Imperial Iranian AirForce

[GHOST RIDER]

Till 1920 there was no use of air power in the armed forces of Iran. By then Reza Pahlavi became commander in chief of the Armed Forces, and realized the importance of air power in future conflicts.
In 1921 the Iranian ambassador in Washington DC requested to purchase aircrafts from the U.S. The U.S. officials denied the Iranian request based on the disarmament treaty of World War I. Therefore Iran had to turn to European countries, such as Germany, Russia and France.

The first country to acknowledge Iran's request was Germany, which agreed to sell some JUNKERS aircraft ( JU-F13).

Since there were no provisions in the budget for purchase of aircraft, H.I.M. Reza Shah Pahlavi (At this time Prime Minister) asked the Iranian people to raise needed funds to purchase these aircraft.
Following this request, the people of Gilan and Mazanderan province raised the funds to purchase 2 Junkers F-13 from Germany.
The contract was signed, the aircrafts were delivered, and were called "Gilan" and "Mazanderan"

Following Germany,Russia agreed to sell aircraft to Iran. Iran purchased DH-4 and DH-9 (built in Russia, called R-1 and R-5) and Avro-504, from Russia (the Russians called it AVROSHKA).These aircraft were delivered in 1923

DH-4

DH-9A

Avro 504K Dux

At the same time France also agreed to sell aircraft to Iran so IIAF purchased Spad-42, Potez-8, Breguet-14, and Breguet-19 from France.

Spad-42

Potez-8

Breguet -14

These Aircraft were delivered between 1923 and 1925

 

[GHOST RIDER]

On Feb. 25, 1925 the first Iranian pilot Colonel Ahmad Khan Nakhjavan, who was trained in France with Colonel Yadolah Azam Zangeneh with only 200 Hours of flight experience, flew a Breguet-19 with the Iranian Flag and Insignia on it from France to Iran's Ghale-Morghi Airport where Reza Khan Mirpanj personally greeted them. Thus on this date the first Iranian Air Force Aircraft piloted by Iranian Pilot crossed international borders and entered the Iranian Airspace.

Up to this date the Iranian pilots were being trained as follow:
a) a group sent to France for pilot training.
b) another group sent to russia for pilot training.
c) in Iran by a German Instructor pilot by the name of Schefer.

Also during this period, the Air Force was changed from a small office in the Army to a separate department and was called Imperial Iranian Air Force.

Colonel Ahmad Khan Nakhjavan became the first Air Force Commander.

In 1924 the first group of student pilots and Mechanics were sent to Russia and France for trainingLater In 1929 Iranian Air Force had a total of 15 pilots of which 6 had graduated from Easter flying school (France) and 9 from Sebastopol flying school (Russia). At this time the IIAF had total of 33 aircraft of 9 different models.
During the next 15 Years (up to World War II) over 400 Aircrafts of 18 different models and from 4Countries were in the IIAF Service. The 8 air bases built at this time included pilot training and instructor pilot schools plus a maintenance training school. An Aircraft factory "Shahbaz" was also established and would build 3 different types of aircraft.

 

[GHOST RIDER]

At the beginning of the WWII, Iran remained a neutral country. However, in August 23, 1941, during the heat of the WWII Iranian neutrality was broken, and Iran was attacked from the air and the sea.British from the South, and the Russians from the North.
The young Iranian Air Force, which had just begun to build its foundation, was in no condition to withstand such a heavy attack. The Allied Forces of Britain and Russia took control of two Iranian air bases in Tehran.
The British took over Dooshan Tappeh IIAF complex including Shahbaz factories and the Russians took over control of Ghale Morghi Air Base.
The invaders closed the IIAF Technical Officers Academy, the pilot training school, the maintenance school, and six air bases in the country. Personnel were dismissed from service and most of the aircraft were dismantled
The young Air Force was reduced to practically nothing! Iranian Air Force that had been built by Reza Shah had been all but destroyed by the British and Russian forces during their occupation from 1941 to 1946. Reza Shah, the founder of the Air Force was forced to resign, as part of the cease-fire condition imposed by the British.

