Jan Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 After reading Tom Cooper’s book about Iranian F-4E Phantom squadrons in Iran –Iraq war, I decided to build one specific Iranian F-4E with some quite remarkable story about legendary pilot and his last mission against Baghdad. Here is the story: In 1982, Iran and Iraq were in the middle of bloody war started in 1981 by Saddam Hussein’s attack on Iran. Nearly whole world supported Saddam Hussein against Iraq, because of fear of new Iranian regime spreading the agenda of the ‘islamic revolution’ in the region. Not only all major powers were behind Saddam, but also many third world countries. In summer of 1982, the meeting of ‘Non-aligned Nations’(most of the third world countries were members, and this block was quite influential in 1970’s and 1980’s) was supposed to take place in Baghdad. This would mean another propaganda victory for Saddam Hussein, but it would also deepen Iran’s political isolation. The decision was taken in Iran to prevent the meeting from happening! The idea was following: Iranian air force would attack the conference center in Baghdad shortly before the start of the conference- proving that Baghdad is not safe place for the con ference, and that Iraq is not winning the war against Iran. At the time, due to dense anti-aircraft defence of Iraqi capital, this was almost suicidal mission. It was decided that single aircraft piloted by the most experienced pilot would perform the attack. Capt. Abbas Dowran was natural candidate for this mission. Due to his courageous flying and tens of successful missions, he had been a legend already. In 1982 his exploit were widely published in Iran to boost morale. He was also known to Iraqis – Iraqi press referred him as ‘bandit pilot Dowran’ accusing him of attacking civilian targets etc. This is the F-4E flown by Major Abbas Dowran during his last mission, on 21 July 1982 against Baghdad. The plane was equipped with an ALQ-119(V) ECM-pod, two Mk.84 bombs and two AIM-7E-2 Sparrows. The Dowran’s Phantom managed to reach Baghdad. But before he could bomb the conference centre, Phantom was damaged by two SAMs. In this situation, Dowran ordered his WSO Capt. Mansour Kazemiyan to eject. He himself, probably knowing he was known to Iraqis as ‘bandit Dowran’ and would be killed if captured anyway- crashed his Phantom into control tower of Saddam International Airport . Dowran did not manage to accomplish mission: to bomb the conference center. But he managed to demonstrate that Baghdad is vulnerable to Iranian attack, and hence unsafe as place for meeting of the League of the Non-Aligned nations: the conference did not take place in Baghdad, in the end, depriving Saddam his propaganda victory! Enjoy pics of Dowran’s F-4E he used on his last mission(my Phantom has exact marking of specific machine, and exact armament used in mission described above): I hope you enjoyed little historic background. Any comments welcome Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jan Posted March 22, 2008 Author Share Posted March 22, 2008 P.S. Of course, nobody does decals for this specific F-4E, so decals are my own design. Printed on Alps printer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CreepyGuy Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 Great looking Phantom....I love the weathering and especially the camo. I always thought that the Iranian Phantoms had some of the neatest camo jobs in existence. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aarzee Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 Very nice looking Phantom !! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChernayaAkula Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 That looks great! As CreepyGuy aid, the camo scheme looks great on Phantoms. Interesting background story. Also have the book, but haven't managed to read it yet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dragan_mig31 Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 this is great :) like the camop and weathering.the story i like the most a really creepy guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jan Posted March 22, 2008 Author Share Posted March 22, 2008 (edited) Thanks for kind words!! Here is the proof of the legendary status of Abbas Dowran in Iran- his face is still used on billboards on remembrance day commemorating Iran-Iraq war or 'Holy Defence War' as Iranian regime calls this war. one more pic of Abbas Dowran(he is the guy on the left): One little detail: note that Abbas Dowran never wore neither beard nor moustache. -Although there are no strict regulations re wearing beards for males in the Iranian air force, those wearing beards are making political statement they are 'very loyal' to the regime, while those who do not hint they are not '100% loyalists'. Abbas Dowran was after all trained in the US, and he did help to secure release from prison of many other US-trained pilots New regime did need these guys to defend Iran - so in effect, these western-oriented men fought for their country, but also for the regime that persecuted and imprisoned them to prisons just few months earlier. The story of the Iranian Air force and its pilots during Iran-Iraq war is very,very interesting stuff!! Edited March 22, 2008 by Jan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tomcat Fan Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 Great Phantom.... Pageing Diego for decals maybee? