At
its inception in June 1960 under the command of Squadron
Leader Ayaz A Khan this squadron was equipped with Martin
B-57 light bombers. At that time it had 10 B-57B and 1 B-57C
two-seat aircraft. The dual model, appropriately named
'Baba' for the respect it commanded as the senior most
transition vehicle of the squadron, is still airworthy and
flying regularly, inspite of having one nose gear-up and two
belly-landings to its credit! No 7 Light Bomber Squadron was
located at PAF base Mauripur and was assigned the role of
airfield strikes and deep interdiction missions. Since 1960,
the squadron has remained fully prepared to undertake its
assigned tasks.
Loss of some aircraft during the two India-Pakistan Wars as
well as in occasional accidents, coupled with the increasing
problem of spare support eventually reduced the aircraft
strength to an uneconomical level. It was therefore decided
by Air Headquarters to combine B-57 and T-33 aircraft in one
composite squadron in August 82. Wing Commander S Tanveer
Hussain who was then OC No. 7 Squadron took over the new No.
2 Composite Squadron, while No. 7 Squadron was
number-plated.
On 22nd November 1982 Air Headquarters revived No. 7
Squadron with a new weapon system - the Chinese A-5
supersonic surface attack combat aircraft. The unit was now
named No. 7 Tactical Attack Squadron whose first squadron
commander was Wing Commander Shams Khan. A colorful ceremony
was held on 27th December 1983 to formally reequip No. 7
Squadron with A-5s and to say goodbye to the 'heavies' - the
B-57s. A smartly turned out contingent drawn from the
aircrew and ground crew of the new squadron participated in
the parade at which the squadron colour was handed over to
the new custodians. At the end of the ceremony, 2 B-57s in
close line astern formation flew past to mark the end of
their service in the squadron, and in came three sleek and
agile A-5s in close vic formation. The striking contrast
between the two types underlined the new operational arena
entered by No. 7 Squadron on that day.
No. 7 Squadron has had the honour of fighting in defence of
the country in both the 1965 and 1971 Wars. The squadron was
tasked to carry out deep penetrations at night to bomb
heavily defended enemy air bases. All missions were
efficiently executed, demonstrating the highest standards of
courage and devotion. In the process, 3 aircraft were lost
to enemy ground fire during the two Wars. The squadron will
always remain proud of its 6 Shaheeds.
In the short duration of the War of 1965 this squadron
earned 12 gallantry awards: 7 Sitara-i-Juraats and 5 Imtiazi
Sanads. During the war of 1971 8 Sitara-i-Basalats and 2
Tamgha-i- Basalats were awarded to the squadron in
recognition of the courage displayed by its pilots and
navigators.
In recognition of the squadron's acts of gallantry during
the two wars, the Chief of the Air Staff presented the unit
with one of its most coveted and proud possessions - the
Squadron Colour. The Colour presentation parade, in April
1976, was commanded by the squadron commander Wing Commander
Yousaf H Alvi, and the colour bearer was Flight Lieutenant
Najam S Butt. The squadron now proudly parades this colour
on all ceremonial occasions.