Eventually, his son, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi became the Shah of Iran.
When the war ended the British left Iran, but the Russians refused to leave and remained in control of Northern Iran.In 1946,encouraged by the political pressure applied by American Government, the Army and Air Force, under the direct command of the young Mohammad Reza Shah drove the Red Russians out of Iran.
( Only 40 Days After receiving his Pilot Certificate, and having less than 100 flying hours, Shah of Iran made four Reconnaissance Flight over enemy territory)



The Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Receives his pilot license from
General Nakhdjevan, Iran's Oldest Pilot
October 10, 1946 - Teheran Doshan Tapeh Airport
The Shah flew an old British Tiger Moth

 

[GHOST RIDER]

The economy of Iran was weakened as a result of this occupation and the war. The country was experiencing severe recession, unemployment, and disrepair during Russia's occupation. Depressed crude oil prices (less than $1.00 per barrel) imposed by the large Western oil companies prevented Iran from being able to purchase arms and re-equip the Armed forces.
The country struggled for ten years!But these obstacles would not prevent the Air Force to get back to course of progress.
In 1946 the Pilot Training College reopened its doors and trained 11 pilots which all of them graduated on 1947 and received their certificate from Shah himself.
In 1947 the Aircraft mechanic school and Maintenance college started again by accepting 90 cadets.
In 1951 the first European officer (Col. P. Shawnen, French Air Attaché) attended the IIAF pilot training college and received his certificate after his graduation.

 

[GHOST RIDER]

The United States decided to help equip the Iranian Air Force The Cold War between the East and the West after the WWII was the main reason for this decision. The Western allies (mainly the United States) wanted to build a cushion between the Russians and the warm waters of the Persian Gulf,gateway to the wealth of the Middle East oil fields.

The first priority, however was to build strong, defensive armed forces in Iran and Turkey. For that reason USA equiped IIAF with P-47's, RT/33 (reconnaissance aircraft), F-84's, and F-86's as part of their Military Assistance Program

F-84 and P-47

F-86

RT-33

 

[GHOST RIDER]

With the propeller fighters on which it had to rely until 1956, the Iranian air force could have done little against the Soviet air force's jet fighters. In1956 Iran received the first jet planes, long since requested, for his air force: 24 Lockheed T-33 training and reconnaissance planes arrived, between 1956 and 1958 about 75 Republic F-84G Thunderjet fighter bombers were delivered. These aircraft were not as modern as the Shah had wished, both were of the first generation of American jet fighters, belonging technically to the pre-Korean era. When the coup in Iraq toppled the monarchy, the Shah pointedto the "dangerous" political developments in the neighbouring state, and then Imperial Iranian air force acquired modern swept-wing planes: 70 F-86 (sabre-jets), built under licence in Canada, were handed over in 1959.

Iran was the largest overseas operator of the Phantom. A total of 32 F-4Ds, 177 F-4Es, and 16 RF-4Es (plus 8 F-4Es
borrowed from the USA and subsequently returned) were supplied to Iran before the fall of the Shah. The capability of the F-4 (the backbone of the Iranian Air force) and F-14A fighters had further more been enhanced by the acquisition of a squadron of Boeing 707 tankers, which extends their combat radius to 1,400 miles with in-flight refueling.


F-4

Boeing 707

 

[GHOST RIDER]

The most spectacular acquisitions of IIAF were the F-14A (Tomcats). At the time this was the latest western jet fighter, just being inroduced into the US armed forces, and the value of this one sale was said to be $ 1850 milion. This deal was vital for the survival of the Grumman Corporation. The F-14A wing-wing Tomcat fighters were equipped with Phoenix missiles, capable of locating and destroying six targets simultaneously from a range of fifty miles or more. The ultrasophisticated Phoenix AAM system was first operationally tested in Iran, when F-14 Tomcat aircraft equipped with Phoenix radar picked up Soviet-piloted MIG-25 Foxbats overflying Iranian air space at 65,000 feet and over Mach 2. Throughout the 1970s, Iran purchased sophisticated aircraft for its air force. The acquisition of 80 F-14A Tomcat fighters added to 186 F-5 fighters and 209 F-4 Phantom fighter-bombers, gave Iran a strong defensive and a potential offensive capability.

F-5

F-14

 

[GHOST RIDER]

The IIAF also was responsibility for maritime-reconnaissance and shore-based anti-submarine warfare, for which it operated 6 P-3F Orions. P-3F Produced in 1975 for IIAF total 6 planes. Iranian AF version of the P-3C, equipment changes, inflight refuelling

In 1977 Iran placed orders for 160 F-16 (Light fighter/strike) and even carried this process one step further by contributing to the research and development of the new F-18 fighter, a plane not yet part of the United States military arsenal. Both of these combat aircraft and Boeing AWACS were cancelled after the Islamic revolution in 1979. The sale of the Boeing AWACS to Iran created considerable controversy, because Iran was the first foreign customer for this system, ever NATO countries had been unwilling to buy it, because the cost was so high.

