Who is Islamic Iran’s Arash Kamangir?

A Review of Martyr Khalatbari’s Biography

There are many strong men who sacrificed their lives for their country during the eight-year Holy Defense period, but over time, we have forgotten about them.

News ID: ۳۰۴۹۰۱

چهارشنبه - ۳۱ مرداد ۲۰۱۱ / 2011 31 May

Major General Pilot Martyr Hussain Khalatbari known as Maverick Hussein was one of the most famous and most experienced pilots of the Iranian air force in a way that the enemies confessed to their disability and helplessness against the courage of this strong Iranian national; He was the champion hunter of Ouza Navies and the hero of naval and marine war against Iraq.

Khalatbari, was one of the leaders of the great military operation “Kaman 99”? and the flight number 140 as and Iranian eagle on the sky of Iraq… He reminds us of a national myth of Iran “Arash Kamangir”? in determination of the borders between Iran and Turan; Moreover, the number of 99 is sourced from the 99-page plan of Alborz and it was the largest air assault after the Second World War in the world.

Attack to H 3, the unique air raid and the outstanding role of Khalatbari

Epic of November 28, 1980, and the military operation “Morvarid”? over the Persian Gulf

Killing 48 Iraqi high-ranking officers and two generals, just in one operation

The first sentences of his testament are interesting: "If a particle of the soil of my homeland had been pasted to the enemies’ boots, I will wash it to the land of my country with my blood and I never allow that a little land of my country to be occupied by these wild cruel enemies. I consider death as a pride for myself in this way. Even if I had something more precious than my life, for sure I would reward to the good people of my country.”?

And in another part of the testament is written: "In our place Shirood, there is a mountain where they say people would fight against Russia. If I find the honor of martyrdom, whatever be left from my body, even a piece of my body be left, it should be buried near the top of this mountain, so that my spirit will guard this country forever.”?

He was born in 1949 in Basl Kuh village located in Ramsar city; later this strong pilot had become famous as "Hussein Maverick", the hunter of Iraqi Ouza warships and they had determined prizes for the capture of him or his dead body. This pilot was well known in firing Maverick missiles (a kind of air to surface missile) in the Air Force.

Hussein spent his childhood and youth era in Ramsar city and after accomplishing his primary and high school, he went to the military service in 1970.

After accomplishing his military service, in 1972 due to the interest that he had for piloting, he entered the piloting college and after completing his primary courses, he went to the United States of America to take part in the advanced courses.

Before traveling to the United States, Hossein Khalatbari visits the family and gives the power of attorney to his mother that: "My mother you can use my monthly salary for solving the problems of the poor.”?

He started his first course in the United States of America, at the University of Shepard and then he was transferred to the University of Texas. His stunning talent in learning and directing the planes had caused that he be considered as a privileged student and all the university professors call his name as an outstanding student.

Meanwhile, because of special skills that he had in the pilot period, he accomplished the course of firing Maverick missile that was an air to surface missile, which by this missile all the types of vessels could be targeted successfully.

Eventually his pilot period was accomplished and he returns to Iran by receiving pilot's license in the F-4 aircraft and he starts his service in the Six Bushehr hunting Headquarters with the degree of second lieutenant.

When the wart started, the fast eagle of Mazandaran attacks the enemy immediately. As soon as the Iraqi regime started his invasion, the air force of the Iranian army launches two air raids. One of the military operations is given to Bushehr Air Force with the code “Alborz”?. The target was the site of Shaeebiyeh located in Basra province. By reaching to the target, Hussein had special skills in diving with aircrafts; he bombards all the predetermined objectives and returns to his headquarters healthy.

During the attack 140 of Eagle to Iraq he is the commander of 8 aircrafts and he attacks Baghdad. Higher maneuvers through the buildings and very low altitude and some other pilots in Baghdad city causes that the news agencies admire the skills of the Iranian pilots.

