PAF Base Mushaf

History

1930s: Inception

PAF Base Mushaf was originally established as an airstrip by the Royal Air Force during the 1930s. After World War II, the airstrip was one of the Sargodha Satellite Fields, and was known as Sargodha (Main). In 1959, the airstrip was commissioned as PAF Base Sargodha.

1965: Indian air strike under mission Sky Force

1965 Main article: Sargodha Airfield Complex#Raids

As precursor to Indo-Pakistani war of 1965, on 28 August, 1965, the Indian Air Force began "Operation Riddle" in response to Pakistan's Operation Grand Slam. On 6 September, 1965, the operation shifted to targeting two cities in Punjab, which were Lahore and Kasur, sparking the needs for an airfield complex. From 1965, elements of the PAF’s 17, 18, and 19 Squadrons were based in the airfield complex, which also housed the central command. This was considered one of the PAF’s most heavily guarded location, being dense in assets of the air force. The complex was located on a strategic location, allowing Pakistan to conduct air offensives in the Punjab region. During peak operations, the complex housed up to 80 F-86 Sabres, and 5 Lockheed F-104 Starfighters.

Indian Air Force conducted the air raids on 6th and 7th September 1965. Ajjamada B. Devaiah, as a senior flying instructor, was part of an aircraft strike mission which went to Sargodha airfield in Pakistan. Despite being a standby in case one of the first 12 aircraft dropped out, he joined the air battle. Devayya was intercepted by a PAF F-104 Starfighter flown by Pakistani pilot Flt. Lt. Amjad Hussain. Devayya successfully evaded the Starfighter's attacks. But the faster aircraft caught up with him and damaged his plane. Yet Devayya attacked the Starfighter and hit it. The Starfighter went down, while Hussain ejected and parachuted. It is not known what happened to Devayya. The IAF Mysteres were short on fuel and efficiency. Devayya's Mystere was destroyed, and it is assumed that he died on Pakistani soil. He was awarded the posthumous Maha Vir Chakra in 1988, nearly 23 years after the war.

In response, from 1965 to 1971, many disused airstrips were rehabilitated to be fitted with dummy aircraft, and were occasionally operating North American F-86 Sabres. Blast pens and dispersal sites were also built.

1979: base for Mirage fighter jets

During 1979, the base was home to 5 Squadron with the Dassault Mirage IIIEP, another squadron with the Mirage IIIDP, another squadron with the Mirage IIIRP and 9 Squadron with the Dassault Mirage 5PA

2007: Suicide bombing by Islamist Jihadis

2007

On 1 November 2007, a suicide bomber struck the 50-seat bus carrying PAF officers to nearby Kirana Ammunition Depot, killing 11 people (including 7 officers) and injuring 28. The bombing took place on Faisalabad Road, where a motorcycle loaded with explosives rammed the bus and triggered the blast. All the officers were new recruits posted to PAFB Mushaf for training. Attack was likely done by the elements of Pakistani Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

This was the last major attack before the 2007 state of emergency was imposed on the country.

2025: Indian air and missile strikes

2025 Main article: 2025 India–Pakistan conflict

PAF Base Mushaf was struck by Indian retaliatory air and missile strikes as a part of Operation Sindoor during the 2025 India–Pakistan conflict on 10 May 2025. Indian military claimed to have used precision weapons to strike two sections of the runway. Later satellite imagery showed a crater on the runway.

In popular media

• Sky Force (film), 2025 movie featuring Akshay Kumar, Veer Pahariya, Sara Ali Khan and Nimrat Kaur is based on Indian air raids on Sargodha airfield.

References

References

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17. Som, Vishnu. (13 May 2025). "Exclusive: Before-After Satellite Pics Show Damage To Pak Bases After Indian Strikes; Operation Sindoor". NDTV.
18. Mashal, Mujib. (14 May 2025). "India and Pakistan Talked Big, But Satellite Imagery Shows Limited Damage". The New York Times.
19. Piper, Imogen. (14 May 2025). "Indian strikes on Pakistan damaged six airfields, Post analysis finds". The Washington Post.
20. (2 October 2023). "Akshay Kumar's Sky Force sheds light on India's first and deadliest airstrike; release date unveiled". [[The Indian Express]].
21. Giri, Aditi. (2 October 2023). "Sky Force: Akshay Kumar To Headline Film Based On India's First Air Strike Attack Against Pakistan". [[CNN-News18.
22. (3 June 2023). "Sara Ali Khan to be paired with ex-boyfriend Veer Pahariya in Sky Force". [[Bollywood Hungama]].