The 2nd Tactical Fighter Base of Tabriz
The 2nd Tactical Fighter Base of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force, known as Shahid Fakoori Base, is located in Tabriz. It played an active role during the Iran– Iraq War.
Because of its location near Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, and Iraq, the 2nd Tactical Fighter Base of Tabriz has significant strategic importance in the northwest.[1] Its establishment dates back to the early 1970s. In 1973, the need for a military unit capable of defending Iran’ s northwest led to the creation of an advanced airbase in Tabriz, supported by the 3rd Airbase of Hamedan. In the late 1960s, as border tensions between Iran and Iraq increased, this facility became a full airbase. In 1969, the first O‑2 aircraft— a light propeller plane— arrived in Tabriz, followed by F‑5 fighter jets.[2]
After the Islamic Revolution and the outbreak of the internal crisis in Kurdistan, the 2nd Tactical Fighter Base provided air support to ground forces in the region. It conducted 212 sorties in cooperation with the 3rd Base of Hamedan.[3]
When the Muslim People’ s Republic Party sparked unrest in Tabriz, a group of its members tried to infiltrate and take over the 2nd Tactical Fighter Base, but Colonel Javad Fakoori, the base commander, successfully repelled them.[4]
The 2nd Tactical Fighter Base of Tabriz was among the airfields targeted by Iraqi airstrikes on September 22, 1980, though only the runway was damaged and quickly repaired.[5] At the time, the base had 84 F‑5 fighter jets and 88 pilots.[6]
On September 23, as part of Operation Kaman 99, the 2nd Tactical Fighter Base joined the mission to attack targets in Kirkuk and Mosul.[7] Nearly half of all sorties in Kaman 99 were flown from this base.[8] In total, 52 cross-border sorties were flown out of the 2nd Tactical Fighter Base that day.[9]
In the first month of the war, the 2nd Tactical Fighter Base of Tabriz began targeting Iraq’ s oil industry. On September 27, 1980, F‑5s carried out 21 sorties to bomb oil facilities in Kirkuk, Sulaymaniyah, Mosul, and Nowpirdan.[10]
When the Vahdati Airbase in Dezful came under threat from Iraqi advances in late September 1980, F-5s flew out of the 2nd Tactical Fighter Base to reinforce air power and help stop the enemy’ s push into northern Khuzestan.[11]
Throughout the Iran-Iraq War, the base defended the northwest and repeatedly struck enemy positions along the border and inside Iraq. One notable achievement was the downing of an advanced MiG‑25 by an F‑5 that flew out of this base.[12]
When needed, F‑5s from Tabriz were sent to other bases to support various operations. In February 1986, as part of Operation Valfajr 8, eight F-5s departed the 2nd Tactical Fighter Base for Dezful, where they carried out bombing missions.[13] Likewise, in January 1987, as Operation Karbala 5 was underway, F‑5s were deployed to Omidiyeh to support the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps units in the Shalamcheh region.[14]
After Iran accepted UN Resolution 598, Iraq initiated a major ground offensive in Khuzestan in July 1988. Once again, fighter jets from Tabriz were deployed to Omidiyeh, playing an important role in bombing enemy troops.[15]
Among the pilots of the 2nd Tactical Fighter Base of Tabriz who were martyred during the war were Ali Eqbali, Gholamhussain Afshin‑Azar, Muhammad Hojjati, Ali Jahanshahloo, Abolhassan Abolhassani, Amir Zanjani, and Muhammad‑Hussain Darabi.[16]
After the war, the base was renamed the 2nd Tactical Fighter Base of Shahid Fakoori. MiG-29 fighter jets joined the fleet in 1992, strengthening its aerial capabilities. The base also received the Iranian-made Saeqeh fighter-bomber in 2010, which joined the F-5s and MiG-29s in carrying out missions.[17]
Among the notable commanders and pilots of the 2nd Tactical Fighter Base during the war were Colonel Morteza Farzaneh, Colonel Reza Saeedi, and Colonel Javad Vartavan. Today, Second Brigadier General Reza Yoosefi is the commander of the base.[18]
References
- [1]. Mahnameh-ye Saf (Saf Monthly), No. 446, Shahrivar-e 1397, p. 50.
