Air Raid to Al-Waleed (33)‎

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

2016-8-21

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

Returning of damaged aircraft

Since repairing damaged aircraft was out of possibilities of present facilities, a strong mechanic team with required equipment and parts were sent to Syria by a Hercules aircraft (C-130) a few days after the end of operation.

About four months technicians worked hard on damaged parts of aircraft, including fuselage, hydraulic system, and so on until this expensive flying was prepared. On 8^th of August in the same year, two Hercules delivered the engine, related jack (stand) and other supplies to repairers, because the engine of aircraft was also damaged, and returned to Tehran two days later. The first pilot of aircraft which carried the engine was Capt. Lotfollah Jabari, the second pilot was first Lt. Hassan Afshari and the first pilot of second Hercules was Capt. Mohammed Solhjou[1].

Major General Mohammad Solhjou (the one who has captain rank) and Colonel Hassan Afshari

Meanwhile, Capt. Mahmoud Eskandari and first Lt. Mohammad Javanmardi, two seasoned and reliable pilots, who had experienced flying from Iran to Syria before, were headed to Palmira base to do related jobs for returning the aircraft as soon as it is prepared. Javanmardi remind the bad condition of base and its lack of facilities, and says:

"We surprised when we saw a hand-cranked telephone, which was phased out years ago in Iran, in the officers’ room of base."

Nearly a month and a half, technicians worked on damaged parts of this expensive aircraft until it was readied for flight. From now Syrian military officers began excusing that it is not advisable now the aircraft to be delivered to Iran. As a result, some sabotages occurred. For example, they would not provide the necessary fuel for the flight test. Therefore, again a Boeing 707 piloted by Capt. Fariborz Babrzadeh and Capt. Ali Asghar Motlaq was sent to Syria and landed in Damascus. On the other hand, strong diplomacy and continuing bargaining led to gaining permission for flight test which Syrian officials were opposed to it. Furthermore, in the presence of a Syrian intelligence officer a brief session was done between the Phantom and tanker pilots.

Seeing our friends are determined to begin flight test with aerial refueling opposed to instructions and as the need arises, the authorities of host country agreed to deliver fuel just for aerial refueling.

For carrying out the flight test, a group of senior commanders and Syrian pilots, who were not familiar with American aircraft flying techniques (because the Syrian army was equipped with Eastern equipment which was purchased mainly from former Soviet Union), came to the base. They insisted that one of their pilots sat in the rare cabin rather than Javanmardi, and because Eskandari didn’t agree with their demand at all, they intently watched how flight test carries out. Retired Colonel Pilot Mohammad Javanmardi says about it:

"In mentioned flight, Eskandari put out all the stops, so that all participants were surprised and delighted. With all the power of engine and with a sharp angle, the aircraft gained altitude, and we did all considered checks above the base according to instructions. Landing on the runway, all audiences welcomed us and said well done, because they had seen a test flight just above their heads and also landing with F-4 at the short runway which had no necessary equipment, including barrier cable[2], isn’t possible for everyone. When the pilot signed the form which showed the lack of observation of any problems, the aircraft was prepared to head toward Iran. Again the same problem occurred and they excused that the aircraft must remain in Syria. Their reason was that: your Phantom has landed in our base in emergency, and if we deliver it, the idea of our cooperation with you is called to mind, and it is not desirable for Syria among the Arab League. Since the existing of even one aircraft was effective in the war, we must have satisfied the Syrian authorities in any way. So, again consultations carried out through various means, including political ones and finally our aircraft’s departure was accepted; but they said that they didn’t deliver any fuel to us. Therefore, it was necessary to take fuel from insider tanker immediately after taking off, to be able to return."

Phantom has minimum fuel and it must be fed by tanker immediately after takeoff. Since it was likely the Iraqi intelligence forces have been informed of the flight during this period and waited on intercepting it, during the final brief session among the pilots in Damascus, the pilot of tanker asked Eskandari: "in which altitude you want to refuel?" He asked: "How much can you climb down?" He answered: "at any height you want." Eskandari asked: "Can you do it in five hundred feet?" The answer he heard was: "we are ready to deliver fuel even at lower altitude."

Retired Brigadier General Ali Asghar Motlaq, the second pilot of tanker says:

"A Syrian intelligence officer was attended in our meeting. He was either a pilot or had good flight information, because he showed his protesting and said: "Do you make a mock of me? You must refuel in more than twenty thousand feet." I said: "my friend, what you say is true, but it is for peace time; we are at war now and the situation is different." He shook his head and said: "we'll see."

It was supposed that the return rout will be according to the main route from the northernmost of Iraqi borders and tangential with Turkish border. Tanker also came back to our country in international route as usual. After the brief meeting ended up, Eskandari and Javanmardi went to the location of F-4 with a car. By arrangement, the tanker should take off from Damascus airport at appointed time and passed the base which had no facilities and the Phantom was there. If pilots of Boeing 707 saw the phantom is ready for takeoff in the head of runway, it meant that everything is fine. Seeing the tanker, Eskandri also should take off to refuel at low altitude quickly. If the phantom wasn’t at the head of runway, tanker kept flying a few minutes more and then repeats the same thing. This time, if the F-4 was not ready, it meant that a problem occurred and tanker should return to Damascus.

Everything was done according to the plan. For overseeing the operation and being informed of situation, Syrian intelligence officer was also accompanied the crew of tanker. As soon as reaching above the Palmira base, pilots of Boeing saw the F-4 is ready to take off at the head of runway. So, it kept flying in its rout. According to the brief, Eskandari also took off immediately and flew toward the tanker. Captain Babrzadeh and Motlaq decreased the height and climbed down so much that today Motalq quotes his memory of that day as follow:

"Preventing the occurrence of any danger for our fighter/bomber, we ran a big risk and flew in such low altitude that the Syrian officer at the back seat was extremely worried and watched out for the situation quietly. Babrzadeh who carefully watched the inside of cabin and radar altimeter, asked me to concentrate on the outside of aircraft. We flew at about two hundred feet height and toward North East. Almost near the border, Eskandari flew beside us after getting sufficient fuel, and sent a kiss for us to show his thanks. The region we flew above it was sandy. We observed clearly a wave over the sandy land which was created by the exhaust air of Phantom. We were, of course, much worried that lest something bad happened, God forbids. After ensuring of the safety of flight, we came back again to Damascus to drop off the Syrian officer and pick up the technical staffs who should go to Damascus after Phantom’s flying."

To be continued…