Najeeb Ahmad Khan Air Commodore (Rtd.) | |
|---|---|
 Then Squadron Leader Najeeb A. Khan with his B-57 Canberra after a bombing mission over Ambala. | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 August 1933 Kaimganj, British India |
| Nationality | Pakistani Canadian |
| Spouse | Surraya (m. 1964) |
| Relations | Jamal A. Khan (Brother) |
| Children | Babar Najeeb |
| Parent |
|
| Residence | Canada |
| Nickname | 8-Pass Charlie |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Pakistan |
| Branch/service |  Pakistan Air Force |
| Years of service | 1954–1981 |
| Rank |  Air Commodore |
| Unit | |
| Commands | Base Commander of Malir Airbase Air Attachè of Pakistan to France |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |  Sitara-e-Jurat Tamgha-i-Basalat |
Najeeb Ahmad Khan, commonly known as 8-Pass Charlie, was a Pakistani bomber pilot who raided the Adampur Airbase in India a number of times during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, notably starting a series of airstrikes on the base by a solo raid.[1][2][3]
He was named "8-Pass Charlie" by his impressed Indian adversaries at the Adampur base as he used to make eight passes, one for each bomb, on selected targets with improving efficiency instead of safely dropping all of his bomb load and exiting. He is also known to have had expertise in disguising his attack run by confusing anti-aircraft gunners by cutting throttles before entering a dive.[1][2]
- ^ a b Air Commodore (R) Najeeb Ahmed Khan (26 February 2021). "Will The Real "8-Pass Charlie" Stand Up". Second To None PAF. Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force.
- ^ a b P V S Jagan Mohan; Samir Chopra (May 2005). The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965 (1st ed.). Manohar. pp. 241–243. ISBN 978-8173046414. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ Colonel (R) Azam Qadri; Group Captain Muhammad Ali. Sentinels in the Sky (PDF). PAF Book Club. pp. 151–154 – via Pakistan Air Force official website.