {{!}} 28 אפריל 1974 {{!}} אוסף העיתונות {{!}} הספרייה הלאומית |url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/mar/1974/04/28/01/page/1 |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=www.nli.org.il |language=he}}{{Cite web |title=April 1974 Broadcast Index {{!}} Vanderbilt Television News Archive |url=https://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/siteindex/1974-4 |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=tvnews.vanderbilt.edu}}{{Cite web |title=Results 1 to 13 of 13 for syria israel — California Digital Newspaper Collection |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=q&hs=1&r=1&results=1&txq=syria+israel+&dafdq=26&dafmq=04&dafyq=1974&datdq=28&datmq=04&datyq=1974&puq=&txf=txIN&ssnip=txt&oa=&e=26-04-1974-30-04-1974--en--20--1--txt-txIN-syria+israel+------- |access-date=2023-04-14 |website=cdnc.ucr.edu}}
Biography
Sattar Alvi was born in Sammipur, Jalandhar, Punjab, British India in 1944, into a Punjabi family that had the military background. His father was an officer in the British Indian Army who later served in the Pakistan Army.{{cite web|title=The PAF Shaheens of International Fame - My Voice Unheard|url=http://myvoiceunheard.com/the-paf-shaheens-of-international-fame-pak/|website=myvoiceunheard.com|publisher=PAF Shaheens|access-date=8 September 2017}} He was educated at the Bannu where he did his matriculation and attended the Emerson College in Multan, Punjab where he secured his graduation.
In 1963, he was accepted to join the Air Force Academy in Risalpur where he received his flight training on the Cessna T-37T, and graduated in General Duty Pilot (GD) course in 1965. Pilot Officer Alvi participated in the second war with India in 1965, touring his duty as "Mail Runners" to convey messages from one base to another, served on this assignment until the war was ended.
From 1966 to 1971, Flight Lieutenant (Captain) Alvi was selected in the military adviser group for the Iraqi Air Force, where he qualified as a test pilot for the MiG-21 and sat up the training school for the Iraqi IAF. He returned to Pakistan to participate in the third war with India and flew the Quick Reaction Close Support Missions especially in Shakargarh, where the battle with the Indian IAF was the most turbulent. After the war in 1971, Flt.Lt Alvi was sent to join the faculty at the Air Force Academy and served as a flight instructor on the flight manuals on the F-7P, a Chinese variant of MiG-21F.
=Yom Kippur War=
Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto sought to maintain close relationships with the Arab world. When the Yom Kippur War broke out, Alvi was one of the Pakistan Air Force fighter pilots who volunteered to go to the Middle East to support Egypt and Syria. By the time they arrived, however, Egypt and Israel had already concluded a ceasefire, and only Syria remained in an active state of war against Israel.{{Cite web
| last =
| first =
| author-link =
| author2 =
| title =1973 Arab Israeli War and PAF Pilots
| publisher =
| date = 26 August 2009
| url =http://pakistaninside.blogspot.com/2009/08/1973-arab-israeli-war-and-paf-pilots.html
| doi =
| access-date = }}
Alvi, who was serving as a flight lieutenant in 1973, joined the Syrian Air Force along with Arif Manzoor. The Pakistani fighter pilots flew in a formation using the call-sign "Shahbaz" under the command of Squadron Leader Arif Manzoor.{{cite web |url=http://pavocavalry.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/shahbaz-over-golan-1973-war-golan-idf-click-on-top-to-enlarge/ |title='Shahbaz' over Golan–1973–WAR-GOLAN-IDF-CLICK ON TOP TO ENLARGE « understanding each other |website=pavocavalry.wordpress.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718104052/http://pavocavalry.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/shahbaz-over-golan-1973-war-golan-idf-click-on-top-to-enlarge/ |archive-date=2011-07-18}}
= Aerial fight over Golan according to modern Pakistani sources =
On 26 April 1974, Alvi was flying a SAF MiG-21F-13 (Serial No. 1863) on deputation to No. 67A Squadron, Syrian Air Force (SAF) out of Dumayr Air Base, Syria, in an eight-ship formation with a fellow PAF pilot and the flight leader, Squadron Leader Arif Manzoor.{{Cite web
| last =Tufail
| first =Group Captain Colonel Kaisar
| author-link =
| title =Shahbaz Over Golan:The saga of an intrepid PAF pilot who humbled the Israelis
| work =Defence Journal of Pakistan
| publisher =Pakistan Defence Forces
| date =April 1999
| url =http://www.defencejournal.com/apr99/golan.htm
| doi =
| access-date =1 November 2009
| archive-date =23 September 2015
| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213417/http://www.defencejournal.com/apr99/golan.htm
| url-status =dead
}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.defencejournal.com/apr99/golan.htm |title=Ibid |access-date=1 November 2009 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213417/http://www.defencejournal.com/apr99/golan.htm |url-status=dead }} While leading a Mig-21 patrol along the border, Squadron Leader Arif Manzoor was apprised of the presence of two Israeli Phantom aircraft and was cautioned that these could be decoys while two other fast tracks approaching from the opposite direction might be the real threat. The latter turned out to be Mirages and a moment later Alvi, in Arif's formation saw the no. 2 Mirage breaking towards him.{{Cite web
| last =The Global Security
| author-link =
| title =Syria 1974
| publisher =
| date =
| url =http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/pakistan/air-force-combat.htm
| doi =
| access-date = }}
All this time, heavy radio jamming by Israeli ground stations was making things difficult, but the Pakistani pilots were used to such tactics. According to the same Pakistani sources, he managed to shoot down Captain Lutz, while the wingman quickly disengaged, and Captain Lutz later succumbed to wounds he sustained during ejection.
