Iranian Air Power Volume 1: The History of Military Aviation in Iran, 1924-1946

The nation of Persia (Iran after 1935) emerged from the First World War weak and turbulent due to government corruption. The influence of nations like Russia and Britain began to shape the internal history of Iran, before unravelling the complex, violent 20th century military history of the country, which encompasses two world wars, regional movements, foreign intervention, tribal uprising and anti-government revolts, and conflicts on the Soviet border, for which the armed forces were spread too thin to supress. After the Qajar dynasty was overthrown by Reza Shah, the Pahlavi dynasty came to power in 1925. The new Shah, a military officer, had followed the development of airpower during the First World War and soon the Iranian government started negotiations with Germany to start their own armed forces. Soon, the first aircrews flew in Iranian service which were used for supporting the armed forces in the large, mountainous country in their struggles against various rebels, proving very effective in their missions, despite the limited supply of aircraft. Soon, France, the USSR and Great Britain all sought to sell aircraft to the Persian Army Air Corps and gain influence in Iranian politics. In the years leading up to the Second World War, various flight schools and numerous air bases were built and the renamed Imperial Iranian Air Force was equipped with a plethora of aircraft. Due to its strategic location and pro-German stance, Iran was invaded by combined forces from the UK and USSR in August 1941. During six days of fighting, the brave airmen of Iran flew their outdated aircraft against superior forces. The results were predictable and the invasion resulted in the occupation of Iran until the end of the Second World War. AUTHOR: Leon Manouchehrians was born in Tehran, Iran in 1950, to Armenian parents. With his passion for aviation he spent all his 28 years of life in Iran studying the history of Iranian civil and military aviation. By writing articles in Farsi language aviation magazines, he was invited to work at the Imperial Iranian Air Force publishing department as a civilian at the age of 24. After his move to the United States in 1978, he started publishing the Iranian Aviation Review magazine. He is also the author of the Illustrated Directory of Civil Aircraft of Iran. He lives in Glendale, California. 1 b/w illustration, 162 b/w photos, 18 colour profiles, 2 b/w maps, 3 colour maps, 19 tables