Draft:Syedabidraza

Air Commodore Syed Abid Raza (November 11, 1927 - April 4, 2000, deceased) was an officer and engineer in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) from 1927-2000. He was Head of Project Blue Flash (1966-1970) [3], officer commanding 102MU, Pakistan Air Force Base Faisal, Drigh Road, Karachi (1972-1976) and Managing Director of  F-6 Rebuild Factory, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra (1979-1980).

Background
Air Commander Raza was born on November 11, 1927, in Khujwa, Siwan District, Bihar, India. Syed Shahid Raza was his father. He was the older brother of Professor Syed Hasan Askari, a renowned historian and scholar. He is related to the family tree of Prophet Muhammad (Sallalho Alaehi- wasallum). His family is also linked to Syed Jalaluddin Surkhposh, a Sufi Saint of the 13th century AD and follower of Baha-ud-din Zakariya.

Air Commander Raza enlisted in the Royal Pakistan Air Force (RPAF) as an engineer and received his commission in 1948, then accepted right away to the British Air University's AST Hamble Southampton, UK, for a two-year program in "Aeronautical Engineering for Technical Officers." In 1951, he graduated with honors and entitled Pilot Officer Raza. He then learned how to represent the newly established state's image through diplomatic conventions when he met Habib Ibrahim Reheematollah at the Pakistan High Commission in London during this training program. Raza was then stationed at Royal Pakistan Air Force Academy, (Now Pakistan Air Force Academy Asghar Khan) Risalpur, for “Technical administration and first line servicing” of training aircraft. Raza was then selected as staff officer to the Engineering branch’s head. He was then assigned for the “Officers Aircraft Electrical & Instrument Engineering Diploma Course” at the Royal Air Force Technical College, Henlow, United Kingdom, from where he graduated with honors.

Non-Operational Medals
1. Sitara-e-Basalat (Star of Valor, Courage, Devotion, Good Conduct & Performance, 1978).

2. Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam, A.H.1397 (Commemorative Medal of 100th Birth Anniversary of the Great Leader, 1976).

3. Sitara-e-Harb, A.H.1391 (War Star, 1971).

4. Tamgha-e-Jang, A.H.1391 (War Medal, 1971).

5. Sitara-e-Harb, A.H.1385 (War Star, 1965).

6. Tamgha-e-Jang, A.H.1385 (War Medal, 1965).

7. Tamgha-e-Jamhuria, A.H.1375 (Republic Commemoration Medal, 1956).

Performance Medals

 * Sitara-e-Basalat (Star of Valor, Courage, Devotion, Good Conduct & Performance, 1978).

War Medals

 * Sitara-e-Harb, A.H.1391 (War Star, 1971).
 * Tamgha-e-Jang, A.H.1391 (War Medal, 1971).
 * Sitara-e-Harb, A.H.1385 (War Star, 1965).
 * Tamgha-e-Jang, A.H.1385 (War Medal, 1965).

Commemorative Medals

 * Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam, A.H.1397 (Commemorative Medal of 100th Birth Anniversary of the Great Leader, 1976).
 * Tamgha-e-Jamhuria, A.H.1375 (Republic Commemoration Medal, 1956).