35:
379:
1298:
85:
102:
1291:
421:
1305:
1192:
680:
67:
694:
517:
In late 1976, a batch of 5 pilots and 40 airmen from the No. 23 Squadron participated in the inter-squadron armament competition. The team scored the highest points which won them the Perry Keene trophy. Flight
Lieutenant Azmat Kazi from the squadron achieved the highest score.
502:
for live firing exercises, where it became the first squadron which received and successfully used the new SM-7 series gun-sights. During their time at
Masroor, the squadron also participated in the "Exercise Gold Coin-II" where it performed low level air defence missions.
1137:"Today, the glorious Talons dazzle the skies of Pakistan with the ever dependable F- 7PG aircraft. Pakistan Air Force applauds the "Talons" that brought laurels and a very high name for the nation and PAF"
350:
From 16 to 17 November 1961, the squadron participated in "Exercise
Hastings" during which it flew five sorties. Almost a week later, four aircraft and pilots from the No. 23 squadron were deployed at
338:
province of
Pakistan. From May 21 to 24 and on 31 May 1961, the squadron flew close air support missions during which the pilots used the Hawker Fury's 60 lb bombs and
474:
flown by Flight lieutenant Afzal
Siddiqui who was accidentally shot down by Wing Commander Manzoor while they were chasing an Indian Su-7. He was posthumously awarded the
398:
on the F-6. Between June & September 1966, the squadron trained 23 pilots of various squadrons along with its own pilots. On 16 September, the squadron shifted to
1158:
1180:
1516:
1501:
1478:
1473:
1468:
1463:
1458:
1453:
1417:
1396:
1359:
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1344:
1339:
1334:
1329:
1324:
1386:
1381:
187:
799:
1173:
1188:
1016:
486:
After the war, the squadron was designated as an air superiority squadron in June 1975 and later deployed to the then newly activated
342:
to destroy various targets in the Bajaur valley. A total of 23 sorties were flown by the No. 23 Squadron during these missions.
1092:
952:
887:
1629:
1166:
1136:
835:
1196:
712:
707:
395:
181:
429:
582:. Thus a team of twelve pilots and ten aircraft from the No. 23 squadron was deployed for air defence missions at
317:
979:
339:
459:
211:
1526:
1118:
579:
548:
were reported. However, reports on aerial interceptions of soviet and afghan aircraft were not maintained.
1488:
512:
527:
415:
984:(Revised ed.). Pakistan: Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force. June 2007. p. 73.
803:
354:
in
Karachi for anti-locust operations during which it flew 28 missions from 21 to 30 November 1961.
934:
861:
817:
638:
752:
378:
1038:
722:
273:
89:
34:
230:
1578:
1024:
732:
717:
448:
244:
8:
1570:
1511:
1506:
1437:
1432:
1427:
1422:
1391:
1369:
1354:
1319:
1280:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1245:
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1235:
727:
1496:
1412:
1373:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1210:
575:
456:
367:
335:
269:
107:
562:
In 1984, Pakistan obtained intelligence on a possible attack on its nuclear assets in
583:
541:
533:
487:
440:
391:
386:
The squadron was reactivated on 8 February 1966 and equipped with the newly inducted
301:
143:
1096:
956:
891:
499:
475:
463:
399:
223:
117:
1297:
699:
685:
628:
363:
327:
297:
1290:
540:
of
Pakistan with Afghanistan from Soviet and Afghan intrusions. A total of 376
351:
293:
1623:
1074:
995:
305:
646:
545:
532:
During the
Afghanistan conflict in the 1980s, the squadron was deployed at
471:
387:
331:
235:
490:
where it trained for air combat tactics with different kinds of aircraft.
1602:
661:
557:
537:
321:
249:
436:
420:
362:
The squadron was numberplated on 4 March 1964 due to the retirement of
281:
1304:
1001:
Against All Odds: The
Pakistan Air Force in the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War
1056:
1594:
1562:
1191:
277:
72:
633:
Operated Fury fighters until they were retired from PAF service.
521:
498:
After spending a week at
Nawabshah, the squadron was deployed to
452:
403:
394:. It was also assigned the task for converting pilots from other
455:
Flying Officer Riffat Munir damaged another. On 8 December, the
326:
In May 1961 the Squadron participated in bombing strikes in the
1119:"Aviation Photo #4424423: Chengdu F-7PG - Pakistan - Air Force"
571:
563:
567:
470:
missile over the village of Khalsapur. The squadron lost one
467:
444:
481:
432:
from where the squadron operated throughout the 1971 war.
