Eric Gordon Hall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ايريک گورڈن حال | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Portrait, c. 1960s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| President Hall Enterprises Inc | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office August 1982 – 1995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Director General Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1976 – 6 March 1978 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9th Commandant of PAF Staff College | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office October 1974 – 30 June 1975 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Defence and Air attaché to Washington | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office June 1972 – October 1974 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Saeedullah Khan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Sajad Haider | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief of Staff, Pakistan Air Force | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 1 April 1970 – 3 June 1972 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 12 October 1922 Rangoon, British rule in Burma | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | June 17, 1998 (aged 75) Rockville, Maryland, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Resting place | 39°04′26″N 76°52′34″W / 39.074°N 76.876°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Marjorie May Hall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Initial Training Wing (Lahore) No. 2 EFTS, (Jodhpur) No. 1 (I) SFTS No. 151 OTU Low Attack Course RIAF Ranchi[2] RAF Central Flying School RAF Staff College, Andover[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Awards | Sitara-e-Jurat (1965) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | The Heavy Hitter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch/service | Royal Indian Air Force (1943–1947) Pakistan Air Force (1947–1975) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 1943–75 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Air Vice Marshal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unit | No. 6 Squadron PAF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commands | PAF Staff College Air Attaché to Washington PAF Station Masroor PAF Station Chaklala PAF Station Drigh Road No. 6 Squadron PAF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Battles/wars | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Air Vice Marshal Eric Gordon Hall SJ SPk (Urdu: ایرک گورڈن ہال; 12 October 1922 — 17 June 1998) known as The Heavy Hitter for his role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a two-star rank officer of the Pakistan Air Force and fighter-bomber pilot hailing from the Christian minority in Pakistan. Eric played a pivotal role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. He retired as the Commandant of PAF Staff College on 30 June 1975. Following retirement, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto appointed him as the Director General Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan, a role he held until 6 March 1978. Afterwards, he ventured into import-export businesses in Karachi for a year and relocated to the United States where he opened Hall Enterprises in August 1982, with his wife, Marjorie. The business imported and exported Pakistani furniture, giftware, and military spare parts. He was seen as a prominent figure on the scene which traded heavily on his name and contacts.[4][5][6]
Notably, during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Hall pioneered the innovative concept of converting C-130 Hercules transport aircraft into heavy bombers, enhancing their capacity to carry 13,000 kg (28,000 lb) of explosives with specific modifications. C-in-C of the PAF Nur Khan liked the idea and flew one of the C-130 Hercules during the war. On 11 September, Hall volunteered to lead the initial bombing mission over a strategically vital bridge in Kathua which was used to deliver supplies to the Indian Army. Despite the transport-turned-bomber being unarmoured and vulnerable to Indian anti-aircraft guns, the mission succeeded. This success resulted in the Pakistani military leadership to authorize 13 additional strategic bombing runs using the converted C-130s, including precision strikes on Indian weaponry at Attari along the BRB Canal. The effectiveness of these missions solidified Hall's innovative concept, earning him the Sitara-e-Jurat in 1965.[3][7]
Throughout his career, he served in several high ranking positions of the PAF, including as Commandant PAF Staff College, Air attaché to Washington, Chief of Staff of the PAF, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Administration), Commander PAF Station Masroor, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Training), Commander PAF Station Chaklala, Commander PAF Station Drigh Road, and Commander No. 6 Squadron PAF.[8]
- ^ "BRITISH AVIATOR ERIC GORDON HALL DIES AT 75". The Washington Post. 1 July 1998. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
- ^ RAF Base Ranchi - September 1944
- ^ a b Azam Qadri; Muhammad Ali (2014). Sentinels in the Sky: A Saga of PAF's Gallant Air Warriors. PAF Book Club, Islamabad. pp. 109–112.
- ^ "Minorities in armed forces". The Express Tribune. 26 February 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
- ^ "Tribute to Pakistan Air Force heroes". The Nation. 6 September 2018. Archived from the original on 9 September 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- ^ Appeals, United States Court of; Circuit, District of Columbia (31 December 1969). "864 F2d 868 Hall v. D McLaughlin". p. 868.
- ^ Chopra, Samir (2005). The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965. Manohar. ISBN 978-81-7304-641-4.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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