PAF Base Mushaf

PAF Base Mushaf (formerly PAF Base Sargodha), IATA: MSF, ICAO: OPSR), is a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) airbase situated at Sargodha in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is designated as a "Major Operational Base" or "MOB" by the PAF.^[1]

PAF Base Mushaf
Logo of PAF Base Mushaf
IATA: MSF ICAO: OPSR
Summary
Airport type	Military
Owner	Ministry of Defence (Pakistan)
Operator	Pakistan Air Force
Location	Sargodha-40180, Punjab, Pakistan
Commander	Air Commodore Noori
Occupants	Pakistan Air Force No. 9 Squadron "Griffins" No. 23 Squadron CCS F-7PG "Talons" No. 24 Squadron "Blinders" No. 29 Squadron CCS F-16 "Aggressors" CCS Mirage "Sky Bolts" CCS JF-17 "Fierce Dragons" No. 82 Squadron "Stallions"
Elevation AMSL	614 ft / 187 m
Coordinates	32°02′55″N 72°39′55″E / 32.04861°N 72.66528°E / 32.04861; 72.66528
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 06/24 7,956 2,424 Asphalt 14/32 10,253 3,124 Asphalt

It was known as PAF Base Sargodha until 2003, when it was renamed in honour of the former Base Commander and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir, whose aircraft crashed on a routine flight near Kohat in February 2003.^[2][3]

The PAF's Central Air Command (CAC), the Combat Commanders' School (CCS), and the PAF Airpower Centre of Excellence (PAF ACE) are based at PAF Base Mushaf, PAF Base Mushaf is the most elite and widely operational base in Pakistan, consisting of the highest equipped aircraft and squadrons and the best trained pilots and commanders.

Incidents

On 1 November 2007, a suicide bomber struck the 50-seat bus carrying PAF officers to nearby Kirana Ammunition Depot, killing 11 people (including 7 officers) and injuring 28. The bombing took place on Faisalabad Road, where a motorcycle loaded with explosives rammed the bus and triggered the blast. All the officers were new recruits posted to PAFB Mushaf for training.^[4]

This was the last major attack before the 2007 state of emergency was imposed on the country.

See also

• List of Pakistan Air Force Bases

References

1. PAF Base Mushaf on Scramble (Dutch Aviation Society) website Retrieved 30 September 2021
2. Funeral held for Pakistan air chief (Mushaf Ali Mir) BBC News website, Published 21 February 2003, Retrieved 30 September 2021
3. Sargodha Air Base named after Mushaf Dawn (newspaper), Published 30 April 2003, Retrieved 30 September 2021
4. "Seven PAF officers among 11 dead in suicide attack". Dawn (newspaper). 2 November 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2021.