F-16

Numbering some 40,000 officers and men in 1973, the air force had grown to 100,000 in 1979 and was expected to grow further by 1980.

 

[GHOST RIDER]

IIAf had about 500 combat aircraft in:

10 fighter bomber squadrons
10 fighter-ground attack squadrons
4 fighter squadrons
1 reconnaissance squadron
1 air tanker squadron
4 medium transoprt squadrons
4 light transoprt squadrons
3 SAM battalions

AirBase's As of 1979

1st Tactical Air Base , Tehran ( Mehrabad )

11Th. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-4E
12Th. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-4E
13Th. Combat Instructor School (CIS) F-4E
11Th. Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4E + RF-5 + RT-33
11Th. Tactical Transport Squadron (T.T.SQ.) C-130
12Th. Tactical Transport Squadron (T.T.SQ.) C-130
707 Squadron B-707 Tanker / Transport
747 Squadron B-747 Tanker / Transport
F-27 Squadron F-27 Friendship Transport ( was in Doshan Tappeh)
11Th. Search and Rescue Squadron
Support Squadron F-33 & L-20




2nd Tactical Air Base , Tabriz

21st. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-5E
22nd. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-5E
23rd. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-5E
21st. Counter Insurgency Squadron O–2A
21Th. Search and Rescue Squadron
Support Squadron F-33



3rd Tactical Air Base, Hamadan(Shahrokhi)

31st. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-4E
32nd. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-4E
33rd. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-4E
34Th. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-4E
31Th. Search and Rescue Squadron
Support Squadron F-33




4th Tactical Air Base, Dezfull (Vahdati)

41st. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-5E
42nd. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-5E
43rd. Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (T.F.T.SQ.) F-5E
41Th. Search and Rescue Squadron
Support Squadron F-33 & L-20




5th Tactical Air Base , Agha Jari (Omidieh)

51st. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-5E
52nd. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-5E
53 rd. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-5E
51Th. Search and Rescue Squadron
Support Squadron F-33




6th Tactical Air Base, Bushehr

61st. Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (T.F.T.SQ.) F-4E
62nd. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-4E
63 rd. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) 32 F-4D
61Th. Search and Rescue Squadron
Support Squadron F-33




7th Tactical Air Base, Shiraz

71st. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-4E
72nd. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-14
73rd. Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (T.F.T.SQ.) F-14
71Th. Tactical Transport Squadron (T.T.SQ.) C-130
72nd. Tactical Transport Squadron (T.T.SQ.) C-130
71Th. Search and Rescue Squadron
Support Squadron F-33




8th Tactical Air Base , Isfahan ( Khatami )

81st. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-14
82nd. Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (T.F.T.SQ.) F-14
81st. Search and Rescue Squadron
Support Squadron F-33




9th Tactical Air Base, Bandar Abbas

91st. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-4E
92nd. Tactical Squadron (T.SQ.) P-3F Orion
91st. Search and Rescue Squadron
Support Squadron F-33




10th Tactical Air Base, Chabahar

101st. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-5E
102nd. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-4E
103 rd. Tactical Fighter Squadron (T.F.SQ.) F-4E
101st. Search and Rescue Squadron
Support Squadron F-33

 

[GHOST RIDER]

Air carfts:


-80 Grumman F-14A (Tomcat) Fighter
-32 McDonnel Douglas F-4D (Phantom II) Fighter/Bomber
-177 McDonnel Douglas F-4E (Phantom II) Fighter/Bomber
-16 McDonnel Douglas RF-4E (Phantom II) Reconnaissance
-12 Northrop F-5A (Tiger) Fighter
-141 Northrop F-5E (Tiger II) Fighter
-28 Northrop F-5B/F (Tiger II) Trainer
-5 Northrop RF-5F (Tiger II) Reconnaissance
-10 Beech F-33A (Bonaza) Trainer
-39 Beech F-33C (Bonaza) Trainer
-25 Lockheed T-33A (Shooting Star) Trainer
-6 Lockheed P-3F (Orion) Maritime Patrol
-15 Lockheed C-130E (Hercules) Cargo/Transport
-49 Lockheed C-130H (Hercules) Cargo/Transport
-15 Boeing 707-320C Tanker/Cargo/Transport
-6 Boeing 747 Tanker/Cargo/Transport
-13 Fokker F-27-400M (Troopship) Cargo/Transport
-5 Fokker F-27-600 (Friendship) Cargo/Transport
-4 Fokker F-28 V.I.P/Transport
-3 Rockwell Aero Commander 690A Utility Aircraft
-4 Dassault Falcon 20 V.I.P/Utility Aircraft
-2 Cessna 310 Utility Aircraft
-12 Cessna 337 Utility Aircraft
-2 Lockheed JetStar Cargo/Transport

