| No. 26 Squadron Black Spiders |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 30 August 1957 — Present |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Allegiance | Pakistan |
| Branch | Pakistan Air Force |
| Type | Fighter squadron |
| Role | Multi-role |
| Airbase | PAF Base Peshawar |
| Aircraft | JF-17 Thunder Block 1 |
| Engagements | 1971 Indo-Pak War |
| Decorations | 2× Sitara-i-Juraat |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Nanchang A-5C (1984—2010) |
| Fighter | Shenyang F-6 (1980—1984) JF-17 Thunder Block 1 (2010—Present) |
No. 26 Squadron, named the Black Spiders, is a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter squadron.
Contents |
The squadron was established at PAF Base Masroor on 30 August 1967, equipped with the F-86 Sabre, commanded by Wing Commander Rehmat Khan and assigned the role of operational training of pilots on the F-86. It was later moved to PAF Base Peshawar. Over the next 10 years over 300 PAF pilots and 150 foreign pilots were trained and graduated.[1]
During the 1971 Indo-Pak War the unit flew over 300 air defence, counter air and close air support missions under the command of Wing Commander S. A. Changazi. Counter air sorties were often targeted at the Indian Air Force bases in Srinagar and Awantipura. Close air support sorties were flown over Chamb and Shakargarh. The unit shot down 7 Indian aircraft and damaged 2 more. A Folland Gnat and Hawker Hunter were downed by Flight Lieutenant Salim Baig Mirza. After flying 15 sorties, Squadron Leader M. Aslam Chaudhary was shot down on 10 December 1971 during a close air support mission over Chamb when his section of two F-86 were bounced by six Indian Hawker Hunters. Flight Lieutenant Fazal Elahi was shot down by ground fire on 8 December 1971 during a close air support sortie. Mirza and Elahi were awarded the Sitara-i-Juraat posthumously.[1]
The obsolete F-86 was replaced in December 1980 by the Shenyang F-6 and the squadron role changed to Air Superiority. The F-6 was replaced in 1984 with the Nanchang A-5C and the unit became a Tactical Attack squadron. In 1985 the squadron was awarded with the Flight Safety, Command Armament and the Professionals Trophies. In April 1989 the squadron provided pilots to ferry A-5C fighters requiring overhaul to China. In 1991 the first four of the squadron's aircraft were fitted with new Martin-Baker ejection seats.[1]
| No. 26 Squadron Black Spiders |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Role | Operational | Aircraft | Notes |
| 1967—1980 | F-86 Sabre | ||
| Air Superiority | 1980—1984 | Shenyang F-6 | |
| Tactical Attack | 1984—2010 | Nanchang A-5C | |
| Multi-role | 2010—Present | JF-17 Thunder Block 1 | The PAF's first JF-17 squadron, formed from the JF-17 Test and Evaluation Flight. |