Raised on March 16th, 1961 and is presently equipped with F-6
aircraft.
Raised on 16th March 1961, No 23 Squadron was initially located
at Kohat and equipped with Fury aircraft. Its early primary role
was close support for the army with the additional responsibility
of carrying out anti-locust operations when required.
In May 1961, the squadron participated in operations
in the Dir / Bajaur area. From 21st to 24th and on 31st May 1961,
it was called upon to provide close support and to destroy specified
targets in the Bajaur valley. A total of 23 sorties were flown
for this purpose and 60 lb. rockets and 20 mm ammunition were
used.
The Squadron participated in exercise 'Hastings' with
5 sorties on 16 and 17th November 1961. A total of 28 missions
of anti-locust measures were flown from 21st to 30th November
1961; 4 aircraft and pilots operated from PAF Drigh Road for this
purpose. On 23rd March 1963, 2 Furies carried out a fly past over
Miranshah fort in connection with the Republic Day parade by Tochi
Scouts. Consequent upon the phasing out of Fury aircraft, the
squadron was number-plated on 4th March 1964.
The unit was reactivated at Sargodha on 8th February
1966 with the newly inducted Chinese-built F-6 aircraft. It was
also assigned the task of converting pilots of other squadrons
on the F-6s. Between June and September, No 23 Squadron converted
25 other pilots in addition to its own complement.
A detachment comprising Squadron Leader Asghar A Randhawa,
and Flight Lieutenants A. H. Malik and Khalid Iqbal took part
in a fire power demonstration at Peshawar on 26th February 1967.
The whole squadron moved to Shorkot on 16th September to activate
PAF Rafiqui,where it stayed for two weeks.
On 13th October 1971, the squadron moved to Risalewala
and remained there for war operations till 27th December. During
the war a total of 307 sorties were flown in which the squadron
destroyed two Su-7s and damaged 1. On 8th December 1971, Flight
Lieutenant Afzal Siddiqui was shot down by own ground fire; he
was awarded Sitara-i-Basalat. posthumously.
In June 1975, the squadron was redesignated as No.
23 Air Superiority Squadron. The unit moved to Nawabshah on 1st
January for the activation of that forward base. The deployment
lasted one week during which air combat training with similar
and dissimilar types of aircraft was conducted. In February, the
squadron proceeded to Masroor for an air to air firing camp. It
was the first unit to evaluate and successfully use the new SM-7
series gunsight in air firing. While at Masroor the squadron also
participated in low level air defence exercise 'Gold Coin II'
on 27th and 28th February.
In November 1976, a team of 5 pilots comprising Wing
Commander Nasir A Butt, Squadron Leader C Q Akhtar, Flight Lieutenants
Tahir Ahmed and Azmat Kazi and Flying Officer Shahid, together
with 40 airmen, participated in the inter-squadron armament competition.
The Squadron team scored the highest marks to win the Perry Keene
trophy. Flight Lieutenant Azmat Kazi achieved the highest individual
score.
On 25th March 1978 the squadron was awarded a colour
carrying its battle honours by the Chief of the Air Staff.