Mission, Al-Rashid and Al-Mosana Military Bases

In March 1981 in an interview with ideological political magazine of Air Force public relations he said: "My missions included the targets in marine, ports, bridges, refinery installations, electrical installations and support of ground forces of enemy. We never did the rule "Missile the response of Missile”? and... .

Martyr "Khalatbari" was among the first pilots that after the Iraq’s air raids against Mehr Abad airport, they attacked Baghdad. He expressed a memory regarding the first flight of the Sacred Defense Era as follows:

"My first offshore mission took place in 1980. After the bombardments of Iraqi Baathist forces against Mehr Abad Airport, we were demanded that we attack Baghdad with 8 air crafts. In the way to Baghdad, every five miles we would be attacked by the enemy. But we would not give up and we would move in the heart of sky, eventually we arrived to our targets and we attacked the military bases of Al-Rashid and Al-Mosana. My interesting memory regarding this mission was seeing a golden dome in the southern part of Baghdad. From the radio of the aircrafts I reported that “I’m seeing a golden dome.”?

Colonel Mohagheghi in response to my report said: “Your pilgrimage be accepted, that is the holy shrine of Imam Musa Kazim (AS). Suddenly the tears came to my eyes and said: “Asalamo Aleik Ya Aba Abdellah”?.

Mission, Shaeebeh Military Base

The mission was to destroy installations of Shaeebeh military base. Khalatbari was selected for this mission. He launches the operation successfully, and he makes some irreparable damage to the bodies of Baathist installations. When he was returning, the pilot assistant says: “Hussein it seems that the tip of the front side of missiles is tilted.”?

Martyr Khalatbari says: How?

The pilot assistant answers: Until now 28 rockets have been fired toward us, but none of them has hit us; indeed these were the miracles which we have witnessed them.

The Saga of November 28, 1980 (Morvarid Military Operation)

In the early days of November 1980 according to the coordination that was done in this field by the Iranian army air and sea forces, it was supposed that on Nove
28, 1980 we attack the two berths of "Albekr" and "Alamiyeh".

The operation day arrives and Hussein, the strong pilot of Mazandaran gets on his ironic horse and along with some other brave pilots such as martyr Major Abbas Dowran and martyr Major Yasini. Here Hussein does something that even until a long time after his martyrdom, the officers of the air force and naval forces of Iraq would fear by hearing this action.

Hussein started is interesting flying maneuvers, he put himself in the best position and he makes the Iraqi frigates drown one after another.

Martyr Khalatbari was able to destroy the Iraqi Ouza frigates, naval mines systems, torpedo bombers and several naval carriers with a total value of $ 240 million and to destroy the Iraqi Navy. After this military operation the nickname Maverick Hussein was given to martyr Khalatbari.

They would call him the killer of Ouza , now I don’t know how much information you have regarding the Iraqi Oza frigates. These frigates could target our carriers located in the Persian Gulf easily according to the long-range missile capability that they had.

When this strong fighter was serving in Bushehr city, he would get off his own aircraft and go to another aircraft during the military operations and he would he would show the attacks and procedure of attacks on T.V, that is why he had been famed as the killer of Ouza missiles.

According to experts, martyr Khalatbari’s use of aircraft F4, launching maneuvers and combat operations, and targeting the goals and firing Maverick missiles was unique. He was so skillful and in any diving, he would destroy several targets.

Attacking H3 was the most unique air strike of Hussein during 1981. Since the Iraqi Baathist regime had taken all of its aircrafts to Al-Valid military base near Jordan borders, the air force decides to destroy this military base as well. For the initial plan the most prominent air force pilots are chosen for this operation; this plan was because if the commander of the military group was targeted, the other pilots have these skills to find their targets and to destroy them.

After that some of the best pilots were selected that Hussein Khalatbari was among them.

Finally, in March 1981, eight phantom aircrafts flew from Hamedan air base and after four aerial refueling, the passed a distance of 1000 km and they bombarded Al-Valid military base and then all of them returned healthy.