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bad edd Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 Great story and model !!! Although heavy, the weathering actually fits perfectly to the plane, a true workhorse of the IRIAF. I just begun reading the massive "Iran-Iraq War in the Air" by Cooper/Bishop, a great source of inspiration for any IRIAF build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jan Posted March 22, 2008 Author Share Posted March 22, 2008 Although heavy, the weathering actually fits perfectly to the plane, a true workhorse of the IRIAF Thanks, I wanted to achieve that 'workhorse' effect. Although the maintenance standards in the Iranian air force has been and are very high (the sole fact that they still have -after nearly 30 years of no-support from the US airworthy Tomcats and Phantoms is the ultimate proof of these extremely high standards) - the machines flew sometimes three missions a day during forst two years of the war. This have resulted in heavy weathering during the war If you check current pics of the Iranian Phantoms , the machines are 'clean' and shiny again after refurbishments etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sebastijan Posted March 23, 2008 Share Posted March 23, 2008 (edited) Great work Jan! Abbas was/is indeed a legend! A small correction on your story... Dowran's Phantom was not the only one on this mission. The flight consisted of KC707, two escorting Tomcats armed with AIM-54s and 3 F-4Es... When they passed the border, the 3rd Phantom, acting as a reserve turned back, while Dowran and Major Mahmoud Eskandari progressed towards Baghdad. What happened next is written in your first post, but of interesting reading is what happened with Eskandar's Phantom - it was hit by heavy AAA and chased by Iraqi fighters, so the F-14s which were in escort of a tanker over the border intervened to help the crippled Phantom, one of them engageing MiG-23s and achieveing a double kill with a Phoenix on them, while the other hit a Su-22... Maj. Eskandar managed to reach the border to refuel and safely return to base... PS: Still in London? Edited March 23, 2008 by Sebastijan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
regevmo Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Great looking camo on that phantom :wacko: Regev Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jan Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 Thanks guys again! I am happy you like my Iranian Phantom. I was expecting some comments re weathering- I am not 100% happy about the results, especially the metal areas - I would like to improve this, but I am actually short of the ideas- I do not want to ruin whole thing by 'experimenting' with nearly finished model. So do you have any advice how to improve that area without taking much too risk? A small correction on your story... Dowran's Phantom was not the only one on this mission. The flight consisted of KC707, two escorting Tomcats armed with AIM-54s and 3 F-4Es. Thanks for additional detail Sebastijan!! Does this info come from TC's book? Good to know I am not the only one interested in the Iranian AF!! PS: Still in London? More precisely, I am still based in london. In fact I do not spend much time in the UK- I am working mostly on projects abroad, coming to London for weekends only. This life is bit tiring- I am looking forward to move back to PRG next summer!!! Greetings from Johannesburg this time Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AnthonyWan Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Jan, are there any books or websites about Dowran? Would love to do some more reading about him. I've searched a bit on Google...but I've not come up with anything in particular. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jan Posted March 25, 2008 Author Share Posted March 25, 2008 Unfortunately, most of such pages are in Farsi. Iranian air force and Iran-Iraq war are definitely out of the mainstream interest you can try surfing enaglis language discussion forums on sites that deal with the Iranian military. Try: www.iranmilitaryforums.com www.acig.org interesting article by Doran's WSO about their mission against Baghdad: http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Country...dowran_n_ka.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Aggressor Supporter Posted March 25, 2008 Share Posted March 25, 2008 Phantom is looking good there and interesting story on Dowran. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