- [2]. Ibid., No. 373, Bahman-e 1390, p. 30.
- [3]. Tarikh-e Nabardha-ye Havaei: Ta Aghaz-e Tahajom-e Sarasari-ye Araq (History of Aerial Battles: Until the Beginning of Iraq’ s All-out Invasion), Vol. 1, Tehran: Markaz-e Entesharat-e Rahbardi-ye NAHAJA, 1393, p. 176.
- [4]. Ibid., Pp. 173, 174.
- [5]. Taqvim-e Mostanad-e Amalkard-e Niroo-ye Havaei-ye Artesh-e Jomhoori-ye Eslami-ye Iran (Documented Chronology of the Performance of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force), Vol. 3, Mehr-e 1359, Tehran: Markaz-e Entesharat-e Rahbardi-ye NAHAJA, 1397, p. 14.
- [6]. Tarikh-e Nabardha-ye Havaei: Ta Aghaz-e Tahajom-e Sarasari-ye Araq (History of Aerial Battles: Until the Beginning of Iraq’ s All-out Invasion), Vol. 1, p. 390.
- [7]. Taqvim-e Mostanad-e Amalkard-e Niroo-ye Havaei-ye Artesh-e Jomhoori-ye Eslami-ye Iran (Documented Chronology of the Performance of the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force), Vol. 3, p. 68.
- [8]. Mahnameh-ye Saf (Saf Monthly), No. 373, p. 32.
- [9]. Namaki, Ali-Reza, Tarikh-e Nabardha-ye Havaei: Amaliyat-e Kaman 99 Mosoom be 140 Farvandi va Enhedam-e Niroo-ye Havaei-ye Doshman (History of Aerial Battles: Operation Kaman 99 Known as 140 Aircraft and Destruction of Enemy Air Force), Vol. 3, Tehran: Markaz-e Entesharat-e Rahbardi-ye NAHAJA, 1396, p. 114.
- [10]. Namaki, Ali-Reza, Niroo-ye Havaei dar Defa Muqaddas (The Air Force in the Sacred Defense), Tehran: Iran-e Sabz, 1389, p. 146.
- [11]. Majaleh-ye Sanaaye-e Havaei (Aviation Industries Magazine), No. 307, Pp. 9, 10.
- [12]. Khalili, Hussain, Nabardha-ye Havaei-ye Iran: Moroori-ye Kootah bar Ravand-e Nabardha-ye Havaei-ye Iran dar Defa Muqaddas (Aerial Battles of Iran: A Brief Review of the Course of Iran’ s Aerial Battles in the Sacred Defense), Tehran: Iran-e Sabz, 1398, Pp. 292, 293.
- [13]. Namaki, Ali-Reza, Niroo-ye Havaei dar Defa Muqaddas (The Air Force in the Sacred Defense), p. 301.
- [14]. Moamma, Muhammad, Ghoresh-e Raad: Zendeginameh-ye Sartip Khalaban Abdolhamid Najafi (Thunder Roar: Biography of Brigadier Pilot Abdolhamid Najafi), Tehran: Sooreh Mehr, 1394, p. 272.
- [15]. Nateq, Sasan, Aaseman Mal-e Man Bood: Khaterehha-ye Sarhang Khalaban Samadali Balazadeh (The Sky Was Mine: Memoirs of Colonel Pilot Samadali Balazadeh), Tehran: Sooreh Mehr, 1391, p. 205.
- [16]. Ibid., Pp. 106, 126, 127; Namaki, Ali-Reza, Niroo-ye Havaei dar Defa Muqaddas (The Air Force in the Sacred Defense), p. 37.
- [17]. Mahnameh-ye Saf (Saf Monthly), No. 373, p. 32.
- [18]. Khabargozari-e Shabestan, 4 Dey 1400, http://shabestan.ir/detail/News/1130437
