Nojeh, Muhammad

Fatemeh Daftari
48 بازدید

Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Nojeh (1945–1979) was an F-4 aircraft pilot serving at the 3rd Tactical Fighter Base of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force. When conducting a reconnaissance and support mission near Paveh, he was martyred due to the crash of his aircraft.

Muhammad Nojeh was born on March 28, 1945, in Tehran.[1] In 1963, he graduated with a diploma in mathematics and joined the Army Ground Forces. After completing military training and receiving the rank of second lieutenant, he volunteered to join the Air Force due to his interest in aviation. He underwent military and specialized training courses and pilot training at the Air Force Academy, and on August 16, 1970 was sent to the 38th Training Wing at Laredo Air Force Base in Texas, United States.

After completing advanced flight courses, weapons control system training, and flying T-41, T-6, T-37, and T-38 aircraft, as well as receiving his pilot wings, Nojeh returned to Iran on August 11, 1972. Several years later, on September 16, 1978, he was transferred to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Base in Hamedan to pilot F-4 Phantom aircraft. His responsibilities included commanding the First Fighter Squadron and the 31st Squadron of the 3rd Tactical Fighter Base, heading the Joint Operations Branch, serving as Deputy Operations Officer at the 6th Tactical Fighter Base and the operations officer.[2]

On August 16, 1979, when Paveh was sieged by anti-revolutionary groups,

Colonel Eshaq, the deputy commander of the 81st Army Division of the Islamic Republic of Iran, ordered the Islamic Republic of Iran Army Ground Forces to conduct reconnaissance and support missions near Paveh in coordination with the Army Air Force.

Following the command issued to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Base in Hamedan (Shahrokhi), Major Muhammad Nojeh and First Lieutenant Seyyed Abdollah Bashiri Mousavi flew a mission to support military columns moving towards Paveh. After carrying out aerial patrols and operations, the aircraft was targeted by anti-revolutionary fire and crashed into a mountain near Qeshlaq, between Paveh and Ravansar.[3]

Later that afternoon, the commander of Shahrokhi Air Base reported that the aircraft had crashed four kilometers from Paveh, and both pilots had been martyred.[4]

In honor of Muhammad Nojeh's services, and by the suggestion of the Air Force Command and the approval of the Commander-in-Chief, Imam Khomeini (ra), the 3rd Tactical Fighter Base in Hamedan was renamed after Martyr Nojeh.[5] This base became one of the most active air bases of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, especially during the Iran-Iraq War.[6]

On August 22, 1979, after a funeral ceremony held at the Air Force Hospital in Tehran, the body of Muhammad Nojeh was laid to rest.[7] Various groups of people in addition to the members of the cabinet, and the officials of the Ministry of National Defense and National Defense Industries Organization, attended the memorial ceremonies held at Stadium No. 3 on 17 Shahrivar Street, Ark Mosque, and Ayatollah Motahhari Mosque (Sepahsalar).[8]

The grave of Muhammad Nojeh is in the Section 24 of Behesht Zahra Cemetery in Tehran.[9]

 

[1] Daneshnameh Shahida va Isargaran-e Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran (Encyclopedia of Martyrs and Veterans of the Islamic Republic of Iran): http://mazareshahid.ir/12672; Mahnameh Saf (Saf Monthly), Sh. 402, Mehr 1391, p. 53.

[2] Ibid, Sh. 402, Mehr 1393, p. 53.

[3] Taqvime Mostand Amalkarde Niru-ye Elahi-ye Havaei Artesh-e Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran (Documented Calendar of the Performance of the Divine Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran), Vol. 1, Tehran: Markaz-e Motaleat-e Rahbordi-ye Niru-ye Havaei Artesh (Strategic Studies Center of the Air Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran), 1396, Pp. 215 and 216; Mahnameh Saf, Sh. 402, p. 54.

[4] Ibid, Pp. 215 and 216.

[5] Ibid, p. 228.

[6] Koodetae-ye Nojeh (Nojeh Coup), Tehran: Moassese-ye Motaleat va Pazhoohesh-haye Siasi, 1384, p. 305.

[7] Roznameh Keyhan (Keyhan Newspaper), Panjshanbeh 1 Shahrivar 1358, Sh. 10788, p. 1.

[8] Ibid, p. 3.

[9] Daneshnameh Shuhada va Isargaran-e Jomhuri-ye Islami-ye Iran (Encyclopedia of Martyrs and Veterans of the Islamic Republic of Iran): http://mazareshahid.ir/12672