Air Commodore Jafar Zaheer was commissioned in the Air Force in March 1944, in the Flying Branch. He has served with a number of fighter and fighter bomber squadrons of the Air Force and has commanded one of them. In addition, he has been a staff officer at Command and Air Headquarters, the Commander of a Tactical Air Centre and the Air Officer Commanding of an Air Defence Area. At present he is the Air Officer Commanding a major bomber base, and concurrently is the air defence commander of the area within which his base is situated. During the recent conflict with Pakistan, the bombers at his Base carried out a large number of strikes on important targets in enemy territory. Their attacks were kept up throughout the hostilities despite repeated raids by the enemy designed to put the base out of action. The servicing and repair of aircraft and their preparation for operational missions was maintained at a high tempo due largely to the personal example of Air Commodore Jafar Zaheer. He has rendered distinguished service of an exceptional order.

Air Vice Marshal Jafar Zaheer was commissioned in the Flying (Pilot) Branch of the Air Force in September, 1943. During his service career he held with distinction a variety of important operational and staff appointments. He has the rare qualification of being a graduate of the Institute of Armament Technology. This technological background in combination with his primary qualification as a pilot has equipped him with the background to function in many appointments in a uniquely effective and efficient manner. As Deputy Director of Weapons at Air Headquarters in 1962-63 his broad-based knowledge and experience enabled him to compile and introduce a Weapons Planning Directive which continues to be the standard document for such planning in the Air Force. He also rationalised the operational parameters on the basis of which the War Reserve of Weapons are calculated.

From 1964 to 1968, he commanded the Air Force Project Team for the development of an indigenous aircraft. During this tenure, essential improvements/modifications were progressed which led to the introduction of this aircraft in service. During 1968-69, he rendered distinguished services as Air Defence Commander in the Eastern sector and during 1969-72 as Air Officer Commanding of a big station. As Director, Air Staff Requirements at the Headquarters from January, 1973 to June, 1974 he had to undertake the task of selecting major weapons systems for the modernisation of the Air Force. His technological background and operational experience were of immense value in these tasks and also in the concept formulation of Air Staff Requirements for Research and Development in the country. As Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Plans) since July, 1974, he has controlled and coordinated the activities of various Directorates dealing in Projects, Plans and Programmes, etc. During a period when the Air Force has recognised the need for large scale replacement of obsolescent equipment, initiation of development projects and review of establishments, he has achieved exemplary results in the formulation of Requirement and Financial Plans on a long term perspective. His professional competence, high intellectual calibre and capacity for work have inspired his Directors and staff to high standards of performance and achievement, and he has thus gained the total confidence of his colleagues and superiors.

Throughout, Air Vice Marshal Jafar Zaheer rendered distinguished service of the most exceptional order.

Indeed Mac's words are Prophetic " They don't make them like that any more"

To pay tribute by remembering this Great soul, late Air Marshal Jaffer Zaheer is indeed a great honor. Surely my pen is too feeble to attempt it.  Yet there are some instances in life that you just cannot forget and one such event I remember so vividly. While he was ACAS( Plans) in Air HQ, if my memory does not betray me it was in 1974. I was posted as Assistant Director Maritime Operations. We interacted very intimately with him for a week on an issue of " Procurement and Induction of Aircraft". The paper was finalized and the values were checked and rechecked and finally it went to the Ministry.

A week later we were huddled up in Air Marshal's office to counter a question from the Ministry. Against a value of X number  of aircraft, Type wise, presented to the ministry there was a query " Why not X+1 or X-1. All of us worked for a day and arrived at a figure and the Air Marshal was just not convinced.

The next day he remembered Sqn Ldr Murugan, now retired as an Air Cmde. He was on leave and asked him to come to the office. My God it was an anti climax.  Murugan arrived and one look at the figures and the question from the Ministry  " Sir he said, this is a red herring and what Ministry wants is just a figure working out the Standard Deviation ( SD). Murugan compiled it all in a hurry. To pay a compliment to Murugan the Air Marshal was quick to acknowledge a good work  "Remember he said, this world belongs to Experts and thus respect them"

It was for the first time I had worked with Zaheer Sahib and like my Instructor Marshall has said that it is deeply ingrained in my memory;  his easy and comforting disposition put us all to work with him on one to one basis; surely unheard of in most cases. Later while I was the Chairman  Airports Authority of India I used to talk to him on issues pertaining to Civil Aviation and amazingly he knew the subject so well and yet his modesty never misplaced.

May the Almighty Bless his soul, Amen.

Regards, HMS.