Saiful Azam
| Saiful Azam | |
|---|---|
| Native name | সাইফুল আজম |
| Born |
1941 Khagarbaria, Pabna District, Rajshahi Division, East Bengal (now Bangladesh) |
| Allegiance |
  |
| Service/ |
  |
| Years of service | 1960–1979 |
| Rank | Group Captain (Bangladesh) |
| Awards |
Sitara-e-Jurat ( |
Saiful Azam (born 1941) is a retired Pakistani/Bangladeshi air force officer, who served as a fighter pilot with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) (1960-1971) and the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) (1971-1979).
Personal life and education
Azam was born in Khagarbaria village, Pabna District, East Bengal (later East Pakistan and now Bangladesh) in 1941.[1] After completing his secondary schooling in East Pakistan, he moved to West Pakistan and joined the Pakistan Air Force Academy, Risalpur in 1958, successfully gaining commission as an officer in the PAF's General Duties Pilot (GDP) branch in 1960.
Service with the Pakistan Air Force (1960-1971)
After training with the Cessna T-37 aircraft and further education at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, with F-86 Sabres, in 1963, Azam was posted briefly in Dhaka before becoming an instructor with the T-33s at PAF's No. 2 Squadron (Jet Conversion Unit) in Mauripur, Karachi.[1] While still posted as an instructor, Azam flew in the September 1965 war with India as part of PAF's No. 17 Squadron from PAF Base Sargodha, flying F-86s.[1] After returning from a successful ground attack, Azam's group encountered Indian Folland Gnat interceptors; Azam shot down Flight Officer Mayadev of the Indian Air Force. Azam was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat, Pakistan's third highest military award.[2] In 1966, he assumed the command of PAF's No. 2 Squadron.
In November 1966, he was sent by the PAF on deputation as an adviser to the Royal Jordanian Air Force.[1]
In 1969, after completing his overseas deputation, he returned in service to the PAF and spent several years as flight commander at various PAF bases before the Independence of Bangladesh in 1971.[1]
Service with the Bangladesh Air Force (1971-1979)
Azam entered service with the newly-formed Bangladesh Air Force after the independence of Bangladesh, serving as Director of Flight Safety and Director of Operations before being given command of the Dhaka Air Base and promoted to Group Captain in 1977. He retired in 1979 as Group Captain.
Post-Retirement (1979-present)
After retirement, Azam served in the following appointments:
- Chairman, Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), twice
- Managing Director, Film Development Corporation (FDC)
- Member of fifth Jatiya Sangshad (1991–95) from Pabna-3 constituency (Chatmohar Upazila, Faridpur Upazila and Bhangura Upazila) from Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)
Subsequently, he entered private business as Managing Director of Natasha Trading Agency and as the director of a travel agency with his wife.[1]
He lives with his wife in Dhaka Cantonment Defense Officers Housing Society(DOHS), while his adult son and daughters live in the state of Arizona, United States.
Career achievements
Saiful Azam has flown for four air forces (Bangladesh, Jordan, Iraq and Pakistan) at war, and has kills against two different air forces (India and Israel).[2] As of 2012, according to the Pakistan government, he holds the record for shooting down more Israeli aircraft than any other pilot.[2]