The role of Hussein during this operation was stunning. At the time of reaching one of the sites, he makes great height and with a beautiful diving and consecutive maneuvers, he drops all the bombs on targets and brings another honor to our dear homeland; This operation is still being thought and investigated in the aerial schools of United States…

Mission, Attacking the Bridge of Al-Emareh

This mission was given to him by the commandership of the Sixth Hunting Headquarters that he attacks the bridge of Al-Emareh. Khalatbari and several of the brave pilots of this site are selected for this mission. The bridge was exactly in the center of the city. When Khalatbari reaches the bridge, the anti-aerial attacks of enemy reaches its peak. The cars which were clear they are private were moving on the bridge. He runs the risk and after passing them, he shoots the bridges.

When they asked him why he did it, he responded: I have a nice child. Once I felt maybe there is a child like my son Arash in the cars. How can I accept this that a father to hug his burnt child?

Burnt Baby from Dezful

I do not forget this that once I was in Dezful. A Lori woman gave her child to me and she said: “You are our pilot? You are without honor and should hold this child.”?

I wanted to say to mom! We are not without honor but there I saw that the woman was very angry.

When I heard the news of the fall of Khorramshahr and realized that the Iraqis did not do a favor even for the old people and children and that they have raped the women, I swore God that this time If I go to Iraqi I will bombard the Safavan town located in Iraq. Even though I had attacked the Iraqi territories for more than 70 times, but I was not able to convince myself. I must fight and death is an honor for me.

The Iraqi authorities have not relaxed by his presence. Due to his skills, in most of the operations he would act as the commander of categories flight deals to defend the homeland.

Oil installations, marine units, bridges and refineries of Al-Emareh and Kirkuk were repeatedly attacked and damaged by his bombardments. These activities were only a part of the sacrifices that this strong pilot of Iran did during the Iran-Iraq war era.

Critical mission

A mission was announced by the air force commander and Khalatbari is chosen for this mission. The mission was as follows:

The purpose was that the backside of the Iraqi forces who were supporting the front side to be bombarded heavily. The mission was so critical. The aircrafts had to pass 460 miles on the sky of strong defense of Iraqi forces. During this operation for several times the Iraqis targeted the F4 aircrafts with missiles for several times. The phantoms had exactly arrived on the targets, suddenly a Sam-6 missile passed from the over side of Khalatbari’s aircraft. The aircraft shook for a moment. Among the Iraqi forces, some of the houses are observed movable. Khalatbari notices these movements and it had been inspired to him that he must target these houses. The targets were the Iraqi tanks. But Khalatbari dives on the houses and bombard them.

According to the skills that he had in this field, in one dive, he bombarded all the houses. At this time which is 6:30 in the morning, Khalatbari returns to his headquarters immediately and his working report writes, we saw some movable houses and we bombarded them instead of the predetermined targets.

A day after that, from the special room they informed that: You should say Khalatbari that his vision was really good. When you targeted those movable houses, 48 Iraqi senior officials and two generals were inside the houses that were killed by the bombardments.

Physicians: you should not fly

Martyr Khalatbari during his presence in the war did more than seventy offshore flights over the enemy territory. Of course, these were only the deep flights to Iraq and if we add his flights over Persian Gulf during the Morvarid Military Operation, the number of flights will reach a high number.

Even though the physicians had banned the continuation of flying for him because of too much flights continuously, but Khalatbari was not the one that prefers his body to his country and the people of his country. That is why he did not accept the recommendation of the physicians and his military commanders to stop the flights.

That physicians with him because multiple consecutive flights, and he stresses that the object was imported from the flight ban had continued, but not someone who Khalatbari Jsmsh the soil and people of his country, and on preference, Physicians advised his commanders for war was not a war to stop flights.

The Champion of Marine Wars Gets Off Forever

The Nowruz holidays of 1985 are in the way, but it seems Hussein desires to do another trip. He stays in the military headquarters and he does not go to his homeland. In response to the question of his friends that say why you don’t go home to visit your family, relatives and your friends, he says; “Under these critical conditions, the people need our assistance at any moment. My conscience does not allow me to leave them alone.

