Polly Shah

Royal Indian Air Force (1945-1947)

Syed Mansoor Ahmad Shah was commissioned into the Royal Indian Air Force on 9 April 1945 as part of the 31 Pilot Course and subsequently proceeded to No. 1 (Indian) Service Flying Training School RAF until 30 July 1945 for advanced training. The pilots also attended the 44 Fighter Course at No. 151 Operational Training Unit from 15 August to 30 November 1945.^[6] He also won the Best Flying Progress Trophy.^[3]

Flying Officer Shah was attached to No. 12 Sqn RIAF as a squadron pilot from 15 February 1946 to 29 August 1947.^[4]

Pakistan Air Force (1947-1972)

Following the Partition of British India in August 1947, Flying Officer Shah opted for the Royal Pakistan Air Force.^[2] He flew the first sortie in the India–Pakistan war of 1947–1948^[7] and was described as the "opening batsman" of the war by fellow pilot Sajad Haider.^{[8][9] [10]}

He attended the Air Command and Staff College and received the Air University Badge in December 1956.^[3]

In April 1958, Wg Cdr Shah was appointed Officer Commanding No. 12 Sqn. He was then appointed Director of Training in January 1960. He later served as Commander PAF Station Chaklala in January 1963. He was appointed Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Training) in November 1965, commanded PAF Station Peshawar in July 1967 and PAF Station Masroor in May 1968. He assumed the role of Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations) in April 1970, a position he held until January 1971, when he was succeeded by Air Vice Marshal Zafar Chaudhry. He was reappointed to the same role in August 1971.^[11]

He was also chosen to command PAF Base Dacca in November 1971 but suspended flights between East and West Pakistan prevented his appointment and he continued to serve in his previous role.^[3] He was among three officers who were in the race to become the next Chief of Air Staff in 1972.^[3] However, when President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto reorganised the Pakistan Armed Forces, Shah was among 43 officers who were retired.^[12]