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PAF Base Samungli

Major Operational Base

Location Details

Location
Adjacent to Quetta International Airport
Province
Balochistan
Air Command
Southern Air Command
ICAO Code
OPQT
Latitude
30.2431°
Longitude
66.9436°

Wing

No. 31 AS Wing

Aircraft

JF-17 Thunder
Alouette III

Runways

Direction
13/31
Length
12,001 ft (3,658 m)
Surface
Asphalt
Direction
13R/31L
Length
11,969 ft (3,648 m)
Surface
Asphalt

History

22 July - 31 October 1944: Used by No. 84 Squadron RAF with Vultee Vengeance III

During RPAF era: Known as RPAF Station Samungli

14 May - 12 July 1954: Commanded by Major Sikandar Khan (Pakistan Army)

Squadron Leader K. M. Akbar took over as base commander, commanded newly established GC Wing

June 1957: Annual Shaheen Air Training Corps (SATC) camp inaugurated by Squadron Leader J. Z. Mikulski

1957: SATC wings from Dacca, Sargodha, Drigh Road, Chaklala, Lahore, Peshawar participated

October 1970: C&M Party Samungli redesignated as PAF Base Samungli

1970-1978: Fighter squadrons from Masroor, Sargodha, Peshawar deployed during summer

1970s: Annual summer camps for college students; firepower demonstrations for Quetta Staff College

September 1976: Largest demonstration by Nos. 5, 7, 11, 15, 18 Squadrons

31 March 1978: Converted from satellite base to main operating base

1978: No. 23 Squadron permanently deployed

1981: Air defence units established after HQ No. 4 Sector moved due to Soviet-Afghan War

End of 1981: New messes, accommodation, 20-bed hospital built

26 May 1981: Afghan Air Force Mil Mi-8 helicopter hijacked from Qandahar, landed at Samungli

May 1983: No. 31 Wing established with Nos. 17 and 23 Squadrons

15 May 1982: Colour presentation ceremony for No. 23 Squadron after air superiority role reassignment

2001-present: Used by United States for military logistical operations supporting Afghanistan invasion

Currently commanded by Air Commodore Nasir Jamal Khattak

Important Events

22 July 1944

RAF No. 84 Squadron arrived with Vultee Vengeance III aircraft for World War II operations

June 1957

First annual Shaheen Air Training Corps camp inaugurated with wings from across Pakistan

October 1970

Care and Maintenance Party Samungli redesignated as PAF Base Samungli

31 March 1978

Converted from satellite/forward operating base to main operating base

1981

Air defence units moved from HQ No. 4 Sector due to Soviet-Afghan War

26 May 1981

Afghan Air Force Mil Mi-8 helicopter hijacked from Qandahar and landed at Samungli

15 May 1982

No. 23 Squadron colour presentation ceremony after reassignment to air superiority role

May 1983

No. 31 Wing established with Nos. 17 and 23 Squadrons

2001

US began using base for military logistical operations supporting Afghanistan invasion

Location on Map

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BASE CATEGORY
Major Operational Base
NOTES
IATA: SMG. Originally forward operating location during exercises and wartime, converted to main operating base in 1978. Currently houses JF-17 Thunder squadron. Pentagon able to use base "as and when" for Afghanistan operations. Historic WWII RAF base. Commander: Air Commodore Nasir Jamal Khattak. Regular firepower demonstrations for Quetta Staff College

Quick Facts

Established:1944 (RAF), 1970 (PAF Base), 1978 (Main Operating Base)
Elevation:1,605 m (5,266 ft)
Squadrons:2
Aircraft Types:2
Runways:2
Status:Operational