Photo thread: Iranian Pilots (1 Viewer)

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My "career" was typical of late 1960s USAF pilots - there was a war on and they needed bodies! Pilot training in 68-69, F-100 training and combat tour 69-70, T-38IP and FCF pilot 70-75 at Columbus, non-flying job 75&76. AT-38 IP 76-78. Ejected from USAF 1978.
Flew Falcon Fanjet F/O, all 3 seats of 727, and all 3 seats of DC-10 for 25+ years at FedEx with final 14 years as DC-10 Cap. Retired 2004. I don't remember what got me interested in what happened to my UPT students last years, but I stumbled onto this site via Googling their names.
Very Cool! It goes to show you what a small world we live in. And - I thank you for your service!
I've been interested in the feats of guys like Chamberlain and Gilliss, but those are expensive hobbies with not too sterling a survival rate when the old technology fails. I once met a guy who flew Starfighters on active duty and was still flying them with a civilian group. He died in a Hunter Hawker crash with engine failure on takeoff. My last "hoorah" was a ride in an F-100F in 2003.
Sorry to hear about this Hunter crash - I think I know about that one.

Operation of jet warbirds in the civilian world is a risky business (as my family and I found out the hard way). I'm an A&P by trade and got to work around some really neat stuff. As I was really getting into the jet warbird business as a part time gig, I started dating Chamberlain's daughter and through him I met Gilliss. For several years we had a blast and although we made every attempt to be safety conscious on the ground and in the air, it was a matter of time until fate caught up with us. There are so many variables and distractions when operating jet warbirds in the civilian community, you almost have to maintain a "military mindset" in both operation and finances, unfortunately many operators will cut corners (especially when it comes to money) and eventually the inevitable may happen.

I worked the air races at Reno in the Jet Class and had good times there but also lost some good friends. The final blow was the crash of Mike Mangold (Red Bull Fame). After that I gave up working Reno and eventually gave up turning wrenches on jet warbirds. Totally retired last year.

Where did you get your F-100F ride at? I used to work for Flight Systems, Mojave CA, we had several F-100s we were operating in Germany as target tows. Replaced them with A-4s around 2002, about the time I left the company.
 
Very Cool! It goes to show you what a small world we live in. And - I thank you for your service!

Sorry to hear about this Hunter crash - I think I know about that one.

Operation of jet warbirds in the civilian world is a risky business (as my family and I found out the hard way). I'm an A&P by trade and got to work around some really neat stuff. As I was really getting into the jet warbird business as a part time gig, I started dating Chamberlain's daughter and through him I met Gilliss. For several years we had a blast and although we made every attempt to be safety conscious on the ground and in the air, it was a matter of time until fate caught up with us. There are so many variables and distractions when operating jet warbirds in the civilian community, you almost have to maintain a "military mindset" in both operation and finances, unfortunately many operators will cut corners (especially when it comes to money) and eventually the inevitable may happen.

I worked the air races at Reno in the Jet Class and had good times there but also lost some good friends. The final blow was the crash of Mike Mangold (Red Bull Fame). After that I gave up working Reno and eventually gave up turning wrenches on jet warbirds. Totally retired last year.

Where did you get your F-100F ride at? I used to work for Flight Systems, Mojave CA, we had several F-100s we were operating in Germany as target tows. Replaced them with A-4s around 2002, about the time I left the company.
Dean "Cutter" Cutshall has a pristine F model in Ft Wayne, IN. In the last few years he has flown old members of the Super Sabre Society on flights. I just stumbled into it years earlier. He finally (says he) retired the Hun after the last round of flights. People ask if I miss flying. I miss the tactical flying I did in the USAF, but it had an exacting price I was no longer willing to pay, a price that had nothing to do with the flying. I do not miss the FedEx flying. It was a great job, but the emphasis was on "job."
 
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From Right:

Nazari-rad, Mohammad Mohammadi-farid, Abdolreza ben Djavad Talebi, Abbas Hazin (RIP), Mohammad Daneshpour (RIP), Bahram Qaneiee (RIP), Aslani, Ahmad Pakravan (RIP)
 
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62nd TFS, February 1977

Standing from Left:

Sadegh Hosseini, Abbas Hejazi, Mahmoud Kazemi (RIP), Hassan Jalali (Commanding Officer), Seyyed Shabhab-ol-ddin Tabatabaiee Soltani (KIA), Esmail Mousavi, Homayoun Vafaiee, Jafar Bahadoran

Sitting From Left:

Ardesstani (KIA), Alireza Geranpayeh, Kamal Khatam, Majid Taghavi, Ebrahim Qorbani
 
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41st TFS, 1974

Standing from Right:

Bahram Qaneiee (RIP), Jafar Bahadoran, Poulad Davoodi (KIA), Djavad Vartavan (POW, RIP), Sadegh Hosseini, Hassan Harandi, Hossein Hashempour, Mohammad Reza Sadr Saieedi,
Hossein Amirian, Vadood Dehghan (RIP), Asadollah Adeli, Ali Eghbali Dogaheh (Ejected and became POW, Killed in Captivity), Manouchehr Shariati, Ahmad Moradi Talemi (Traitor, Assassinated), Esmail Mousavi, Abbas Hejazi, Morteza Farzaneh (Operations Officer), Fathali Gholamrezaiee (KIA),

Middle Row, From Right:

Hormoz Marefat (Commanding Officer), Esmail Nssehipour (RIP), Alireza Geranpayeh

Sitting From Right:

Kamal Khatam, Mohmoud Ashja'zadeh, Ebrahim Qorbani (RIP), Javad Kahnavi, Hassan Razavi, Zain-ol-Abedin Djamshidi, Manouchehr Jalali, Abolfazl Mehreganfar, Nasrollah Erfani, Qolamali Khoshniat (KIA), Mohsen Hosseini, Amir Hossein Djamshidi (KIA), Asghar Milani (RIP)
 
Just wonder what happened to men in picture above, a few years later ...

