The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) today pays glowing tribute to Air Commodore Wajid Salim, SJ, on his birth anniversary. A master navigator and a paragon of calculated audacity, Air Commodore Salim is immortalized in aviation history for executing one of the most daring and unconventional missions of the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
*Today in History*
On this day, 16 February, we honour the birth anniversary of Air Commodore Wajid Salim, SJ — a resolute air warrior and master navigator whose courage, foresight and professional brilliance strengthened Pakistan Air Force in one of its most critical hours.… pic.twitter.com/5QwiOiihh4
— DGPR (AIR FORCE) (@DGPR_PAF) February 16, 2026
The “Unarmed Bomber”: The Jaisalmer Strike
On the night of December 5/6, 1971, then-Flight Lieutenant Wajid Salim, serving with the elite No. 6 Air Transport Squadron, was assigned a mission that defied traditional military doctrine. His task: to utilize the C-130 Hercules—a massive, unarmed transport aircraft—as a heavy bomber against the heavily fortified Indian Air Force Base at Jaisalmer.
The stakes were unprecedented. Jaisalmer was a vital fighter base protected by a dense network of radar and anti-aircraft artillery (AAA). To succeed, the “lone Hercules” had to penetrate enemy airspace without the speed or agility of a strike fighter.
Heroism Under Fire
Air Commodore Salim’s role as the mission’s navigator was pivotal to its success:
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Stealth at 100 Feet: To evade Indian radar detection, Salim navigated the lumbering giant at a perilous altitude of just 100 feet above ground level in total darkness.
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Precision Under AAA: As they approached the target, the sky erupted with heavy ground fire. Undeterred, Salim remained focused, visually identifying the technical complex amidst the chaos.
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Devastating Accuracy: He expertly directed the final bombing run, calling for the weapons release with clinical precision. The resulting impact ignited massive fires across the base that burned for several days, crippling enemy air operations in the sector.
For this display of conspicuous gallantry and professional brilliance, he was decorated with the Sitara-e-Jurat (SJ), Pakistan’s third-highest military honor for bravery.
“Air Commodore Wajid Salim’s legacy is a testament to the fact that in the face of overwhelming odds, it is the spirit and professional ingenuity of the man behind the machine that secures victory,” stated a PAF spokesperson.
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