1075:"Pakistan Air Force Shenyang F-6 - Photo by Rehan Waheed"
999:
1014:
818:"Aviation Photo #5918805: F-7PG - Pakistan - Air Force"
166:
English: Your arm is stronger than the death in belief
675:
1017:"PAKISTAN'S AFGHAN WAR AIR STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS"
506:
311:
292:The No.23 Squadron was raised on 16 March 1961 at
428:On 13 October 1971, the squadron was deployed at
1621:
578:was put on high alert and tasked to protect the
345:
268:, is an air superiority fighter squadron of the
1197:Pakistan Air Force – list of aircraft squadrons
522:Air defence alert during the Soviet-Afghan war
1174:
753:"Today in History (No. 23 Squadron "Talons")"
493:
424:Shenyang F-6 "Farmer" of the No. 23 Squadron
382:Shenyang F-6 of the No. 23 Squadron "Talons"
528:Soviet-Afghan war § Aerial engagements
1181:
1167:
435:On 4 December 1971 during a dogfight near
272:. It is based at PAF Base Samungli in the
33:
994:
759:(Press release). DGPR Pakistan Air Force.
1143:(Press release). DGPR Pakistan Air Force
929:
842:(Press release). DGPR Pakistan Air Force
794:
792:
790:
788:
786:
536:where it was tasked with protecting the
419:
377:
357:
1057:"A leaf from history: Defending Kahuta"
927:
925:
923:
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919:
917:
915:
913:
911:
909:
784:
782:
780:
778:
776:
774:
772:
770:
768:
766:
482:Designation as Air Superiority Squadron
300:aircraft and was tasked with providing
1622:
1162:
906:
763:
745:
713:No. 17 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)
708:List of Pakistan Air Force squadrons
163:Urdu:بازو ترا توحید کی موت سے قوی ہے
880:
308:along with anti-locust operations.
39:Crest of the No. 23 Squadron of PAF
16:Air Superiority Squadron of the PAF
13:
447:(IAF Pilot "Harvinder Singh" from
14:
1641:
589:
1303:
1296:
1289:
1190:
692:
678:
443:Javed Latif shot down an Indian
100:
83:
65:
1129:
1111:
1085:
1067:
1049:
1031:
1008:
988:
507:1976 Inter-squadron competition
373:
334:areas during operations in the
318:Afghanistan-Pakistan Skirmishes
312:Operations near the Durand Line
188:"1961 Pakistan Locust Outbreak"
1015:Air Commodore A HAMEED QADRI.
971:
945:
854:
828:
810:
551:
1:
1039:"Is Israel Pakistan's enemy?"
738:
460:Wing Commander Manzoor Hashmi
346:1961 Pakistan Locust Outbreak
1630:Pakistan Air Force squadrons
580:Kahuta Research Laboratories
7:
671:
513:Pakistan military exercises
409:
182:Bajaur & Dir Operations
10:
1646:
620:
555:
525:
510:
494:Deployment at Masroor Base
416:Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
413:
315:
287:
178:Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
1587:
1552:
1525:
1487:
1446:
1405:
1368:
1312:
1287:
1203:
613:
607:
596:
243:
222:
217:
208:Squadron Leader A.M Nazir
202:
197:
172:
157:
149:
139:
131:
123:
113:
95:
78:
60:
52:
44:
32:
23:
406:for a couple of weeks.
616:
610:
425:
388:Shenyang F-6P "Farmer"
383:
1093:"Final Salute to F-6"
953:"Final Salute to F-6"
888:"Final Salute to F-6"
836:"No. 23 Squadron PAF"
723:No. 23 Squadron RNZAF
423:
381:
358:Temporary disbandment
90:Pakistan Armed Forces
1568:Aggressor emulation:
1313:Helicopter squadrons
733:No. 23 Squadron RAAF
718:23rd Squadron (Iraq)
449:No. 222 Squadron IAF
1027:on 28 January 1999.
728:No. 23 Squadron RAF
430:Risalewala air base
135:Western Air Command
1045:. 28 January 2018.
981:PAF Over the Years
939:Globalsecurity.org
868:. 16 February 2017
866:Globalsecurity.org
574:, as a result the
426:
384:
368:Pakistan Air Force
366:fighters from the
340:20 mm cannons
336:Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
270:Pakistan Air Force
108:Pakistan Air Force
1617:
1616:
806:on 17 April 2009.