On March 21, 1985, Khalatbari and Lieutenant Mohammad Zadeh are the alert shift of the Third Hunting Headquarters. Suddenly the sound of loud alarm announces alert in the military base.

Hussein Khalatbari along with the lieutenant himself tries to fly with a phantom aircraft code-named Ario 31 to deal with enemy planes. In Kurdistan they get involved with two aircrafts of MiG 23 and a MiG 25. He rapidly does turnover and continues the flight and he moves in the altitude of 35,000 feet and he targets one of the aircrafts that after the missile attack, one of the MiG will be shut down.

Meanwhile, from the ground radar stations inform Khalatbari that a MiG-25 aircraft is following him. In this battle that the fighting is unequal, the MiG-25 shoots an r-40 missile and the missile hits the phantom. Lieutenant Mohammad Zadeh is successful to eject and he becomes injured on his hand so badly and then he will be rescued by air forces, but the pilot Gen. Hussein Khalatbari does not have the opportunity to eject and as a result the champion of marine wars gets off and he joins the martyrs.

He rewards his chopped body as an honorary document to this nation and his body was escorted by so many pious people. His body was buried in the top of the mountain Mirza Kochak Khan (40 martyrs’ graveyard of Ramsar) so that as he wanted, his spirit will always guard this country.

The Iraqi television via a stilted news announced that Iraq has been able to kill one of the best pilots of Iran (to cause martyrdom), but they did not know, with martyrdom of Khalatbari, thousands like Khalatbari rise up from the people of Iran and pick the guns and to fight against them strongly.

His name is still popular among the people

During life and even after martyrdom, martyr Khalatbari repeatedly was named as a genius and war expert in the military magazines of the United States of America who could direct the F-4 aircraft in sensitive flights and maneuvers.

Also he was named as one of the successful and outstanding students and Shepard University of Texas at learning science during the F-4 pilot course in the interviews and talks by the university professors.

In 2006 one of the military magazines of America, published a specialization regarding the flight skills, initiative and creativity of martyr Khalatbari and introduced him as the best F-4 pilot of the world.

