Dogfight over Tabriz
It was November of 1980, I was in a bus (Mihan Tour) traveling from Turkey going to Tabriz. It was about 3:00 o’clock on a clear and sunny afternoon, when I heard from the radio we’re under Iraqi aerial attack and all cars on the road should immediately pull to the side. So naturally I scanned the sky to see the Iraqi planes, and sure enough about 4 miles toward the south I saw two aircraft. At the same time our bus driver stopped and we happen to be next to Tabriz Airport runway which houses the 2nd Tactical air base, there I saw two F-4E turning onto the runway with the canopy not fully closed, I heard the afterburner kicking in. Following the path of the runway the lead Phantom took off in a 45 degree angle but my eyes were glued to the wingman, second F-4, as he did what is known as Viking take off. Almost a 90 degree angle and immediately turned to its side! About a quarter of a mile I saw white smoke coming from the F-4, thinking something was wrong not realizing that it fired a missile ( educated guess it was an AIM-9 sidewinder) following the trail smoke of the missile, and seeing Iraqi plane twist and turn trying to avoid the missile, bam!!! A hit on Iraqi plane (later found out it was a MIG-21) shortly after I saw a white parachute in that direction, which indicated the Iraqi pilot had ejected. Everyone was very emotional and people start running toward the approximate landing zone of the Iraqi pilot with what ever tool they can find (to use as a weapon ). Soon I heard the radio announcer pleading with the people not to kill or harm the Iraqi pilot until authorities arrive. Mean while the second Iraqi plane was chased by the other F-4 and that was quickly followed by a sonic boom from the Iraqi aircraft, I guess he knew not to stick around!