Mohammed Rayyan

Colonel
Mohammed Rayyan
Born1955 (1955)
Baiji (city), Kingdom of Iraq
Died1986 (aged 30–31)
Iran/Iraq Border region
Military career
AllegianceIraq Iraq
Branch
 Iraqi Air Force
Service years
1977–1986
Rank
 Colonel
NicknameSky Falcon
Unit47th Squadron
Conflicts
Iran–Iraq War †

Colonel Mohammed Rayyan (1955–1986) was an Iraqi fighter pilot and flying ace during the Iran–Iraq War. He scored 5 air combat kills and was the most successful MiG-25 pilot.

Rayyan, while only a Flight Lieutenant and flying a MiG-21MF, claimed two (later confirmed) kills against Iranian F-5 Freedom Fighters in 1980. 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. 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.

In 1986, having attained the rank of Colonel, Rayyan was shot down and killed by Iranian Air Force (IRIAF) Grumman F-14 Tomcats.

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