It played a pivotal role in the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war under the command of Squadron Leader Sajad Haider, demonstrating its prowess in Close Air Support missions.

A re-equipment ceremony was held for the occasion which was attended by the Army and Air force chiefs (Raheel Sharif and Tahir Rafique Butt) along with veterans from the squadron and high-ranking officials from the Pakistani and Jordanian diplomatic community.

On the morning of 6 September, a patrol team of F-86s which was being led by Sajad happened to spot spearheading elements of the Indian army's Lahore invasion at Wagah rolling down the Grand Trunk road.

These strikes significantly slowed down the main Indian advance towards Lahore and gave the Army crucial time to send in re-enforcements to the area.

Armed with Armor Piercing Incendiary (API) rounds and drop tanks, the Sherdils destroyed 7 Mig-21s, 5 Dassault Mystère IV and a single C-119 transport aircraft along with significant structural damage to the IAF base.