Damaged Iranian Defector Aircraft in Iraq, '91

'A McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phanton II at Tallil air base, near Nasiriya, Iraq, on 12 February 1991. This aircraft was originally delivered to Iran in 1973 (serial 3-6552 and Iranian flag are still visible). In late August/early September 1986 it was one of two F-4Es flown by defecting Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force pilots to Iraq. This was part of the covert operation “Night Harvest” by the Foreign Technology Division of the U.S. Air Force (FTD) and the CIA, initiated to find out how Iran kept aircraft serviceable that had been delivered by the U.S. The other F-4E was flown to the U.S. but this aircraft was in such poor condition that it was left in Iraq. It was destroyed by bombs during the 1991 Gulf War, but the wreck was still in a junkyard near Tallil air base in April 2003.'

Taken on 1991-02-12
Source Major Harmon, US Military
License No Rights Reserved

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