 

[GHOST RIDER]

Helicopters:

-10 Kaman HH-43F (Huskie)
-45 Agusta-Bell AB-205
-68 Agusta-Bell AB-206A (JetRanger)
-5 Agusta-Bell AB-212
-39 Bell 214C
-4 Agusta-Boeing Vertol CH-47C (Chinook)
-16 Super Frelon
-2 Agusta-Sikorsky AS-61A4

 

[krash]

This is one very informative thread. Great work mate

 

[GHOST RIDER]

AIR DEFENSE COMMAND AND RADARS


Early In 1958, the following officers and enlisted personnel were selected and sent to Weston Super Mare (near Bristol), England to receive a nine month long radar training. Those selected were:
Capt. Hossein Soroodi (Later Major General)
1st Lt. Hossein Loghman Zadeh (Later Colonel)
1st Lt. Hamid Shirazi (Later Major General)
1st Lt. Hooshang Filsoof (Later Brig General)
2nd Lt. Hassan Shayegan (Later Colonel)
2nd Lt. Hassan Bassiri (Later Colonel)
3rd Lt. Hassan Zaki Zadeh
3rd Lt. Hassan Salmassi (later Captain)
MSgt. Ali Liaghat (Later Warrant Officer)
MSgt. Reza Parsa
MSgt. Mehdi-Zadeh

In 1958-59, the IIAF graduates returned from England's training ground with a mission to establish their country's first radar station and training school. Their hard work and efforts and those of others like
Gen. Qaderi
Gen. Makoei
Gen. Firouzmand
Gen. Vakili
Gen. Jahansouzi
Gen. Valli
Gen. Fakour
Col. Rousta
Col. Ouskoei
Col. Rezaei
Col. Jahanshahi
Col. Zare
Col. Qurbanzadeh
Col. Saffari
Col.Askarzadeh
Maj. Baqari


There efforts resulted in the establishment of 9 radar stations, and an Air Defense Command, which grew in numbers to over 70,000 personnel! During the summer of 1959, the first mobile radar system arrived in the Port of Khoram Shahr. This mobile system was installed in 27 trucks! Brought to Tehran and stationed next to the runway at the Dooshan Tappeh IIAF complex. First Lieutenant Loghman Zadeh was in charge of this mission. A British officer, along with technicians and a group of enlisted men, were responsible for the movement of this radar system. Later, the first mobile radar was operational at Dooshan Tappeh. The radar school to train operators was established and the training commenced on February 22, 1960, the first British-made mobile radar was also officially delivered to the IIAF on the same day. These British radars were Type 13 and 14.

^^^Official delivery of the first Mobil Radar Feb-22-1960^^^

 

[GHOST RIDER]

Type 14 radar

 

[longbrained]

Dec. 3, 1949: Iran’s Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, wearing his fleet admiral’s braid, inspects Marines on the aircraft carrier Valley Forge at San Diego’s North Island Naval Air Station during a tour of the United States.

The Times reported the next morning:

The Shah, garbed in a fleet admiral’s uniform with gold braid nearly to the elbow, and his entourage of nearly 30 Iranian and American officials arrived at North Island at 12:30 p.m. they were taken at once to the 27,000-ton Valley Forge.

The Shah was greeted aboard the big carrier by a 21-gun salute and a whole string of Admirals….

At the luncheon in the Shah’s honor in the carrier’s wardroom toasts were drunk in water at the young monarch’s wish. Later in his own cabin, Capt. Harry B. Temple, skipper of the ship, presented the Shah with a model of the Valley Forge.

The Shah’s visit is the result of two Presidential Invitations. President Roosevelt extended the first at the time of the Tehran conference in 1943. President Truman renewed the invitation a few months ago.

After visiting the Valley Forge, the Shah flew to Los Angeles, meeting with civic leaders and toured the Lockheed aircraft plant in Burbank. The 1949 Times story noted that Iran was “fourth in the world’s nations in oil production.”

The photo above, by Los Angeles Times staff photographer Paul Calvert, was not published the next morning. It was later used in the 1987 Los Angeles Times book, “Images of our Times: Sixty Years of Photography from the Los Angeles Times.”

Shah of Iran tours aircraft carrier - Framework - Photos and Video - Visual Storytelling from the Los Angeles Times