No. 16 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)
| No. 16 Squadron Black Panthers |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1957 – Present |
| Country |
 Pakistan
|
| Allegiance |
Pakistan
|
| Branch |
 Pakistan Air Force
|
| Type | Fighter squadron |
| Role | Multi-role |
| Airbase | PAF Base Peshawar |
| Aircraft | JF-17 Thunder Block 1 |
| Engagements | 1971 Indo-Pakistani War |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Attack | Nanchang A-5C (1983—2011) |
| Fighter |
F-86F Sabre (1957—1972) Shenyang F-6 (1982—1983) JF-17 Thunder Block 1 (2011–Present) |
No. 16 Squadron, nicknamed the Black Panthers, is a fighter squadron of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
The squadron was established in 1957 under the command of Squadron Leader Imam-ul-Haq Khan, equipped with F-86F Sabre fighter aircraft and assigned the role of Tactical Attack. It was temporarily disbanded in 1963 and reestablished on 13 April 1970 at PAF Base Masroor, flying the F-86F Sabre and commanded by Wing Commander Sharbat Ali Changazi. In February 1971, as the Fighter Leaders School, the unit was assigned to train senior pilots in advanced tactics. Although the squadron was not employed in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, its pilots were transferred to PAF Base Peshawar, where they flew with the No. 26 Squadron. Changazi lead several strike missions into Indian territory and shot down an Indian Air Force Hawker Hunter. Squadron Leader Cecil Chaudhry, attached to No. 18 Squadron, was shot down by ground fire but ejected safely and later shot down an Indian Sukhoi Su-7.
The squadron was disbanded in October 1972 and reestablished in 1982 at PAF Base Rafiqui, equipped with the Shenyang F-6. It was decided that the Panthers would be the first squadron to be reequipped with the Nanchang A-5C attack fighter, and personnel were sent to China to be trained on it. The first batch of A-5s was delivered to PAF Base Rafiqui on 12 February 1983, a reequipment ceremony was held on 21 March 1983, the squadron was assigned the role of tactical attack, and Wing Commander Hamid Saeed Khan was put in command. A Pakistan Day flypast on 23 March 1983 earned the squadron a "Best Fly-Past" award. The Panthers also converted pilots of the No. 7 ("Bandits") and No. 26 ("Black Spiders") squadrons to fly the Nanchang A-5C. In November 1985, the unit began practicing with live 750 lb bombs and extensive Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) with the PAF's F-16 squadrons.
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