Air Raid to Al-Waleed (34)‎

The Story of Demolishing Fighters and the Equipment in Al-Waleed Triple Military Bases ‎Known as H-3‎

2016-8-27

Air Raid to Al-Waleed (H-3‎)‎

The Story of Demolishing Fighters and the Equipment in Al-Waleed Triple Military Bases ‎Known as H-3‎

By: Brigadier General Ahmad Mehrnia

Tehran, Sooreh Mehr Publications Company

‎2010 (Persian Version)‎

Translated by: Zahra Hosseinian

Javanmardi says:

"I turned on the radar a moment near the meeting point of borders of three countries, Syria, Iraq and Turkey toward the East to see what is happening. Much to my surprise, I saw the situation is unusual and in the short distance there are several aircraft ahead of us. Immediately I said Mahmoud: "We've become known, quickly turn left and to return." He obeyed, and a blow shook the aircraft violently while turning. Also we heard a loud noise. "Mahmoud, they shoot us." I said. Because the aircraft still flew well, Eskandari, who was one of excellent pilots of Phantom[1], flew in the returning route so low that the enemy fighters simply couldn’t chase us. I thought every moment that we will crash right now. Finally we moved away from the area and landed at the base. Fortunately, technician group had not yet left the base. The aircraft was directed to the hangar and stairs were installed. We walked around the aircraft and checked it, as soon as we got off. The edge of one of flight control surfaces had been plucked from several points. Two or three shrapnel had damaged the fuselage, but it wasn’t seriously. We were kept waiting three more days. This problem was solved by technical experts."

Still another test flight needed, because repairing had been done on the levels of commands control. Once again, a large number of Air Force personnel of host country gathered in a base, which had no proper facilities, to watch the test flight. Flight was done by the same quality and aircraft safety was confirmed. Group briefing with the tanker pilots and the Syrian intelligence officer was done once again. The quality of coordination was as before and there was no new specific point. Therefore, refueling aircraft reached above the base the next day and the Phantom, which had no technical problem, took off. The following dialogue between the pilot of front cabin and the pilot of rare cabin were exchanged, while they refueled. Javanmardi still remembers that dialogue. He says:

"I said to Eskandari, ‘the position of Iraqi aircraft in the prior flight indicates that they were aware of our plan and waiting us. It is possible that this event repeat again, because other people know about our flight. Surely we can no longer survive!’ As refueled and controlled the aircraft on that low altitude proficiently, Mahmoud said: ‘I agree with you, so be ready to run another plan.  It is a little risky, but is worth it all.’

In the same route, but a bit earlier than the time of reaching to the boundary point of three countries, we separated from tanker. Mahmoud piloted the aircraft toward the cockpit of Boing and thanked them with hand gesture and said them to return. I didn’t know what he wants to do. Suddenly, he made a right turn and from the middle of border entered into Iraq territory. We flew with maximum speed at very low altitude, crossing the whole of Iraq latitude, it was a unique flight! It wasn’t seen any aerial or ground threat, like cannon and missiles in the route. We consume a lot of fuel and two additional tanks on the wings emptied very soon. We were passing north of Baghdad. We released the fuel tanks over facilities which appeared to be an abandoned industrial complex; and we could have more maneuverability and speed by decreasing the air resistance. It was exactly clear that the enemy was badly surprised. I admired this brave and experienced pilot in my heart and fully concentrated on our surroundings lest unexpected thing surprises us. We crossed two rivers of Euphrates and Tigris very soon with a speed almost twice the sound, and entered our mountainous and snowy border from the flat and lush terrain of Iraq. Every time we crossed Iraqi military bases or economic places, I wished we had ammunition to punish the invader enemy at the same time. We had seriously concerned about the shortages of petrol. ‘If we're lucky and a tanker aircraft is flying in West region,’ Eskandari said, ‘we can reach to Hamedan base; otherwise, we must land in the emergency runway of West Islamabad.’ Of course, our lofty heights in the West had two good things for us: first, we consumed less fuel than in Iraq which is near to the sea level; and second, we didn’t have any stress and tense about combating with enemy fighters. Advancing a little deeper into our country, we climbed more to be able to contact with the radar and refueling aircraft which might be in the area. While I was thinking of finding a tanker, I compared our location with maps and determined points through which we could reach to the emergency runway of West Islamabad. Eskandari began making contact with radar and quickly got answer. Luckily, they said that a refueling aircraft is flying. Coordination was done and we could contact with tanker. Giving our flight coordination, we quickly approached each other. The light of sun radiation on the Boeing 707 not far in the distance was the most beautiful thing we saw on that situation. The boom was attached and the last refueling of successful H-3 operation was done. Few minutes later, we stepped on our soil at the Hamedan Air Base and thanks to God’s each moment contributions, we prostrated ourselves."

Subsequent exploring the report of intelligence command and air force reconnaissance made it clear that several Iraqi aircrafts flew in the main route to intercept and were waiting them. Timely decision of pilots and trusting in the eternal power of God caused that flying toward home to be done safety with special grace and favor of God.

Thus, the case of a major operation was closed in which more than 54 aircrafts of various types, and at least 75 pilots and co-pilots - some of them such as late Eskandari, Javanmardi, Motlaq, and Babrzadeh flew two or more time - plus about forty other technician and specialist in flight interception, and a few hundred others, who worked on the bases, were involved; and a great pride was recorded in aerial activities case of Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, which had been named by Imam Khomeini as a ‘Divine Force’.

Pilot Ahmad Soleimani and a group of transport pilots of Air Force meet with Imam Khomeini after successful H-3operation. Respectively from right: Hossein Eskandarian, Asghar Motlaq, Jesus Hosseini, Imam Khomeini, and three non-pilot employees (unknown) and Capt. Hassan BaniAdam .__

To be continued…