Mervyn Middlecoat

Mervyn Middlecoat
Mervyn Middlecoat, 1965
Birth name	Mervyn Leslie Middlecoat
Nickname	Commander Leslie
Born	1940
Died	12 December 1971 Okha, India
Buried at	Remains not found
Allegiance	Pakistan
Service/branch	Pakistan Air Force
Years of service	1964–1971
Rank	Wing Commander (Lieutenant Colonel)
Service number	PAF-3550
Unit	No. 9 Squadron Griffins
Commands held	No. 9 Squadron Griffins
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Operation Amritsar Radar
Awards	Sitara-e-Jurat (1965) Sitara-e-Jurat (1971) Sitara-i-Basalat (1971)

Wing Commander Mervyn Leslie Middlecoat (1940 – 12 December 1971) was a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter pilot who was involved in a number of aerial battles during the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pakistani wars, before being shot down on 12 December 1971.^[1] He was credited with several air-to-air kills and was one of a number of distinguished Pakistani strike and fighter pilots of the period. Before his death he was stationed in Karachi, Pakistan where he flew the F-104 Starfighter.

Early life

Born in 1940 of Anglo-Indian descent, Middlecoat joined the PAF and upon graduation in 1954, he was awarded the trophy for the best performance in Ground Subjects. Soft spoken and mild mannered, Middlecoat was considered to be the epitome of an officer and a gentleman, besides also being an outstanding pilot. Although he flew a number of different aircraft during his service career, he came to master the F-104 Starfighter.^[2]

1965 Indo-Pakistani War

By then a Flight Lieutenant, in 1965 Middlecoat was stationed at Masroor Airbase. That night,^[which?] Karachi was attacked by the Indian Air Force (IAF), and PAF F-86 Sabres responded with an aggressive defence. Middlecoat flew an F-86 in which he shot down two IAF aircraft, killing both pilots. He was credited with defending Karachi from the Indian Air Force. Later he was transferred to PAF Lahore where he joined Mushaf Airbase under the leadership of Air Commodore W. J. M. Turowicz.^{[citation needed]}

During the war Middlecoat commanded No. 9 Squadron Griffins as a Squadron Leader and believed in leading from the front.^{[citation needed]} He kept the morale of the Squadron very high and guided his pilots in a highly professional manner.^[3] During the three week war, Middlecoat flew 17 air defence sorties and three photo reconnaissance missions over forward Indian airbases.^[4] For his leadership and devotion to duty, he was awarded the Sitara-i-Jurat, the third highest award in the Pakistani military, in 1965.^[5]

Operation Amritsar Radar

Promoted to Wing Commander, at the outbreak of war on 3 December 1971 Middlecoat was on a training visit abroad in Egypt.^[5] He returned to Pakistan immediately and joined operations with such keen interest that he inspired all the squadron pilots.^{[citation needed]} He was one of the six strike command officers who were selected to conduct the aerial operation "Amritsar Radar", and was assigned to attack the heavily defended Indian airbase at Jamnagar on 12 December, the day after his return.^[4]

After strafing aircraft parked on the runway, Middlecoat and his wingman were forced to abort their mission after they were bounced by two IAF MIG-21 aircraft from No. 47 Squadron IAF.^[4][6] Middlecoat quickly reduced altitude, and maintained a high speed. He managed to deflect the first missile, however at a range of just 300 metres (330 yd) he was shot down over the Gulf of Kutch. The Indian pilot that shot him down, Flight Lieutenant Bharat Bhushan Soni, saw Middlecoat eject into the Arabian Sea, and contacted a nearby IAF base to send a rescue team, however he was nowhere to be found when they reached the site.^[4] Middlecoat had ejected in shark infested waters and it was considered unlikely that he survived.^{[citation needed]} Declared missing in action, he was posthumously awarded a Bar to the Sitara-i-Jurat. His remains were never found.^[4]

See also

• Cecil Chaudhry

Notes

1. ^ Hali, S.M. (2000). "F-104 Starfighters in Pakistan Air Force". Defence Journal. http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/may/f-104.htm. Retrieved 12 February 2011. 
2. ^ Hali, S.M. (1998). "PAF's Gallant Christian Heroes Carry Quaid's Message". Defence Journal. http://www.defencejournal.com/dec98/christian.htm. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
3. ^ "PAF Museum: 1965 Gallantry Awards: Squadron Leader". Pakistan Air Force Museum. http://www.pafmuseum.com.pk/heroes/1965-gallantry-awards/Squadron-Leader.htm. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Supersonic Air Combat: The 1971 Liberation War". Vayu Aerospace & Defence Review 23 (1). 1997. http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1971War/Soni.html. Retrieved 12 February 2011. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Jagan Mohan and Chopra 2005, p. 336.
6. ^ Rakshak, Bharat. "IAF MiG-21s at War". http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/Aircraft/MiG-21.html. Retrieved 14 February 2011. 

References

• Jagan Mohan, P.V.S; Chopra, Samir (2005). The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965. New Delhi: Manohar Books. ISBN 8173046417. 

Further reading

• Bowman, Martin W.; Vogelsang, Matthias (2001). Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. Marlborough: Crowood Press. ISBN 1861263147. 

Persondata
Name	Middlecoat, Mervyn
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1940
Place of birth
Date of death	12 December 1971
Place of death	Okha, India