The End

Source: Islamic Republic of Iran’s Web Site

Major General Pilot Martyr Hussain Khalatbari known as Maverick Hussein was one of the most famous and most experienced pilots of the Iranian air force in a way that the enemies confessed to their disability and helplessness against the courage of this strong Iranian national; He was the champion hunter of Ouza Navies and the hero of naval and marine war against Iraq. Khalatbari, was one of the leaders of the great military operation “Kaman 99”? and the flight number 140 as and Iranian eagle on the sky of Iraq… He reminds us of a national myth of Iran “Arash Kamangir”? in determination of the borders between Iran and Turan; Moreover, the number of 99 is sourced from the 99-page plan of Alborz and it was the largest air assault after the Second World War in the world. Attack to H 3, the unique air raid and the outstanding role of Khalatbari Epic of November 28, 1980, and the military operation “Morvarid”? over the Persian Gulf Killing 48 Iraqi high-ranking officers and two generals, just in one operation The first sentences of his testament are interesting: "If a particle of the soil of my homeland had been pasted to the enemies’ boots, I will wash it to the land of my country with my blood and I never allow that a little land of my country to be occupied by these wild cruel enemies. I consider death as a pride for myself in this way. Even if I had something more precious than my life, for sure I would reward to the good people of my country.”? And in another part of the testament is written: "In our place Shirood, there is a mountain where they say people would fight against Russia. If I find the honor of martyrdom, whatever be left from my body, even a piece of my body be left, it should be buried near the top of this mountain, so that my spirit will guard this country forever.”? He was born in 1949 in Basl Kuh village located in Ramsar city; later this strong pilot had become famous as "Hussein Maverick", the hunter of Iraqi Ouza warships and they had determined prizes for the capture of him or his dead body. This pilot was well known in firing Maverick missiles (a kind of air to surface missile) in the Air Force. Hussein spent his childhood and youth era in Ramsar city and after accomplishing his primary and high school, he went to the military service in 1970. After accomplishing his military service, in 1972 due to the interest that he had for piloting, he entered the piloting college and after completing his primary courses, he went to the United States of America to take part in the advanced courses. Before traveling to the United States, Hossein Khalatbari visits the family and gives the power of attorney to his mother that: "My mother you can use my monthly salary for solving the problems of the poor.”? He started his first course in the United States of America, at the University of Shepard and then he was transferred to the University of Texas. His stunning talent in learning and directing the planes had caused that he be considered as a privileged student and all the university professors call his name as an outstanding student. Meanwhile, because of special skills that he had in the pilot period, he accomplished the course of firing Maverick missile that was an air to surface missile, which by this missile all the types of vessels could be targeted successfully. Eventually his pilot period was accomplished and he returns to Iran by receiving pilot's license in the F-4 aircraft and he starts his service in the Six Bushehr hunting Headquarters with the degree of second lieutenant. When the wart started, the fast eagle of Mazandaran attacks the enemy immediately. As soon as the Iraqi regime started his invasion, the air force of the Iranian army launches two air raids. One of the military operations is given to Bushehr Air Force with the code “Alborz”?. The target was the site of Shaeebiyeh located in Basra province. By reaching to the target, Hussein had special skills in diving with aircrafts; he bombards all the predetermined objectives and returns to his headquarters healthy. During the attack 140 of Eagle to Iraq he is the commander of 8 aircrafts and he attacks Baghdad. Higher maneuvers through the buildings and very low altitude and some other pilots in Baghdad city causes that the news agencies admire the skills of the Iranian pilots. Mission, Al-Rashid and Al-Mosana Military Bases In March 1981 in an interview with ideological political magazine of Air Force public relations he said: "My missions included the targets in marine, ports, bridges, refinery installations, electrical installations and support of ground forces of enemy. We never did the rule "Missile the response of Missile”? and... . Martyr "Khalatbari" was among the first pilots that after the Iraq’s air raids against Mehr Abad airport, they attacked Baghdad. He expressed a memory regarding the first flight of the Sacred Defense Era as follows: "My first offshore mission took place in 1980. After the bombardments of Iraqi Baathist forces against Mehr Abad Airport, we were demanded that we attack Baghdad with 8 air crafts. In the way to Baghdad, every five miles we would be attacked by the enemy. But we would not give up and we would move in the heart of sky, eventually we arrived to our targets and we attacked the military bases of Al-Rashid and Al-Mosana. My interesting memory regarding this mission was seeing a golden dome in the southern part of Baghdad. From the radio of the aircrafts I reported that “I’m seeing a golden dome.”