1965 war hero Air Marshal Nur Khan passes away

By
fraaz
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Air Marshal (retd) Malik Nur Khan, the hero of the 1965 Pak-India war, who later served as the Governor of West Pakistan died on Thursday at Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Rawalpindi after protracted illness. Nur Khan was also part of the Pakistani contingent that clashed with the Israeli Air Force during the Six Day War (Arab Israel war 1967).
Air Marshal (retd) Malik Nur Khan (born 22 February 1923) was the Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Air Force from 1965 to 1969. He led the Pakistan air force in achieving parity over the three times bigger Indian air force on the first day of the 1965 war. Nur Khan belonged to a small Village of Dandi, Tamman, Talagang.
He later served as the Governor of West Pakistan and President of Pakistan Hockey Federation and Pakistan Cricket Board. Nur Khan was commissioned in the British Indian Air Force on 6 January 1941. Earlier he had attended the Royal Indian Military College at Dehra Dun after completing his education at Aitchison College, Lahore.
Nur Khan was also a member of the National Assembly from 1985 till 1988. He contested in 1988 election on a PPP ticket from NA 44 Chakwal II but wasn’t successful. After defeat in the 1988 elections he decided to retire from politics and his cousin Malik Mumtaz Khan Tamman and Malik Allah Dad Awan began contesting elections from the same constituency. Notable amongst his assignments before partition was that of a flight commander in No 4 Squadron. In the RPAF, he commanded the PAF Academy and, as an air commodore, of No. 1 Group at Peshawar. He also had a stint at the Air Headquarters as the Assistant Chief of Staff Air.
Nur Khan was also part of the Pakistani contingent that clashed with the Israeli Air Force during the Six Day War. Israel President Ezer Weizman, who was also Commander of the Israeli Air Force and the Minister of Defense of Israel, wrote in his autobiography that: “He was a formidable fellow and I was glad that he was Pakistani and not Egyptian”. Nur Khan was the Air Marshal of Pakistan Air Force, Governor of West Pakistan and the Chairman of Pakistan International Airlines. In 1960, PIA imported its first jetliner (a Boeing 707-321 leased from Pan Am) under Nur Khan. Nur Khan was PIA’s Managing Director from 1959 to 1965. He succeeded in making PIA profitable basis within six years. Under his charismatic and inspirational leadership PIA became one of the leading and respected airlines of the world. Under his tenure PIA became the first Asian airline to operate jet aircrafts.

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21 COMMENTS

  1. AIR MARSHAL NOOR KHAN WAS A FORMIDDABLE PERSON. HE WAS PATRIOTIC FIGHTER, ADMINISTRATOR AND GENUINE POLICY MAKER. WHAT EVER ORGANIZATION HE HEADED, IT FLOURISHED BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS. THIS WAS ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF HIS INSPIRATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND UTMOST HONESTY.MAY ALMIGHTY ALLAH BESTOW UPON HIM HIS ENORMOUS BLESSINGS, AND KEEP HIS SOUL IN PEACE.AAMEEN

  3. Air Marshal Nur Khan, the 2nd Pakistani chief of PAF was one of few great Pakistani nationals who were successful in all walks of life.He entered and conquered, where ever he was asked to take the responsibility. He was definately the pride of Pakistan. May God bless his soul in eternal peace.

  4. Nur Khan will always be remembered due to his dedicated work for PAF, PIA and PHF. He was indeed a national hero of 1965.

  6. First time I heard about Malik Nur Khan when my father left the hockey camp and came home with out appearing for trials. My father has been his follower and always admired Malik sahib. I met Air Marshal sahib in 1978, when I was selected for the team. I shook his hand and I can not forget the look he gave me as if he told me everything in just that one look. Like he said to me I have lot of expectations from you. His main chapter Air Force is known to all. During his time the PAF ruled the skies in the sub-continent and he was the hero of 1965 war besides other several heroes. Air Marshal sahib was a very disciplined, good nature and a pleasant manner person. One time my uncle who also served in the PAF as Air Commodore and was a fighter pilot told me that Nur Khan sahib was man who will take risk and is a gutsy man. His gutsy call eneded the hijacking of the commercial PIA air plane, he was wounded by a bulit but he took the shot to get the hijacker. Whenever he is involved in sports, the particular sport excelled. Hockey, Cricket and Squash. Great man has passed away. May Allah Bless his soul in eternal peace. Aameen.

  7. Honourable and most respectable Air Marshal Noor Khan died with dignity in the service of his country. He was a true patriot and a true Pakistani.

    There were NO SCANDALS attached to him and he invited NO ALLEGATIONS of any form of corruption.

    Noor Khan was an emblem of the identity of Pakistani nationhood (Pakistaniat).

    AIR MARSHAL PAKISTANI NATION SALUTES YOU. YOU PLAYED YOUR INNINGS WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY & Sir you were a very dignified man.

