Mohammed Rayyan

Iraqi fighter pilot and flying ace

Colonel

Mohammed Rayyan

Nickname(s)| Sky Falcon
Born| 1955
Baiji, Kingdom of Iraq
Died| 1986
Iran/Iraq Border region
Allegiance|  Iraq
Branch|  Iraqi Air Force
Years of service| 1977–1986
Rank|  Colonel
Unit| 47th Squadron
Battles / wars| 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.[1][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 Iranian Air Force (IRIAF) Grumman F-14 Tomcats.[1]

A photo of Mohammed Rayyan, possibly also featuring Zuhair Dawoud.

## See also

[edit]

* Jalil Zandi
* Hossein Khalatbari

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Arab MiG-19 and MiG-21 Units in Combat, by David Nicolle and Tom Cooper, (2004) Osprey Publishing, p.82
2. ^ a b 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

This biographical article related to the Iraqi military is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template