army Posted April 23, 2012 Share Posted April 23, 2012 (edited) Thanks for kind words!! Here is the proof of the legendary status of Abbas Dowran in Iran- his face is still used on billboards on remembrance day commemorating Iran-Iraq war or 'Holy Defence War' as Iranian regime calls this war. one more pic of Abbas Dowran(he is the guy on the left): One little detail: note that Abbas Dowran never wore neither beard nor moustache. -Although there are no strict regulations re wearing beards for males in the Iranian air force, those wearing beards are making political statement they are 'very loyal' to the regime, while those who do not hint they are not '100% loyalists'. Abbas Dowran was after all trained in the US, and he did help to secure release from prison of many other US-trained pilots New regime did need these guys to defend Iran - so in effect, these western-oriented men fought for their country, but also for the regime that persecuted and imprisoned them to prisons just few months earlier. The story of the Iranian Air force and its pilots during Iran-Iraq war is very,very interesting stuff!! No mate,you are completely wrong about beard!I am an Iranian and I explain you about that.Among Muslims,it's a religious issue to have beard.In Iranian armed forces,they are free to have beard,mustache or shave them all.So it doesn't concern to loyalty at all.Before revolution,army troops had to shave regularly,so according to that habit after revolution many of army troops went on not having beard and we had many commanders(Generals) that shaved every day but came and kissed Khomeini's hand and expressed their loyalty.Even Abbas Doran declared Khomeini as his leader and expressed his readiness for sacrificing himself for Khomeini and even showed his readiness to fight with Israel.If you want my point of view,beard is not going to take you to God since we had many many war victims that shaved like Abbas.Today there are many army officers that shave entirely but claim that they are ready to lose their lives for country and regime.Then do you think they are not 100% loyal to the regime?And one last point my friend:Abbas Doran wasn't a major at the time of death,he was colonel.Have a good time! Edited April 23, 2012 by army Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tomcat_ct Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Fantastic Phantom!!! What colors did you use for the camo? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vit Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Why Israel is dragged in to the story? vit Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted April 24, 2012 Share Posted April 24, 2012 Why Israel is dragged in to the story? vit It's a non-issue and doesn't need to be made into one. There was no political intent in that last post. I'm enjoying the thread quite a bit. Great model and a fantastic background story about a very brave pilot. Would love to see more pictures of the model. My only (minor critique) is that most hardworking Phantoms have filthy undersides. This one looks a bit too clean. Regardless, it is a great job so far. John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Diego Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 (edited) Fantastic Phantom!!! What colors did you use for the camo? This is the standard "Asia Minor" camo scheme, consisiting of Green FS 34079/Brown FS 30140/Sand FS 30400 on the uppersurfaces, and Grey FS 36422 on the undersides. Here a link to the Iranian Phantom schemes and markings: http://www.arcair.com/Rev3/2301-2400/rev2397-Hi-Decal48027/00.shtm this sheet also includes markings for the Iranian "Persian Gulf Sharks", the 41th TFW Phantoms: Greetings Diego Edited April 26, 2012 by Diego Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Very nice paint job! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jan Posted May 3, 2012 Author Share Posted May 3, 2012 (edited) it is flattering to see my Phantom is generating some interest after such a long time. Thanks for your kind words. Here a link to the Iranian Phantom schemes and markings:http://www.arcair.co...al48027/00.shtm this sheet also includes markings for the Iranian "Persian Gulf Sharks", the 41th TFW Phantoms: Diego my friend!! How are you? btw, at the time Diego's Decal sheet was not available yet. I had to create my own CorelDraw design and had it printed on ALPS printer. Regarding colours, I am not believer in FS standards etc. ...I just went by photograph, and mixed colours so they were close to how they look (as you know- same colour looks different under different weather conditions)....main thing is to mix colours so they a) look 'right' AND B) individual camo colours 'look right' TOGETHER (it is very important to test this before starting to airbrush the model-do not forget that colour looks different when in can and when you actually spray it on plastic!) My only (minor critique) is that most hardworking Phantoms have filthy undersides. This one looks a bit too clean. When looking at the pics again, I must say I agree.... the wheel wells are too clean as well .... next time! P.S. the phantom has been finished back in 2009- I will take pictures of finished model soon Edited May 3, 2012 by Jan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rotaliscia Posted May 8, 2012 Share Posted May 8, 2012 Good looking Phantom, and really interesting story about the pilot. After having apreciated the Osprey book on Iranian Tomcat Units, I will buy the one on F-4's too. Waiting to watch other photos, my sincere compliments! Paolo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pervis Posted August 31, 2016 Share Posted August 31, 2016 some photo champion Dowran IRIAF F-4E pilot. http://s6.picofile.com/file/8265786050/293452.jpg http://s6.picofile.com/file/8265791400/72505.jpg http://s6.picofile.com/file/8265791468/%D8%B4%D9%87%DB%8C%D8%AF_%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%862.jpg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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