When Duty Wore Wings of Brotherhood

Every nation has a moment when courage becomes its currency. For Pakistan, that moment came in September 1965 when the roar of Sabres and Starfighters tore through the dawn over Lahore and Sargodha. In Wings of Brotherhood, Wing Commander (Retd.) Badrul Hassan Khan doesn’t just recount missions rather he takes you into the cockpit. He writes of the fire, the fear, and the faith that made young men stare death in the face and smile.

“Flying into the fire of 1965 taught me that courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it.”

(Chapter: Sino-India and 1965 War)

That line alone tells you the truth: these weren’t mythical warriors. They were ordinary men with extraordinary discipline.

About Wings of Brotherhood Book

Wings of Brotherhood is not merely a chronicle of battles fought in the skies but a story of becoming. From the first salute at the cadet college to the roar of jet engines in combat, this book traces the complete journey of an airman: his discipline, his doubts, his triumphs, and his transformation into a leader.

Through decades of service, Wg Cdr (Retd) Badrul Hassan Khan brings to life the trials of training, the bonds of brotherhood, and the unspoken code that defines those who wear the uniform. Beyond recounting the 1965 and 1971 wars, Wings of Brotherhood reveals the human side of the Pakistan Air Force, it talks about the spirit that turns young cadets into men of honor and leaders into legends.

It was published by Daastan in 2025 and is also available for purchase on Amazon and Qissa. We started working on this project in 2023 and it took us roughly two years to collect the stories, compile them, arrange them and then bring the final version to life.

Let’s walk through the memory lane on how Badrul Hassan narrates the 1965 war, as it unfolds in front of his eyes.

1- The First Clash Over Lahore

The war came suddenly. One morning, the PAF radar picked up movement near Lahore. Within minutes, two F-104 Starfighters were in the air. What happened next became the first air-to-air engagement of the war and one of the most iconic scenes in Pakistan’s military history.

Khan recalls:

“A week later, full-scale war erupted. On September 3rd, a dogfight over Lahore between two PAF F-104s and Indian Gnats led to the surrender of Sqn Ldr Brij Pal Sikand of the IAF.”

(Sino-India and 1965 War, Wings of Brotherhood)

That captured Gnat now sits in the Pakistan Air Force Museum, a silent witness to the day the skies turned loyal.

2- Sargodha: The Day of the Falcons

If Lahore was the first test, Sargodha was the day Pakistan found its wings. It was the dawn of 7th September 1965 when the air smelled of jet fuel and anticipation. The PAF’s No. 11 Squadron stood ready. From that morning came the story of a man who became a legend — M.M. Alam.

“All his passion and skill culminated on a historic day in 1965, when he shot down five Indian Hunters in under a minute — a feat still unmatched.”

(The Legend of M.M. Alam, Wings of Brotherhood)

Khan describes the squadron’s radio chatter as terse, professional, and deadly calm. In those few minutes, Alam rewrote the rules of aerial combat. Pakistan’s morale soared, and the enemy learned that numbers mean little when skill meets destiny.

The base erupted when the radio confirmed the fifth kill. Yet, as Khan notes, the pilots were quiet, humble, already refueling, ready for the next sortie. That was the Air Force way, victory without vanity, every single day!

3: Success at Pathankot and Failure at Adampur 

Most people know about Alam’s dogfight. However, at Pathankot, Pakistan Air Force pilots executed one of the most daring daylight raids in South Asian history. Flying at tree-top altitude to avoid radar, Sabres from Peshawar swept into Indian airspace with stunning speed. The base was home to frontline MiG-21s and Mystères and it was caught off guard. Within minutes, hangars and aircraft were ablaze. The strike was clean, coordinated, and devastating. Most importantly, every PAF aircraft returned safely.

However, on the same day, PAF targetted the Adampur Base, which is the India’s largest Air Base. Khan narrates,

“An F-104 was sent on a reconnaissance mission, spotting IAF fighters lined up at Adampur. Instead of striking, it merely took pictures — wasting the element of surprise. By the time Alam’s flight reached Adampur, the Indians were prepared. Four aircraft took off from Sargodha for Adampur but one returned due to a technical fault. The remaining three reached the target and made the attack. Two aircraft were lost and the third returned safely.”

(Chapter: Air Operations 1965, Wings of Brotherhood)

Khan’s honesty makes this passage special. He admits mistakes, missed timing and lost opportunities but that’s what makes the story real. Even in imperfection, the daring was unmatched.

4: Talhar: Where Improvisation Became Heroism

While the world watched the glamorous battles, the real miracle was happening at Talhar, a small, dusty airstrip in Sindh. It was never meant to host fighter operations. But when the war demanded it, the Air Force turned it into a lifeline.

“Talhar operations were critical. The airstrip, meant for two fighters at a time, handled six at peak wartime. With no runway lights, night landings were difficult. Our OC, Sqn Ldr Butt, improvised by lining up bulbs tied with twigs and cables.”

(Chapter: Talhar Operations, Wings of Brotherhood)

Imagine that: fighter jets landing in darkness, guided only by makeshift bulbs. It wasn’t technology that kept them alive, it was ingenuity. Khan’s description of the ground crews working in heat, exhaustion, and fear adds depth.

“We flew outdated Sabres, yet we excelled because of sheer willpower, skill, and determination.”

(ibid., Wings of Brotherhood)

It’s in those lines that Wings of Brotherhood separates itself from every other book on 1965. It shows how ordinary men made extraordinary things happen with almost nothing.

The Brotherhood Beyond Battle

Through every chapter, Khan reminds readers that courage was only half the story. Brotherhood was the other half.

“The comrades I lost remain alive each time I close my eyes to remember them.”

(My Reflections, Wings of Brotherhood)

He writes about men who flew their last sortie without hesitation. He writes of ground crew who stayed by damaged aircraft long after orders told them to leave.
He writes about the silence that followed victory — the kind that hums louder than applause.

This emotional honesty turns Wings of Brotherhood from a memoir into a memorial.

The Day the Sky Became Pakistan’s Flag

Every nation remembers wars through medals, maps, and numbers. But the real war, the one Khan writes about and lived inside cockpits was something no camera ever saw. He writes,

“When my time here is done, may these words continue to live on as my final salute.”

(Dedication, Wings of Brotherhood)

In that line lies the heart of the PAF: humility, pride, and service beyond self.

The 1965 war didn’t just protect borders. It built an identity of discipline, innovation, and sacrifice. It taught the world that a small air force with big hearts can change the course of history. And it taught us that courage isn’t loud. It simply takes off quietly, precisely, and never looks back.

You can purchase the book on Amazon (global readers) and Qissa (readers in Pakistan).