? Colonel Mohagheghi in response to my report said: “Your pilgrimage be accepted, that is the holy shrine of Imam Musa Kazim (AS). Suddenly the tears came to my eyes and said: “Asalamo Aleik Ya Aba Abdellah”?. Mission, Shaeebeh Military Base The mission was to destroy installations of Shaeebeh military base. Khalatbari was selected for this mission. He launches the operation successfully, and he makes some irreparable damage to the bodies of Baathist installations. When he was returning, the pilot assistant says: “Hussein it seems that the tip of the front side of missiles is tilted.”? Martyr Khalatbari says: How? The pilot assistant answers: Until now 28 rockets have been fired toward us, but none of them has hit us; indeed these were the miracles which we have witnessed them. The Saga of November 28, 1980 (Morvarid Military Operation) In the early days of November 1980 according to the coordination that was done in this field by the Iranian army air and sea forces, it was supposed that on Nove 28, 1980 we attack the two berths of "Albekr" and "Alamiyeh". The operation day arrives and Hussein, the strong pilot of Mazandaran gets on his ironic horse and along with some other brave pilots such as martyr Major Abbas Dowran and martyr Major Yasini. Here Hussein does something that even until a long time after his martyrdom, the officers of the air force and naval forces of Iraq would fear by hearing this action. Hussein started is interesting flying maneuvers, he put himself in the best position and he makes the Iraqi frigates drown one after another. Martyr Khalatbari was able to destroy the Iraqi Ouza frigates, naval mines systems, torpedo bombers and several naval carriers with a total value of $ 240 million and to destroy the Iraqi Navy. After this military operation the nickname Maverick Hussein was given to martyr Khalatbari. They would call him the killer of Ouza , now I don’t know how much information you have regarding the Iraqi Oza frigates. These frigates could target our carriers located in the Persian Gulf easily according to the long-range missile capability that they had. When this strong fighter was serving in Bushehr city, he would get off his own aircraft and go to another aircraft during the military operations and he would he would show the attacks and procedure of attacks on T.V, that is why he had been famed as the killer of Ouza missiles. According to experts, martyr Khalatbari’s use of aircraft F4, launching maneuvers and combat operations, and targeting the goals and firing Maverick missiles was unique. He was so skillful and in any diving, he would destroy several targets. Attacking H3 was the most unique air strike of Hussein during 1981. Since the Iraqi Baathist regime had taken all of its aircrafts to Al-Valid military base near Jordan borders, the air force decides to destroy this military base as well. For the initial plan the most prominent air force pilots are chosen for this operation; this plan was because if the commander of the military group was targeted, the other pilots have these skills to find their targets and to destroy them. After that some of the best pilots were selected that Hussein Khalatbari was among them. Finally, in March 1981, eight phantom aircrafts flew from Hamedan air base and after four aerial refueling, the passed a distance of 1000 km and they bombarded Al-Valid military base and then all of them returned healthy. The role of Hussein during this operation was stunning. At the time of reaching one of the sites, he makes great height and with a beautiful diving and consecutive maneuvers, he drops all the bombs on targets and brings another honor to our dear homeland; This operation is still being thought and investigated in the aerial schools of United States… Mission, Attacking the Bridge of Al-Emareh This mission was given to him by the commandership of the Sixth Hunting Headquarters that he attacks the bridge of Al-Emareh. Khalatbari and several of the brave pilots of this site are selected for this mission. The bridge was exactly in the center of the city. When Khalatbari reaches the bridge, the anti-aerial attacks of enemy reaches its peak. The cars which were clear they are private were moving on the bridge. He runs the risk and after passing them, he shoots the bridges. When they asked him why he did it, he responded: I have a nice child. Once I felt maybe there is a child like my son Arash in the cars. How can I accept this that a father to hug his burnt child? Burnt Baby from Dezful I do not forget this that once I was in Dezful. A Lori woman gave her child to me and she said: “You are our pilot? You are without honor and should hold this child.”