PAF Base Nur Khan
Major Operational Base
Location Details
Wing
Squadrons Based Here
Aircraft
Runways
History
15 October 1935: RAF No. 5 Squadron operated with Westland Wapiti until 23 April 1938
13 October 1942 - 12 March 1943: RAF No. 215 Squadron with Wellington IC
3 April - 14 June 1943: RAF No. 99 Squadron with Vickers Wellington III & X
24 May - 3 January 1944: RAF No. 62 Squadron with Douglas Dakota and Lockheed Hudson VI
18 September 1943 - 8 February 1944: RAF No. 194 Squadron detachment with Dakota
5 October 1945 - 5 June 1946: RAF No. 10 Squadron detachment with Douglas Dakota
9 December 1945 - 20 May 1946: RAF No. 298 Squadron detachment with Handley Page Halifax A.7
1 April - 1 July 1946: RAF Nos. 670 and 672 Squadrons
1947: Transferred to Royal Pakistan Air Force, became transport hub
29 June 1948: Squadron detachment provided guard of honour at Mauripur for Governor-General Muhammad Ali Jinnah arriving from Quetta
9 September 1948: Three Dakota aircraft performed flypast at Quaid-e-Azam's funeral ceremony
1965 Indo-Pakistani War: No. 6 Squadron dropped parachute commandos into Indian territory in night-time C-130B mission
1965 War: C-130 Hercules modified to carry 10,000 kg bombs, flew over 21 night-time bombing raids against Indian forces at Battles of Chawinda and Pul Kanjari
1970-1971: No. 6 Squadron moved large numbers of troops to East Pakistan, assisted flood relief operations
1971: India stopped PAF flying over its territory, squadron flew to East Pakistan via Sri Lanka
March-December 1971: Two C-130 transports deployed to Dhaka until 1971 Indo-Pakistani War began
1971 War: C-130 evacuated 365 people from Sylhet to Dhaka in single sortie; flew bombing missions from West Pakistan
1979: Home to No. 15 Squadron and No. 26 Squadron with North American F-86F Sabres, and No. 6 Squadron with C-130B/E and L-100 Hercules
2005: After Pakistan earthquake, 300 U.S. troops and aircraft deployed to Chaklala for relief efforts
2001-2013: U.S. allowed permanent military presence for logistics supporting Afghanistan operations
December 2009: PAF's first Il-78 aerial refuelling tanker delivered, No. 10 MRTT Squadron established
2012: Base renamed from PAF Base Chaklala to PAF Base Nur Khan in honor of first Base Commander and Air Chief
January 2025: No. 5 AJT Squadron (Griffins) of PAF College Chaklala with K-8 aircraft deployed to PAF Base Qadri for High Altitude Rescue Operations
Important Events
Established as RAF Chaklala with No. 5 Squadron RAF operating Westland Wapiti aircraft
World War II: Multiple RAF squadrons operated from base including Nos. 62, 99, 215, 194, 10, 298, 670, 672 with Wellington, Dakota, Hudson, Halifax aircraft
Transferred to Royal Pakistan Air Force after independence, became main transport hub
Squadron provided guard of honour for Governor-General Muhammad Ali Jinnah at Mauripur
Three Dakota aircraft performed flypast at Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's funeral ceremony
Indo-Pakistani War: No. 6 Squadron "Antelopes" conducted night parachute commando drops and over 21 bombing raids with modified C-130 Hercules carrying 10,000 kg bombs against Indian forces at Chawinda and Pul Kanjari
Transported large numbers of troops to East Pakistan, assisted flood relief operations. During 1971 War, C-130s evacuated soldiers and civilians including 365 people in single sortie from Sylhet to Dhaka
Pakistan earthquake relief: 300 U.S. troops and aircraft deployed to Chaklala
First Il-78 Midas aerial refuelling tanker delivered; No. 10 Multi Role Tanker Transport Squadron established
Renamed from PAF Base Chaklala to PAF Base Nur Khan in honor of Air Marshal Nur Khan, first Base Commander (1947) and second Chief of Pakistan Air Force
Indian Air Force carried out precision cruise missile airstrikes during 2025 India-Pakistan conflict targeting runways and military infrastructure. Attack included at least two missile strikes and drone attacks. Barrage hit two roofs and hangar of refueling plane (airborne at time). Two mobile control centers damaged. Base proximity to Strategic Plans Division HQ (responsible for Pakistan's nuclear arsenal) alarmed US officials and prompted intervention for ceasefire
Location on Map
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