“The guard of sky” a memory from martyrdom day of Pilot Ahmad Keshvari

In the name of God

In this throe, announced from Ilam’s Air Force Site that there is wild sulfur in the region. Wild Sulfur was a code for Enemies planes! In this situation when I looked at my tope, two Iraqi planes were flying over my head.

It was 15^th of Azar of 1359. In Qouchali’s strait – helicopter hangar – we were checking helicopters. Ahmad was restless and hasty, I said to him: "be patient, let us do everything carefully.”

Finally, we started. We had to go to headquarter of captain Mousavi. Our mission was to fire up new series of tanks that were deployed in borders. I got exact address of tanks positions and we played toward Bijar’s strait and before Meymek’s heights we gradually got up to top of mountain and we came out of hidden state.

In that day, Ahmad’s assistant was co-pilot Rahim Pezeshki and I were in second helicopter. Because those who were flying with helicopter of second Kobra, saying that this helicopter hadn’t power for crossing on the mountains. Ahmad who was commander of Fire team, said to me that with pilot Javad Samimi take in helicopter Kobra two. A jet ranger helicopter also completed our fire team.

We had to go from eastern side of Meymek mountain to western side. I suspect that in this movement an Iraqi watch in Meymek Mountain could shoot us. With Ahmad’s measure, we came downer than the hillside and we continue in mount groove and in riverbed for cross the valley, and then entered into Iraq.

Lik Plain was located in left and Meymek was in right side and our flying direction was north-west. Some tanks were recently entered to the area and they even didn’t become painted, firstly we fired them. Then we saw the target that four or five tubes was on them, in that time there were the topic of new cannons, Khamse Khamse, a lot. One of our friends also confirmed this. We’ve launched several missiles toward Khamse Khamse, a lot of dusts were coming up. Ahmad look around with a binocular which was for tanks’ watch and always was with him and said: "gays, the missile hit the target but the main and upper part didn’t destroy. It need an inconsiderable missile!”

In this throe, announced from Ilam’s Air Force Site that wild sulfur in the region. There was Wild Sulfur was a code for Enemies planes! In this situation when I looked at my tope, two Iraqi planes were flying over my head.

Ahmad Keshvari said: "Fazlollah, you continue and I keep an eye on everything.”

We shoot the next two missile and Khamse Khamse exploded. Airplanes gradually came done. I return to Iran’s borders. I was in front of everyone, Ahmad and Jet ranger were in behind.

In river groove we moved zigzag that the planes couldn’t shoot us. With Ahmad’s command, we reduced our speed, this is a tactic for encountering with plans. Fighter aircrafts couldn’t reduce their speed because they going to fall. Because they haven’t that much power lifting to tolerant their weight. From first till second screw of strait Ahmad was in behind. In fourth screw, I realized nobody is in behind.

I said in Radio: "Ahmad come, where are you?!”

Said: "slower, slower!”

I said: "the tactic of slow is not for this groove! Our speed must be more.”

Again, Ahmad invite us to silence. The pilot of Jet Ranger – MehrAbadi- said: "I would hover behind Ahmad.”

I was considering to planes that located in left side and behind helicopters and it was ready for shooting. They were too close that pilot’s white hat and his hand’s gesture was obvious. He with hand’s gestures and with pointings was saying to us that finally we would shoot you!

Me and Javad had just arrived to Iran’s borders, but Ahmad and rescuer were in that side of border. One of planes was flew over my head and suddenly soared into the sky and drew a circle in sky and again turned to diving mode. I realized the plane changed its shooting tactic and wanted to powder us in the sky with firing barrage.

Immediately I exited from right side of groove to be safe from plane firing. Again, I kept going in groove way. Other helicopters located in river groove of mountain region of Meymek. In a moment I saw Ahmad’s airscrew and the plane dived toward them and targeted Ahmad. Ahmad’s helicopter fell into bottom of the valley and Meymek Bina strait. MehrAbadi was in behind of him and tried to rescue him with some maneuvers, but because enemy’s fire was heavy and tick he inevitably left the region.

In this moment, a group of partisans and MalekShahi nomads of Meymek saw falling of Ahmad’s helicopter. Even one of them jumped down to reach faster to falling area from a height of 7-8 meters that for his scarifying jump his feet broken.

I still was struggling with the plane and continue moving forward. There was a place with dense weeping willow trees which were covering the plain and river, I went to the river and sat under the trees. I turned off helicopter and I said to co- pilot: "guide the helicopter, I will go down.”

I went into the river, at first water was up to my boots. Gradually I went forward and water became deeper and came up to my knees and until whatever I went ahead it became deeper. Water came up to my back, when I walk a few steps suddenly under my feet became empty and I floated in water and I forced to swim.

After a while, I noticed sound of water splash, when I looked carefully I realized here is that waterfall that always we saw it in our flying. In a moment, I said to myself: "if I fall down from sharp edge of it, I will die.”

Again, I returned by swimming and went to my helicopter. I started the helicopter and turned on the radio, I contacted with MehrAbadi and said: "where are you? What did you do? Did you rescue the fellows?!” MehrAbadi said to me that he rescued injured people of helicopters, I took off and flied in the sky. In retune I noticed one of enemy’s planes shut by our air defense.

The watch of air defense saw those planes which are coming to our helicopters and he sent a missile to them and shut them. When the second pilot realized that he was alone left the region immediately.

When Iraqi plane gone, I returned to place of accident, I saw the helicopter was burning in a tribble fire and I couldn’t become close to it. I moved to Ilam, because MehrAbadi told me he rescued the injured, so I was relaxed. I sat behind Imam’s hospital and I ran toward hospital.

I heard Rahim Pezeshki’s screams -Ahmad’s co-pilot. When he saw me, said with crying: "Mashhadi, where is Ahmad?! I said: "he is in the room.”

I went to MehrAbadi and asked: "what happen to Ahmad?!”, he said: "I didn’t see Ahmad.”

I went to pilot Behrooz A’sgari that it was supposed to shot from our operation by Ahmad’s request that we could use films in our training class. When I saw Behrooz I became destroyed. He had laid his hands on and crying mildly. I realized that Ahmad was left behind in Ilam’s mountains.

With a driver of Simorgh jeep and with a few other people including a MalekShahi partisan hardly went to Bina-Meymek strain. In there, suddenly, I saw Ahmad’s flight jacket that was burnt. I yell: "Mr. Ahmad, my bro, dear Ahmad.”

I saw the Azari driver is looking at something with tears. I followed his gaze and something attracted my attention under the burn wing. When I went forward I saw bulletproof and part of the helicopter and… in there I encounter with lifeless body of Ahmad. In that moment, a drop of blood felt from his eyes. The helicopter’s fire was so intense that Ahmad’s flight hat was melted and only two knuckle was remained. I pulled off his hat …

the next day, was funeral of martyr Keshvari’s body in Ilam, which was great and unprecedented. The most people of Ilam were came to his funeral and they came to say goodbye to air guard of their city. All people while crying, according to rituals, were pour soil to their face and head.

After funeral of martyr Keshvari in KermanShah and Tehran, finally in 18^th Azar of 1359 buried in Tehran’s Behesht- e- Zahra (a.s).

A small house with a light lantern, p 122.