Living Eagle's of the World

Living Eagle's of the World

Group Captain Saiful Azam, a legendary fighter pilot from Bangladesh, remains a unique figure in the history of aviation. Born in 1941 in Khagarbaria Village, Pabna District, East Bengal (now Bangladesh), Azam’s early years were spent in East Pakistan and briefly in West Pakistan, where he completed his secondary education before joining the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in 1958. Commissioned as a General Duty pilot in 1960, Azam’s career would span four different air forces, a distinction unmatched in military aviation.

Training and Early Career
Azam’s initial training included the Cessna T-37, followed by advanced fighter instruction at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, flying F-86 Sabres. After returning to Pakistan, he was posted briefly in Dhaka and then became an instructor at PAF’s No. 2 Squadron, Jet Conversion Unit, Mauripur, Karachi, training pilots on the T-33 aircraft.

During the 1965 Indo-Pak War, Azam flew combat missions in F-86 Sabres with No. 17 Squadron at PAF Base Sargodha. In a notable dogfight against Indian Folland Gnat interceptors, he successfully shot down Flight Officer Vijay Mayadev of the Indian Air Force, earning Sitara-e-Jurat, Pakistan’s third-highest military award. In 1966, he was appointed commanding officer of No. 2 Squadron.

Service in Jordan and Iraq
In November 1966, Azam was deputed to the Royal Jordanian Air Force as an adviser and combat pilot, one of only two Pakistani officers sent on such assignment. During the 1967 Six-Day Arab-Israeli War, Azam flew a Hawker Hunter for Jordan’s No. 1 Squadron. On 5 June 1967, he defended Mafraq Air Base from Israeli Dassault Super Mystère jets, shooting down one and damaging another.

Transferred to the Iraqi Air Force the next day, Azam engaged Israeli Vatour bombers and Mirage fighters at H-3 and Al-Walid bases. He successfully shot down Israeli Captain Gideon Dror’s Mirage and a Vatour bomber piloted by Captain Golan. Both enemy pilots were captured as prisoners of war, a strategic victory for the Iraqi Air Force.

For his extraordinary skill and bravery, Azam was awarded Jordan’s Order of Istiqlal and Iraq’s Medal of Bravery, Nut al-Shujat.

Bangladesh Air Force and Later Life
After returning to Pakistan in 1969 and serving as a flight commander, Azam joined the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) after the country’s independence in 1971. He served as Director of Flight Safety and Director of Operations, later commanding Dhaka Air Base and attaining the rank of Group Captain in 1977. He retired in 1979, continuing his public service as Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh and later as a Member of Parliament (1991–1996).

Legacy and Recognition
Saiful Azam is the only fighter pilot in history to have flown in wartime for four air forces—Pakistan, Jordan, Iraq, and Bangladesh—and the only pilot to have aerial victories against two separate air forces, India and Israel. According to the Pakistan government, he holds the record for shooting down more Israeli aircraft than any other pilot.

The United States Air Force recognized his extraordinary achievements by naming him one of the 22 ‘Living Eagles’ of the World, a title reserved for exceptional pilots who exemplify skill, courage, and leadership in aviation.

Saiful Azam passed away on 14 June 2020 at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka, leaving behind a legacy of valour, dedication, and service that continues to inspire generations of aviators and citizens alike.