Jameel Sayhood
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Jamil Sayhood Ismail | |
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| Native name | جميل صيهود اسماعيل |
| Born | 1961 Nineveh Governorate |
| Allegiance |  Iraq |
| Branch |  Iraqi Air Force |
| Rank | .svg){kind=small}
Captain |
| Battles / wars | Gulf War |
Captain Jamil Sayhood Ismail (Arabic: جميل صيهود اسماعيل) was an Iraqi Air Force pilot who flew combat missions during the Gulf War in 1991. He is known for his bravery and skill during aerial engagements against coalition forces, as well as for surviving a harrowing ejection and sustaining severe injuries.
Early Life
[edit]Jamil Sayhoud Ismail was born in 1961 in the town of Al-Khiraat, Iraq. His passion for aviation began in childhood when he watched fighter jets fly overhead during low-level navigation training missions.
Military Career
[edit]In 1981, he was accepted into the Iraqi Air Force Academy as part of the 40th class. He graduated in January 1984 with the rank of Second Lieutenant (Pilot).
Following his commissioning, he completed a conversion course to supersonic aircraft on the MiG-21, where he ranked first in his class in gunnery. He was then assigned to the 9th Squadron at Ubaydah Bin Al Jarrah Air Base in Wasit Governorate, becoming an operational pilot in 1985. His duties included air interception and quick reaction alert (QRA) missions to defend Iraqi airspace.
Due to his high proficiency in flying and combat engagement, in September 1988 he was selected for the MiG-29 conversion program, which had entered Iraqi service in 1987 as part of a plan to strengthen the Iraqi Air Force's combat capabilities. Upon completing the course, he became an operational MiG-29 pilot capable of executing combat missions in both day and night conditions, holding the rank of Captain at the time.
Gulf Crisis and Squadron Formation
[edit]With increasing regional tensions leading up to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the Iraqi Air Force High Command decided to form two MiG-29 squadrons, each consisting of 22 aircraft. The 6th Squadron was based at Tammuz Air Base in Al-Habbaniyah, while the 39th Squadron was stationed at Qadisiyah Air Base (now known as Ain al-Asad Air Base).
Gulf War Combat Missions
[edit]First Engagement
[edit]On the night of 17 January 1991, shortly after the coalition air campaign began, Captain Ismail took off from Qadisiyah Air Base at 21:00 hours. During this mission, the right rudder's nitrogen accumulator malfunctioned, causing the aircraft to enter a sideslip condition. Although regulations required aborting the mission in such emergencies, Ismail chose to proceed.
Despite flying below optimal combat speed (~700 km/h) and enduring significant physical strain due to limited aircraft control, he succeeded in disrupting enemy aircraft formations, prompting pursuit by F-15 Eagle fighters. He descended to very low altitudes, executing rapid evasive maneuvers, and returned to base under extreme pressure.
During final approach, while enemy fighters were likely still in pursuit, he performed a high-speed emergency landing with a smooth touchdown, despite the unstable condition of his aircraft. This mission remains one of his proudest achievements.
Second Engagement
[edit]On 19 January 1991, Ismail led a two-aircraft formation of MiG-29s, callsign "Ali", from Qadisiyah Air Base. Shortly after takeoff, his wingman lost visual contact and was ordered to hold at 3,000 meters. Meanwhile, Captain Ismail was vectored by Major Khalid Al-Qaisi of the Haditha Radar Center towards four targets at 9,000 meters.
Upon reaching altitude, he was informed that the targets had descended. Spotting them visually in two formations, he dived to 2,000 meters and engaged them with infrared-guided R-60MK missiles, achieving two direct hits. Due to low fuel warnings, he disengaged, shut down afterburners, performed a "roll-off-the-top" maneuver, and headed toward emergency landing area near kilometer 160.
While climbing back to 6,000 meters at 700 km/h, he was intercepted by two F-15 Eagles. A Sidewinder missile struck his aircraft’s tail from below, causing a critical failure and spin. Captain Ismail ejected successfully, though his parachute deployment process was severely compromised.
Ejection and Injury
[edit]During ejection:
- The shoulder harnesses slipped due to high G-forces.
- The ejection seat’s stabilizing rods, designed to prevent tumbling, pierced through his parachute harnesses.
- The seat failed to detach and remained tethered via the stabilizing rods.
- Parachute deployed at 4,000 meters, but the 150 kg seat's weight increased descent speed and destabilized the canopy.
He impacted the ground with extreme force, suffering:
- Compression fracture and dislocation of the L1 vertebra
- Cauda equina injury (spinal cord)
- Multiple compression fractures in cervical and lumbar spine
- Partial flaccid paralysis of the lower limbs
Despite immobility, he managed to release the parachute to avoid being dragged. Roughly two hours later, local Bedouins found him after being informed by a water tanker driver who had passed by but offered no help.