Eric G. Hall

Air Vice Marshal Eric Gordon Hall SJ SPk (Urdu: ; 12 October 1922 — 17 June 1998) known as The Heavy Hitter for his role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a two-star rank officer of the Pakistan Air Force and fighter-bomber pilot hailing from the Christian minority in Pakistan. Eric played a pivotal role in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Hall retired as the Commandant of PAF Staff College on 30 June 1975. Following retirement, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto appointed him as the Director General Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, a role he held until 6 March 1978. Afterwards, Hall ventured into import-export businesses in Karachi for a year and relocated to the United States where he opened Hall Enterprises in August 1982, with his wife, Marjorie. The business imported-exported Pakistani furniture, giftware, and military spare parts. Hall was seen as a prominent figure on the scene which traded heavily on his name and contacts.

Notably, during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Hall pioneered the innovative concept of converting C-130 Hercules transport aircraft into heavy bombers, enhancing their capacity to carry 28000 lbs of explosives with specific modifications. On 11 September 1965, Hall volunteered to lead the initial bombing mission over a strategically vital bridge in Kathua which was used to deliver supplies to the Indian Army. Despite the transport-turned-bomber being unarmoured and vulnerable to Indian anti-aircraft guns, the mission succeeded. This success resulted in the Pakistani military leadership to authorize 13 additional strategic bombing runs using the converted C-130s, including precision strikes on Indian weaponry at Attari along the BRB Canal. The effectiveness of these missions solidified Hall's innovative concept, earning him the Sitara-e-Jurat in 1965.

Hall served in several high ranking positions of the Pakistan Air Force including Commandant PAF Staff College, Air attaché to Washington, Chief of Staff of the PAF, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Administration), Commander PAF Base Masroor, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Training), Commander PAF Base Chaklala, PAF Base Drigh Road, and Commander No. 6 Squadron PAF.

Early life
Eric Gordon Hall was born on 12 October 1922 into a Christian Anglo-Burmese family in Rangoon during the British rule in Burma. Eric matriculated from the Diocesan Boys High School in Rangoon. His father, Captain E E Hall was a combat engineer in the British Army and went missing in action during the Japanese invasion of Burma in 1941, shortly after which he was declared dead. Due to the invasion and outbreak of war in Burma, the women of his family, namely his mother, sister and aunt were airlifted to British India, while the men fled on foot.

Exhausted and ill with blistered bug bitten feet, he wore out his shoes after traveling through the jungle on foot for weeks from Myitkyina, North Burma to Dibrugarh, Northeast India where he then remained hospitalized for a short time.

Personal life
He was married to Marjorie May Hall and they had two children, a daughter Gillian Hall born on 1 December 1949 and son Clive Hall born on 5 May 1953. His wife Marjorie, was the Chairwoman of Chaklala division of the Pakistan Air Force Women's Association in 1966.

Marjorie May Hall died in 2003 and is buried with Eric at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery (Silver Spring, Maryland).

Royal Indian Air Force career
After being released from the hospital for his injuries caused by the weeks long trek through the jungle, he enlisted in the Royal Indian Air Force as part of the 20 Pilot course of the Initial Training Wing and was commissioned on 20 December 1943. Subsequently, he was deployed to Burma, where he flew sorties against Japanese forces as a Hawker Hurricane fighter pilot.

Accidents
On 12 April 1947, Flying Officer Eric and Cadet Harrison took off in a Tiger Moth II and crash landed 6 miles South East from Jodhpur after an engine failure.

Pakistan Air Force career
After the partition of British India in August 1947, Hall opted for the Pakistan and moved his family to Lahore. Hall transferred to the Royal Pakistan Air Force, where he continued his career.

Eric was appointed as the Assistant Commandant of PAF Staff College in March 1960 until December 1961.

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Leading up to the outbreak of war in August 1965, Group Captain Hall was in command of PAF Base Chaklala. Knowing that war was imminent after the failure of the Pakistan Army's Operation Gibraltar in Jammu and Kashmir (state), he was aware of the Pakistan Air Forces lack of specialist aircraft. Hall brought up the idea of converting C-130 Hercules transports into heavy bombers. With some modifications, the transport aircraft were now able to carry up to 28000 lbs of explosive ordinance.

After testing the bombers' efficiency, Hall volunteered to lead the first bombing mission over a strategically vital bridge in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir on 11 September 1965. The mission was fraught with danger as the unarmoured transport-turned-bomber was highly vulnerable to Indian anti-aircraft guns. However, the mission's ultimately successful outcome prompted the Pakistani high command to authorize 13 more strategic bombing runs with converted C-130s, including the precision striking of Indian heavy guns at Attari, on the banks of the BRB Canal. Hall was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat by the Government of Pakistan in 1965 for his innovative idea.

Sitara-e-Jurat
The Sitara-e-Jurat citation reads: CITATION GROUP CAPTAIN ERIC GORDON HALL (PAK/2768)

"Gp Capt Eric Gordon Hall in his capacity as Station Commander, Chaklala played a very vital role during the war with India. All operations were conducted very successfully under exemplary guidance and inspiring leadership of Gp Capt Eric Gordon Hall. No task was too hazardous for him. To set an example, he personally flew and led several operational missions that kept the morale of his officers and men at an exceptionally high level. For his courage and example beyond the call of duty, Gp Capt Eric Gordon Hall is awarded SJ."

Post war
After the war, Hall was appointed as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Training) at the AHQ (PAF) in Peshawar for two years.

Hall became Commander PAF Base Masroor in October 1968. In November 1969, Hall was appointed as Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Administration).

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Hall was appointed as Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Air Force on 1 April 1970 until 3 June 1972. During the 1971 war, Hall played a key role in making sure the war plans were executed effectively.

Air attaché to Washington
Hall served as Air attaché to Washington from June 1972 to October 1974.

Hall was a distinguished guest and assisted in the graduation ceremony of the 21st Advanced Class Graduation at the The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School on 1 June 1973.

Commandant PAF Staff College
In October 1974, Hall succeeded Air Commodore Shamshul Huda Shah as Commandant of the PAF Staff College. Hall served until 30 June 1975, when he retired and was succeeded by Air Commodore Ayaz Ahmed Khan.

Director General PCAA
After retiring from the Pakistan Air Force, Hall was appointed as Director General of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority by Prime Minister of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as a re-employed BPS-21 grade officer of the Government of Pakistan.

On 11 May 1976, Hall met with Dr. Emil Hinek in Karachi, who was from the aviation department of the Hungarian Ministry of Transport and Postal Affairs, they signed an agreement to start regular flights between Budapest and Karachi.

Hall relinquished charge on the afternoon of 6 March 1978.

Business career
Afterwards, he ran an export-import company in Karachi for a year.

Hall moved to the United States with his family in 1980 and settled in the Washington, D.C. area later becoming a resident of Gaithersburg, Maryland. From August 1982 to 1995, he was the President of Hall Enterprises, a business he started with his wife, which imported-exported Pakistani furniture, giftware, and military spare parts. In addition to that, he had a shop which specialized in ceramics, jewelry and gifts in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Death
Hall was hospitalized after a stroke and died on 17 June 1998 at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center. He was buried at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery (Silver Spring, Maryland). He was survived by his wife Marjorie, two children, and sister Cindy Hollyer.