Tail Choppers / Shaheens
"Quwwat aur Shujaat"
Strength and Courage
Role
Air Superiority
Current Aircraft:
PAF's first fighter-bomber squadron, earned its legendary "Tail Choppers" nickname after a daring strike mission on Kalaikunda Air Force Station during the 1965 War. One of PAF's most decorated squadrons.
History
Raised on 1 November 1948 at RPAF Base Peshawar
PAF's first fighter-bomber squadron
Operated Hawker Tempest fighters inherited from RIAF
Re-equipped with Hawker Fury fighter-bombers
Earned "Tail Choppers" nickname after daring Kalaikunda strike in 1965
Currently deployed at PAF Base Rafiqui with JF-17 Thunder
Squadron color has battle honors Kulaikunda 1965 and Dhaka 1971 on six scrolls
Notable Operations
1965 War - Daring strike on Kalaikunda Air Force Station
1971 War - Operations over Dhaka
Soviet-Afghan War - Shot down 5 aircraft (2 Su-22s, 2 MiG-23s, 1 Su-25)
Notable pilot: Flt. Lt. Khalid Mahmood (3 kills)
Counter-terrorism operations
Achievements
PAF's first fighter-bomber squadron
Battle honours: Kulaikunda 1965 and Dhaka 1971
Five confirmed kills during Soviet-Afghan War (1986-1988)
Flt. Lt. Khalid Mahmood scored 3 kills
Most decorated squadron of PAF
First F-16 combat victories against Soviet/Afghan aircraft
Squadron Insignia
Squadron color displays battle honors of Kulaikunda 1965 and Dhaka 1971 on two of six scrolls, symbolizing the squadron's combat prowess.