| Colonel Mohammed Rayyan | |
|---|---|
| File:Mohommed Rayyan.jpg | |
| Nickname | Sky Falcon |
| Born | 1955 |
| Died | 1986 |
| Place of birth | Baiji, Kingdom of Iraq |
| Place of death | Iran/Iraq Border region |
| Allegiance |
 Iraq |
| Service/branch |
 Iraqi Air Force |
| Years of service | 1977–1986 |
| Rank |
 Colonel |
| Unit | 47th Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Iran–Iraq War† |
Colonel Mohammed Rayyan (died 1986), nicknamed "Sky Falcon," was a fighter pilot with the Iraqi Air Force during the Iran–Iraq War. He scored 5 air combat kills.[1] He was the most successful MiG-25 pilot. [2]
Rayyan, while only a Flight Lieutenant and flying a MiG-21MF, claimed two (later confirmed) kills against Iranian F-5 Freedom Fighters in 1980.[1] Later a Captain, he qualified on the MiG-25P in 1981 and claimed 5 more victories (3 verified by western sources.) Most of his victories were F-4 Phantoms.[1] Having flown the MiG-25 was evidence of his considerable skill, as Soviet "advisers" were stationed in Iraq specifically to limit access to this advanced jet, and only the best pilots flew them.[2][3]
In 1986, having attained the rank of colonel, Rayyan was shot down and killed by IRIAF Grumman F-14 Tomcats.[1]
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Arab MiG-19 and MiG-21 Units in Combat, by David Nicolle and Tom Cooper, (2004) Osprey Publishing, p.82
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Exhumating the Dead Iraqi Air Force: Short History of MiG-25 in service with the Iraqi Air Force, since 1980, by Tom Cooper, Air Combat Information Group, Sept. 25, 2003
- ↑ Iraqi Air-to-Air Victories since 1967
The original article can be found at Mohammed Rayyan and the edit history here.