    May Allah give you highest darjaat's in Jan-nah. Ameen

    Yeh Ghazi Yeh Teray Purisrar banday
    Jinhaein tu nay bakhsha hay zoq-e-khudai

    MA16th December 2011

  8. NO DOUBT LATE AIRMARSHAL NOOR KHAN, WAS VERY SUCCESSFULL PERSON IN ALL HIS CHALLENGING ASSIGNMENTS, AS CINC PAT, AS A MD PIA,
    AS PRESIDENT PAKISTAN HOCKEY FEDRATION, AS CHAIRMAN PAKISTAN CRICKET BOARD, HE WAS VERY DUTIFUL, HONEST, AND ALL TIME ACTIVE AND ALIVE AFFAIRS RUNS UNDER HIM,

    MAY ALLAH REST HIS SOUL IN PEACE (AMEEN)

    MEHMOOD HUSSAIN,
    KARACHI-PAKISTAN
    [email protected]

  9. He was undoubtedly a man of versatile skills. His services to the nation as Air Chief, Governor of West Pakistan and Chief Executive of PIA shall ever be remembered. May his soul rest in peace.

  10. A COMMANDER OF SUPERB TALENTS ! WE NEED SUCH LEADERS FOR PAKISTAN ! AN IDEAL HERO FOR OUR UPCOMING GENERATIONS ! AIR MARSHALL NUR KHAN'S NAME WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED IN HISTORY OF OUR AIRFORCE WITH GREAT HONOUR !

  11. Air Marshal Nur Khan though has parted from us shall always live in the annals of history of Pakistan. A great Level 5 leader of the skies who was an icon of bravery and an emblem of courage coupled with effectiveness and efficiency. He was not only a war hero of the 1965 Indo Pak Aerial Conflict as the C-in-C of the Pakistan Air Force but also proved his mettle once he lead the Pakistani contingent that clashed with the Israeli Air Force during the Six Day War. Israel President Ezer Weizman, (enemy) Commander of the Israeli Air Force and the Minister of Defense of Israel, was forced into writing a citation in favor of Nur Khan. He wrote in his autobiography that: “He was a formidable fellow and I was glad that he was Pakistani and not Egyptian” (Quoted from above article) . Allah bless his gentle soul in peace. Ina lillah hey wa ina alaihey ra jay oon (To Allah we belong and unto Him we shall return)

  12. AIR MARSHAL NUR KHAN CAME INTO PIA LIVES AND QUICKLY LEFT A FOOTPRINT IN HEARTS OF PIA STAFF-WE CAN NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN-I HOPE AND PRAY TO GOD ABOVE TO SEND SOME ONE LIKE AIR MARSHAL NUR KHAN TO SET PIA ONCE AGAIN LIKE THE OLD TIME GOD BLESS PIA

  13. Air Marashal Nur Khan was greatest Air fighter, his role of 1965 war will be never forgotton from heart of Pakistani. He was also shining political leader and excellent administrator. We will never forget him.

  14. On December 15, 2011 Pakistan lost a great achiever, Air Marshal Nur Khan. He will always be remembered as a leader who knitted PAF into a fighting force, took PIA to great height, built our hockey team to win grand slam, developed new but winning cricket team, and many more. There is long list of his achievements which we shall never forget. Like great leaders, he led from front and set the examples to follow.

    I still remember when PIA first flight to Cairo crashed while landing at Cairo. Next day he was flying, same route to give confidence to his pilots, crew members and passengers that PIA is safe to fly with and Cairo airport is safe for landing.
    His numerous achievements are definitely a good reference to learn modern project and enterprise management for executives. Whatever task he took up, he completed with success. He definitely proved beyond doubt that to reach the height of achievement, one does not need to be subject matter specialist, off course with one exception that is Pakistani politics. In his death Pakistan has lost a great organizer, manager, leader, fighter and human being.

  16. I feel very pround because ACM Noor Khan belong to taman & i belong to talagang.when he was a ACM my grand father working with us in akwal airpoart .
    really he was a great and brave man.I have no word to this man on his brave & nice personality

  17. In 1966 I had my picture taken with Air Marshal Nur Khan and his wife at one of the Air Force function. I was introduced to him as the lead guitarist of the Megatons from Peshawar Engineering College. He liked what we played and appreciated our presence.
    and music. After a brief talk i understood that he was a man of great caliber and grace.
    He was a true leader and we all will miss him greatly. My heart felt condolence to his family .

  18. In 1966 I had my picture taken with Air Marshal Nur Khan and his wife at one of the Air Force function. I was introduced to him as the lead guitarist of the Megatons from Peshawar Engineering College. He liked what we played and appreciated our presence. and music. After a brief talk i understood that he was a man of great caliber and grace. He was a true leader and we all will miss him greatly. My heart felt condolence to his family .

    Azhar Syed. New York

  19. He was pride for whole of Pakistan. May Allah us with soldier like this man so that they could serve the nation. May Allah bless him in heaven.Ameen

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