In all our combats so far our pilots were outnumbered two to three times. Yet we have not done badly, shooting up 4 Vampires and forcing down a Gnat intact. Superiority in numbers does not decide the outcome of air battles; better training, morale, and above all fighting spirit in fact, are the deciding factors.

The morning of the 5th was heralded by the welcome news of the fall of Jaurian; an action in which the PAF's close support played a prominent part. The enemy left behind sizeable quantities of a wide variety of equipment, which included a complete field regiment of artillery which was later put to good use by our forces. (add artillary.jpg) A large number of prisoners also fell into Pakistani hands. The advance was subsequently continued and the Jaurian-Akhnur road was cut, until finally the Pak forces were halted against the main defences of Akhnur. The enemy forces in this,sector included 1 infantry division of 4 brigades, with its integral armour consisting of 2 AMX squadrons and 2 medium artillery regiments. Before the spotlight was to drastically shift, the PAF was to add its finishing touches to this bout when Squadron Leader Alam and Flight Lieutenant Jilani on a visual reconnaissance over the battle area strafed enemy artillery guns which had been keeping up a heavy fire covering the Indian retreat. Though his aircraft was hit by shell fire, Alam was not to be deterred by a shattered canopy and only returned to base with his wingman after the last round had been expended. The now routine patrolling was carried out by the Sabres and the F-104s in the new pattern decided on earlier but the enemy was not biting. In all 16 F-104 and F-86 sorties were flown, which, except for one mission involving 4 Sabres from Peshawar, were all done from Sargodha. Only one enemy track appeared all day coming over Lahore and a single F-104 was despatched to intercept it. The interceptor was taken at high speed and low level almost as far as Amritsar but no contact was made. This was reported by Defence Minister Chavan in the Lok Sabha as, "Pakistani aircraft intruded across the international border at Wagah near Amristar and fired rockets at an IAF unit".