Colonel

Mohammed Rayyan
Nickname(s)Sky Falcon
Born1955
Baiji, Kingdom of Iraq
Died1986
Iran/Iraq Border region
AllegianceIraq Iraq
Service/branch Iraqi Air Force
Years of service1977–1986
Rank Colonel
Unit47th Squadron
Battles/warsIran–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. 1 2 3 4 Arab MiG-19 and MiG-21 Units in Combat, by David Nicolle and Tom Cooper, (2004) Osprey Publishing, p.82
  2. 1 2 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
  3. ↑ Iraqi Air-to-Air Victories since 1967
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