One of them fled away with a Tomcat, his back seat, Hassan Najafi, refused to cooperate with Iraqis and became POW ...

The other one, was killed (brutally murdered, TBH) just after he was captured ...
 
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Source: Wikipedia
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Source: Photo taken by myself

Major General Ahmad Khan Nakhjavan (1898 - 1967)

2nd Commanding Officer, Iranian Air Force, predecessor: Captain Reza Mizani

4th Commanding Officer, Imperial Iranian Air Force, predecessor: Major Ahmad Khosravani

7Commanding General, Imperial Iranian Air Force, predecessor: Brigadier General Mohammad Sadegh Kopal

14th Commanding General, Imperial Iranian Air Force, predecessor: Colonel Mir Mohammad Mahna

For further reading:

 
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In the memories of Fallen Eagles who have lost their lives between 1930 - 1950 ...

You shall not be forgotten!

1Lt. Mahmoud Ghaem-Magham

+ 1933 - 03 - 08

1Lt. Nasrollah Nasser

+ 1938 - 10 - 14

Captain Karim Jenab
Captain Nasser Mashayekh

During a training flight, their planes struck together, killing both instantly.

+ 1940 - 10 - 09

1Lt. Saeed Dolu

+ 1942 - 03 -17

Captain Azizollah Farahi

+ 1944 - 07 - 14

1Lt. Djavad Seifi

+ 1945 - 03 - 07

1Lt. Ahmad Khosrow

Killed in Action over Zanjan, While escorting a bombardier flight to bombard "Azerbaijan People's Government" positions.


+ 1945 - 08 - 08

Captain Gholam-Hossein Pour-jowhari

Killed in Action over Mianeh, While escorting a bombardier flight to bombard "Azerbaijan People's Government" positions.

His gravestone at Emamzadeh Abdollah Cemetery, pictured above.

Photo is taken by myself.

+ 1946 - 03 - 23

1Lt. Ali Asghar Sobh-Khiz

Killed in Action over Tabriz, While escorting a bombardier flight to bombard "Azerbaijan People's Government" positions.

+ 1946 - 11 - 02

1Lt. Zakaria Azarm

+ 1948 - 11 - 27
 
Date: January 12, 1967

Location: 63 nm E of 3rd AFB

Plane: Lakheed T-33 Shooting Star

Crew (Passengers): 2 (0)

Plane lost due bad weather and poor visibility.

Fate: Plane Destroyed, Crew KIA.

Crew:

Pilot: Brigadier General Motahari, Mansour

Co-Pilot: Major Payvar, Fariborz

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Brigadier General Motahari (1914 - 1967)

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Major Payvar (1932 - 1967)

At the time of this incident, BG Motahari Was Commander of 3rd AFB, and Major Payvar was CO of 301st TFS. Also Major Payvar was a member of the Golden Crown team.
 
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3rd AFB, 1972

Standing, Left to Right:

1Lt. Freidoon Arbab (RIP), 1Lt. Masoud Amiri Darban (KIA), Captain Mostafa Afshar (Deputy Commanding Officer 302nd TFS)

Sitting, From Left to Right:

1Lt. Esmaiel Ghayoor (Member of Golden Crown acrojet team, KIA), 1Lt. Houshang Qezelayaq, 2Lt. Ebtehaj

Post edited; reason: received info that this photo is taken on March 28,1972.
 
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The Iranian Air Force at the time of the Revolution was a superbly trained and equipped air force.
Its performance in the Iran-Iraq War was exceptional.
Operation Kaman 99 is still a set piece example of how to do it.
 
Unfortunately, another one of great pilots have passed out two weeks ago, in silence and boycott by news agencies...

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Colonel Mohammad Abolmoluk (12-25-1930 --- 05-09-2022)

Member of Imperial Iranian Air Force peacekeeping mission in Kongo (as 1Lt. and F-84 / F-86 pilot)

He held some commands/responsibilities in 1st AFB, From 1977 till his retirement in 1983, but couldn't find any details about when and what.
 
Iran Air Force Flight 48

Date: May 9, 1976

Place: Madrid, Spain

Plane Type: Boieng 747-131F

Cause of Destruction: Lighting Strike

Fate: Plane Destroyed.

Commander Pilot: Major Kadkhodayan

Co-Pilot: 1Lt. Mir Djahangiri

Navigator: WO2. Aminollah Tolouiee

Crew chief: Unidentified

Loadmaster #1: S/Sgt. Abbas Khaledi

Loadmaster #2: Sgt. Ebrahim Rastakhiz


Unable to find any info about American passengers onboard.
 
Intersting history fact:

The IRIAF had placed orders for 140 F-16's and a follow on option for another 160 at the time of the Iranian Revolution.
With the arms embargo, they weren't delivered but did end up in the region - they were bought by Israel
 

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