F-14A "Persian Tomcat"
After the 1979 Iranian revolution, the Tomcats continued to serve with the newly formed Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF). However, the crews, many of whom had been trained in the US and were closely associated with the previous regime under the Shah, were mistrusted. Some of them fled the country and others were even jailed. When war broke out with Iraq, in 1980, the Air Force badly needed its Tomcats, however, and some of the crews were reinstated. Stories about the jets' effectiveness vary. The official line is that only few aircraft were operational and were mainly used as flying radar stations. Unofficial accounts, such as Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat, by Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop, mention Tomcats achieving dozens of kills against the Iraqis.
F-14A "Persian Tomcat"
After the 1979 Iranian revolution, the Tomcats continued to serve with the newly formed Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF). However, the crews, many of whom had been trained in the US and were closely associated with the previous regime under the Shah, were mistrusted. Some of them fled the country and others were even jailed. When war broke out with Iraq, in 1980, the Air Force badly needed its Tomcats, however, and some of the crews were reinstated. Stories about the jets' effectiveness vary. The official line is that only few aircraft were operational and were mainly used as flying radar stations. Unofficial accounts, such as Iranian F-14 Tomcat Units in Combat, by Tom Cooper and Farzad Bishop, mention Tomcats achieving dozens of kills against the Iraqis.