800:"No. 23 Squadron"
669:
668:
584:PAF Base Chaklala
544:missions and 361
542:Combat Air Patrol
534:PAF Base Samungli
441:Flight Lieutenant
392:PAF Base Sargodha
302:close air support
280:and operates the
255:
254:
144:PAF Base Samungli
1637:
1579:Shooter Squadron
1307:
1300:
1293:
1204:Combat squadrons
1195:
1194:
1183:
1176:
1169:
1160:
1159:
1153:
1152:
1150:
1148:
1133:
1127:
1126:
1115:
1109:
1108:
1106:
1104:
1099:on 26 March 2008
1095:. Archived from
1089:
1083:
1082:
1071:
1065:
1064:
1053:
1047:
1046:
1035:
1029:
1028:
1023:. Archived from
1012:
1006:
1005:
992:
986:
985:
975:
969:
968:
966:
964:
959:on 26 March 2008
955:. Archived from
949:
943:
942:
931:
904:
903:
901:
899:
894:on 26 March 2008
890:. Archived from
884:
878:
877:
875:
873:
862:"No.23 Squadron"
858:
852:
851:
849:
847:
832:
826:
825:
814:
808:
807:
802:. Archived from
796:
761:
760:
749:
702:
697:
696:
695:
688:
683:
682:
681:
598:No. 23 Squadron
594:
593:
500:PAF Base Masroor
476:Sitara-e-Basalat
451:died) while his
400:PAF Base Rafiqui
191:
118:Fighter squadron
106:
104:
103:
88:
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71:
69:
68:
37:
21:
20:
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1063:. 26 July 2015.
1055:
1054:
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1037:
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1021:Defence Journal
1013:
1009:
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989:
978:"F-6 Vs SU-7".
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700:aviation portal
698:
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686:Pakistan portal
684:
679:
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639:Air Superiority
622:Fighter/Bomber
603:
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538:western borders
530:
524:
515:
509:
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488:Nawab Shah Base
484:
418:
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352:Drigh Road Base
348:
324:
316:Main articles:
314:
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262:No. 23 Squadron
258:
210:Wing Commander
209:
204:
186:
127:Air Superiority
101:
99:
84:
82:
66:
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48:16 March 1961 –
40:
25:
24:No. 23 Squadron
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556:Main article:
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526:Main article:
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457:OC 23 Squadron
414:Main article:
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296:equipped with
294:PAF Base Kohat
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286:
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218:Aircraft flown
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212:Manzoor Hashmi
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1123:Airliners.net
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996:Kaiser Tufail
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935:"23 Squadron"
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711:
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705:
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690:
687:
676:
665:
663:
662:Chengdu F-7PG
660:
658:2002–Present
657:
654:
653:
650:
648:
647:Shenyang F-6P
645:
642:
640:
637:
636:
632:
630:
627:
624:
621:
606:
602:
595:
587:
585:
581:
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569:
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559:
549:
547:
546:hot scrambles
543:
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529:
519:
514:
504:
501:
491:
489:
479:
477:
473:
469:
465:
462:shot down an
461:
458:
454:
450:
446:
442:
438:
433:
431:
422:
417:
407:
405:
401:
397:
396:PAF squadrons
393:
389:
380:
371:
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365:
355:
353:
343:
341:
337:
333:
329:
323:
319:
309:
307:
303:
299:
295:
285:
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282:Chengdu F-7PG
279:
275:
271:
267:
263:
257:Military unit
251:
250:Chengdu F-7PG
248:
246:
242:
237:
236:Shenyang F-6P
234:
232:
229:
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227:
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216:
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207:
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196:
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59:
55:
51:
47:
43:
36:
31:
28:
22:
19:
1575:
1567:
1559:
1534:
1145:. Retrieved
1140:
1131:
1122:
1113:
1101:. Retrieved
1097:the original
1087:
1078:
1069:
1060:
1051:
1042:
1033:
1025:the original
1020:
1010:
1000:
990:
980:
973:
961:. Retrieved
957:the original
947:
938:
896:. Retrieved
892:the original
882:
870:. Retrieved
865:
856:
844:. Retrieved
839:
830:
821:
812:
804:the original
756:
747:
611:Operational
600:
561:
531:
516:
497:
485:
472:Shenyang F-6
466:Su-7 with a
434:
427:
385:
374:Reactivation
361:
349:
325:
291:
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132:Part of
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1607:Red Dragons
1560:Aerobatics:
629:Hawker Fury
558:Project 706
552:Project-706
364:Hawker Fury
322:Durand Line
298:Hawker Fury
274:Balochistan
245:Interceptor
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173:Engagements
150:Nickname(s)
1588:Historical
1545:CCS Mirage
1103:8 February
1079:Falcons.pk
963:8 February
898:8 February
739:References
643:1966–2002
625:1961-1964
511:See also:
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437:Faisalabad
284:aircraft.
205:commanders
198:Commanders
79:Allegiance
1542:CCS JF-17
1406:Transport
757:Instagram
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1061:Dawn.com
672:See also
655:Fighter
410:1971 War
304:for the
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158:Motto(s)
73:Pakistan
1603:Falcons
1147:25 July
1141:Twitter
872:4 April
846:25 July
840:Twitter
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140:Airbase
61:Country
1610:Tigers
617:Notes
601:Talons
572:Israel
564:Kahuta
330:&
328:Bajaur
266:Talons
153:Talons
105:
96:Branch
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45:Active
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1576:LIFT:
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1105:2008
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900:2008
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320:and
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260:The
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114:Type
1527:CCS
1489:OCU
566:by
464:IAF
402:at
390:at
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