A Tribute to the Legendary Bangladeshi Fighter Pilot "Living Eagle Saiful Azam" - Top Gun

Saiful Azam, one of Bangladesh's proudest sons, achieved an extraordinary feat in aviation history by downing four enemy fighters in consecutive dogfights and an additional fifth in a separate battle, totaling five confirmed kills. When the Liberation War of Bangladesh began, Azam sought to return to his homeland to support the cause. However, the Pakistani government, upon discovering his intent, imprisoned him. After his release, he returned to Bangladesh and joined the Bangladesh Air Force.

We are honored to have such a hero in our history. Yet, how well does the new generation know him?

Group Captain Saiful Azam (Born 1941) was a retired Air Force officer who served as a fighter pilot in the Pakistan Air Force before Bangladesh's independence. During the 1971 Liberation War, he was imprisoned by Pakistani authorities. After Bangladesh's independence, he returned and joined the Bangladesh Air Force, where he served until his retirement in 1980. Azam passed away on June 14, 2020.

Personal Life and Education:

Azam was born in 1941 in Khagorbariya, Faridpur, Pabna, in what was then East Pakistan. After spending a few years in Kolkata, he moved to East Pakistan with his family in 1947. He moved to Pakistan in 1956 and joined the Pakistan Air Force in 1958, becoming a pilot in 1960. His cousin, Air Vice Marshal Fakhrul Azam, served as the Chief of the Bangladesh Air Force from 2002 to 2007.

Early Career:

Trained on the Cessna T-37 and later the F-86 Sabre at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona in 1963, Azam served briefly in Bangladesh before becoming an instructor in the T-33 Squadron 2 at Mauripur. During the Indo-Pak War of September 1965, he flew F-86 Sabres with Squadron 17, engaging Indian interceptors and shooting down Flight Officer Mayadev's plane. For his valor, he was awarded Pakistan's third-highest military honor, Sitara-e-Jurat. He later commanded Squadron 2.

In November 1966, he was sent as an advisor to the Royal Jordanian Air Force. When the Six-Day War began in 1967, he piloted a Hawker Hunter for Jordan’s Squadron 1 and engaged in significant battles, earning the Order of Istiqlal from Jordan and the Nut Al-Shujaat (Medal of Bravery) from Iraq.

Later Career:

In 1969, Azam returned to Pakistan, where he continued his service until Bangladesh's independence. After the war, he joined the Bangladesh Air Force, holding roles including Command of Dhaka Air Base and Director of Flight Safety and Operations. He retired as a Group Captain in 1980.

Career Achievements:

Saiful Azam is the only fighter pilot to have flown in combat for three air forces—Jordan, Iraq, and Pakistan—and has the unique distinction of downing aircraft from two different air forces (India and Israel). According to the Pakistan government, he held the record for the highest number of Israeli aircraft shot down by any pilot as of 2012. In 2000, the U.S. Air Force honored him as one of the world's "22 Living Eagles."

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