? I wanted to say to mom! We are not without honor but there I saw that the woman was very angry. When I heard the news of the fall of Khorramshahr and realized that the Iraqis did not do a favor even for the old people and children and that they have raped the women, I swore God that this time If I go to Iraqi I will bombard the Safavan town located in Iraq. Even though I had attacked the Iraqi territories for more than 70 times, but I was not able to convince myself. I must fight and death is an honor for me. The Iraqi authorities have not relaxed by his presence. Due to his skills, in most of the operations he would act as the commander of categories flight deals to defend the homeland. Oil installations, marine units, bridges and refineries of Al-Emareh and Kirkuk were repeatedly attacked and damaged by his bombardments. These activities were only a part of the sacrifices that this strong pilot of Iran did during the Iran-Iraq war era. Critical mission A mission was announced by the air force commander and Khalatbari is chosen for this mission. The mission was as follows: The purpose was that the backside of the Iraqi forces who were supporting the front side to be bombarded heavily. The mission was so critical. The aircrafts had to pass 460 miles on the sky of strong defense of Iraqi forces. During this operation for several times the Iraqis targeted the F4 aircrafts with missiles for several times. The phantoms had exactly arrived on the targets, suddenly a Sam-6 missile passed from the over side of Khalatbari’s aircraft. The aircraft shook for a moment. Among the Iraqi forces, some of the houses are observed movable. Khalatbari notices these movements and it had been inspired to him that he must target these houses. The targets were the Iraqi tanks. But Khalatbari dives on the houses and bombard them. According to the skills that he had in this field, in one dive, he bombarded all the houses. At this time which is 6:30 in the morning, Khalatbari returns to his headquarters immediately and his working report writes, we saw some movable houses and we bombarded them instead of the predetermined targets. A day after that, from the special room they informed that: You should say Khalatbari that his vision was really good. When you targeted those movable houses, 48 Iraqi senior officials and two generals were inside the houses that were killed by the bombardments. Physicians: you should not fly Martyr Khalatbari during his presence in the war did more than seventy offshore flights over the enemy territory. Of course, these were only the deep flights to Iraq and if we add his flights over Persian Gulf during the Morvarid Military Operation, the number of flights will reach a high number. Even though the physicians had banned the continuation of flying for him because of too much flights continuously, but Khalatbari was not the one that prefers his body to his country and the people of his country. That is why he did not accept the recommendation of the physicians and his military commanders to stop the flights. That physicians with him because multiple consecutive flights, and he stresses that the object was imported from the flight ban had continued, but not someone who Khalatbari Jsmsh the soil and people of his country, and on preference, Physicians advised his commanders for war was not a war to stop flights. The Champion of Marine Wars Gets Off Forever The Nowruz holidays of 1985 are in the way, but it seems Hussein desires to do another trip. He stays in the military headquarters and he does not go to his homeland. In response to the question of his friends that say why you don’t go home to visit your family, relatives and your friends, he says; “Under these critical conditions, the people need our assistance at any moment. My conscience does not allow me to leave them alone. On March 21, 1985, Khalatbari and Lieutenant Mohammad Zadeh are the alert shift of the Third Hunting Headquarters. Suddenly the sound of loud alarm announces alert in the military base. Hussein Khalatbari along with the lieutenant himself tries to fly with a phantom aircraft code-named Ario 31 to deal with enemy planes. In Kurdistan they get involved with two aircrafts of MiG 23 and a MiG 25. He rapidly does turnover and continues the flight and he moves in the altitude of 35,000 feet and he targets one of the aircrafts that after the missile attack, one of the MiG will be shut down. Meanwhile, from the ground radar stations inform Khalatbari that a MiG-25 aircraft is following him. In this battle that the fighting is unequal, the MiG-25 shoots an r-40 missile and the missile hits the phantom. Lieutenant Mohammad Zadeh is successful to eject and he becomes injured on his hand so badly and then he will be rescued by air forces, but the pilot Gen. Hussein Khalatbari does not have the opportunity to eject and as a result the champion of marine wars gets off and he joins the martyrs. He rewards his chopped body as an honorary document to this nation and his body was escorted by so many pious people. His body was buried in the top of the mountain Mirza Kochak Khan (40 martyrs’ graveyard of Ramsar) so that as he wanted, his spirit will always guard this country. The Iraqi television via a stilted news announced that Iraq has been able to kill one of the best pilots of Iran (to cause martyrdom), but they did not know, with martyrdom of Khalatbari, thousands like Khalatbari rise up from the people of Iran and pick the guns and to fight against them strongly. His name is still popular among the people During life and even after martyrdom, martyr Khalatbari repeatedly was named as a genius and war expert in the military magazines of the United States of America who could direct the F-4 aircraft in sensitive flights and maneuvers. Also he was named as one of the successful and outstanding students and Shepard University of Texas at learning science during the F-4 pilot course in the interviews and talks by the university professors. In 2006 one of the military magazines of America, published a specialization regarding the flight skills, initiative and creativity of martyr Khalatbari and introduced him as the best F-4 pilot of the world. The End Source: Islamic Republic of Iran’s Web Site