Honours
After the engagements, Flight Lieutenant Captain Sattar Alvi and Shahbaz formation leader Squadron Leader Major Arif Manzoor were awarded two of Syria's highest decorations for gallantry, the Wisaam Faris and Wisaam Shuja'at in 1973 by the President of Syria Hafez al-Assad in a public ceremony. The government of Pakistan also awarded each PAF pilot the Sitara-e-Jur'at. The prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto personally met each of them and awarded the gallantry awards in public ceremonies.
Post war
After the war, Sattar Alvi was promoted to Wing Commander and went on to command PAF's elite Combat Commanders' School and the premier PAF Base Rafiqui. In 1994, he was promoted to Air Commodore and commanded the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) until 1998. He retired as an Air Commodore in 1998 and received an honourable discharge from the air force.
Awards and decorations
| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
| colspan="4" |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=PAF GDP Blue.png|width=250}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Jurat.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War Ribbon.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War.png|width=130}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=10 years Service Medal.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=20 years Service Medal.png|width=130}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=30 years Service Medal.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Hijri Tamgha.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Jamhuriat Tamgha 1988.png|width=130}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha Pakistan.svg|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal, 2006.svg|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of Bravery - Syria.png|width=130}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of Merit - Syria.png|width=130}} |
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
(Star of Courage) (Star of Excellence) (War Star 1965) (War Star 1971) |
| Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War
(War Medal 1965) (War Medal 1971) |
| 30 Years Service Medal
(100th Birth Anniversary of (Hijri Medal) (Democracy Medal) |
| Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha
(Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1990 (Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1997 |Order of Bravery (Wisam al Shujaa) (Wisam al Istehqaq) |
= Foreign Decorations =
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" style="background:#006400; color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center" |Foreign Awards |
| {{flag|Syria}}
|Order of Bravery (Wisam al Shujaa) |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of Bravery - Syria.png|width=106}} |
|---|
| {{flag|Syria}}
|Order of Merit (Wisam al Istehqaq) |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of Merit - Syria.png|width=106}} |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.defencejournal.com/apr99/golan.htm Air Commodore Sattar Alvi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923213417/http://www.defencejournal.com/apr99/golan.htm |date=23 September 2015 }}
- https://web.archive.org/web/20011217224910/http://www.scramble.nl/pk.htm
- [http://www.paf.gov.pk/feats.htm See April 1974]
- http://www.mabaig.co.uk/paf/PAINTINGS/mideast/MidEast.html
- [http://pavocavalry.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/flight-lieutenant-sattar-alvia-master-of-migswho-shot-down-the-israeli-aircraft-flown-by-m-lutz-of-no-5-air-wing-based-at-hatzor-on-26-april-1974/ Fl. Lt. Alvi]
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/pakistan/air-force-combat.htm
{{Recipients of Sitara-e-Jurat}}
{{Military of Pakistan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alvi, Sattar}}
Category:Government Emerson College alumni
Category:Pakistani military personnel of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Category:Pakistani test pilots
Category:Pakistan Air Force officers
Category:Pakistani flying aces
Category:Pilots of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Category:Pilots of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Category:Recipients of Sitara-e-Jurat