Mohommed Rayyan

Mohommed Rayyan
Nickname	Sky Falcon
Born	????
Died	1986
Allegiance	Iraq
Service/branch	Iraqi Air Force
Rank	Colonel
Battles/wars	Iran-Iraq War

Colonel Mohommed Rayyan, nicknamed "Sky Falcon," was a fighter pilot with the Iraqi Air Force during the Iran-Iraq War. He claimed 10 air combat kills, making him an ace and the most successful Iraqi fighter pilot of that war.^[1]

Rayyan, while only a 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 scored 8 more victories (2 verified by western sources.)^[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]

In 1986, having attained the rank of Colonel, Rayyan was shot down and killed by IRIAF Grumman F-14 Tomcats.^[1]

His 8 air combat victories make Rayyan the most successful MiG-25 fighter pilot ever.

References

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. ^ 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

Persondata
Name	Rayyan, Mohommed
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death	1986
Place of death