Imtiaz Bhatti
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His Excellency Air Commodore Imtiaz Ahmed Bhatti Sitara-i-Jurat, Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military), Sitara-i-Basalat |
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|---|---|
| Born |
18 April 1933 Gujrat, British India |
| Allegiance | Pakistan |
| Service/branch | Pakistan Air Force |
| Years of service | 1953-1988 |
| Rank | Air Commodore |
| Unit | No. 15 Squadron No. 25 Squadron |
| Commands held | No. 19 Squadron |
| Battles/wars |
Indo-Pakistani Air War of 1965 Indo-Pakistan War of 1971 |
| Awards |
Sitara-e-Jurat Sitara-e-Imtiaz Sitara-e-Basalat |
Imtiaz Bhatti born (18 April 1933) in Gujrat, British India is a cyclist and a former Air Force pilot of Pakistan. He was the Pakistan cycling champion during his student days at Punjab Agriculture College, Lyallpur (now University of Agriculture, Faisalabad) in late 1940s and early 1950s. He made Pakistan cycling records and represented Pakistan by competing in the individual and team road race events at the 1952 Summer Olympics where he was placed 1st among the Asian cyclists and 25th in the world in the 1000m time trial. Bhatti a veteran of the 1965 Indo-Pak war flew 34 combat missions the maximum from Pakistan during the war and is credited with confirmed downing of two Indian planes, damaging a third plane, besides participating in raids that took out the Amritsar radar and various other air defence and ground support missions.
After completing his post graduation studies from Agriculture College, he joined Pakistan Air Force in 1953, where he was commissioned as an Officer and had a distinguished carrier before retiring as Air Commodore in 1988. Due to his distinguished acts of gallantry, valor and courage shown during war while performing duty and meritious service he was awarded with Sitara-i-Jurat, Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Sitara-i-Basalat by the Government of Pakistan and declared a Legend by the PAF Falcons and is one of the war heroes to whom tribute is paid on the Pakistan Defence day.
On 1 September 1965 the Sargodha Airbase was assigned the Air Defence Alert mission. Bhatti who was a Flight Lieutenant in No. 15 Squadron at Sargodha at that time, after completing his regular duty 0400–1200 hours asked to be allowed to continue for another shift. Squadron Leader Sarfaraz Rafique Commander No. 5 Squadron was accompanying him on the mission which started around 1700 hours. On getting airborne the Pakistani radar at Sakesar directed them to Sialkot-Chamb axis, from where they vectored to Chamb-Jaurian. Once there, the two started visual search not only for the attacking aircraft but also for the PAF C-in-C who was reported to be making an on-site assessment of the battle in a T-37. Bhatti first spotted two Vampires crossing 3–4,000 ft underneath and informed S/L Rafiqui who immediately went after the two sighted vampires. Bhatti instead of flying traditional wingman broke away and sighted more Indian aircraft. Before he could go after them he saw two more Vampires who were trying to position behind S/L Rafiqui. He called Rafiqui to break and himself took care of the other two that were following Rafique.
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