Known by friends and relatives as “Col Mo” or just simply “Mo,” he received numerous citations and awards while serving over 23 years in the U.S. Air Force. He flew over 100 missions as F-105 “Thud Driver” over North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He also had four combat jumps in Vietnam with the U.S. Army Special Forces and Vietnamese Rangers. In 2001 he was inducted into the Nevada Aerospace Hall of Fame for his work with Civil Air Patrol.
After his 3rd ejection, Mo was transferred to the Instrument School at Bitburg, Germany where he taught fellow pilots to fly instruments in the T-33 under Red Beall another super troop in the 36th Fighter Wing. Some months later while Mo was flying in poor weather, there was a distress call by a Dutch pilot who needed to be rescued. The panicked Dutch Pilot (with the help of Mo and a great GCI) were brought together and they landed in formation at Bitburg. Some weeks following the incident, Mo was cited by the Queen of Holland for his role in saving a Dutch Pilot’s life and his aircraft.
Mo’s flying career did not end with the Air Force. He was a 47-year member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Eventually, he acquired his own Cessna 182 airplane and flew numerous flights with the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary-Civil Air Patrol, where he became commander, Nellis senior Squadron, Las Vegas. He was also the Nevada Wing chief Check Pilot. From the Civil Air Patrol, he again received a multitude of awards, decorations, and letters of commendations. He flew numerous search and rescue missions which were credited with nine finds and saving two lives. He also flew counterdrug and border patrol missions along the Arizona/Mexico border.
His accumulated flying time with the USAF and CAP as of May 1, 2004 numbered 10,732 hours. Col Mohamed flew too many different types of fighter jets and conventional airplanes to specify. His love of flying, patriotic duty and helping others were always unsurpassed.
After military service, he also worked for Lockheed and EG&G. He was very active with the Boy Scouts of America receiving the Silver Beaver award. He raised over one million dollars for the Salvation Army in the Las Vegas Fund Drive. He attained a bachelor of (military) science from the University of Maryland. Every person loved to be around “Mo.” He had the knack of making us all feel in good spirits. Although he lived his last 48 years in Las Vegas and loved it, he always remained a true New Yorker, he loved his Empire State and of course his New York Yankees. We will sorely miss him.
Many will always see and remember him when they look up to an airplane flying overhead.
(source: https://obits.reviewjournal.com/obituaries/lvrj/obituary.aspx?n=rezk-m-mohamed&pid=144452180)
Rezk Mohamed II, LtCol USAF, R., “Headed West”on July 30, 2010.
Lt. Col. Rezk M. Mohamed ll, U.S. Air Force (retired), 78, of Las Vegas, passed away July 30, 2010. He was born April 3, 1932, in Manhattan, N.Y., and was a 48-year resident of Nevada. Known by friends and relatives as “Col Mo” or just simply “Mo,” he received numerous citations and awards while serving over 23 years in the U.S. Air Force.
Col Mohamed is a graduate of the Nellis Center’s USAF Weapons School and has himself flown over 100 missions as F-105 “Thud Driver” over North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He also had four combat jumps in Vietnam with the U.S. Army Special Forces and Vietnamese Rangers. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal with Ten Oak Leaf Clusters. Mo’s flying career did not end with the Air Force. He was a 47-year member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Eventually, he acquired his own Cessna 182 airplane and flew numerous flights with the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary-Civil Air Patrol, where he became commander, Nellis senior Squadron, Las Vegas.
He was also the Nevada Wing chief Check Pilot. From the Civil Air Patrol, he again received a multitude of awards, decorations and letters of commendations. He flew numerous search and rescue missions which were credited with nine finds and saving two lives. He also flew counterdrug and border patrol missions along the Arizona/Mexico border. His accumulated flying time with the USAF and CAP as of May 1, 2004 numbered 10,732 hours. Col Mohamed flew too many different types of fighter jets and conventional airplanes to specify. His love of flying, patriotic duty and helping others were always unsurpassed.
After military service he also worked for Lockheed and EG&G. He was very active with the Boy Scouts of America receiving the Silver Beaver award. He raised over one million dollars for the Salvation Army in the Las Vegas Fund Drive. He attained a bachelor of (military) science from University of Maryland. Every person loved to be around “Mo.”
He had the knack of making us all feel in good spirits. Although he lived his last 48 years in Las Vegas and loved it, he always remained a true New Yorker, he loved his Empire State and of course his New York Yankees. We will sorely miss him. Many will always see and remember him when they look up to an airplane flying overhead.
He was preceded in death by his devoted wife, of over 20 years, Donital L. Mohamed; mother, father, and only sibling, sister, Johanna. He is survived by his only son, Rezk Mohamed lll; stepdaughters, Jill Bicknel, Heidi Woodhouse and Eric Garris; step-grandchildren, Devan and Adriana Bicknel, Veronica, Tim, Bri-ann and Brett Woodhouse and John and Mark Owens; and nephews, John Schimek (Susan), Peter and Rudy Schimek (Doris and Marilyn) and their families. Visitation was held on Aug. 6, with services following. Burial followed at Palm Valley View Memorial Park.
(source: https://obits.reviewjournal.com/obituaries/lvrj/obituary.aspx?n=rezk-m-mohamed&pid=144452180)
Rezk M. Mohammed, II – Caterpillar Story – Not once, not twice, but 3 times!
Rezk Mohammed II was a kid from Southhampton, NY who forged a distinguished and eminent career in the U.S. Air Force. It was not, however, without incident. Three times he ejected from his aircraft, mercifully unhurt, though that can’t be said for the 2 F-100’s and an RAF-84.
In January of 1956 Mo was out on a practice mission out of Eindhoven AB in an RAF-84 Thunderstreak. During the run, he became low on fuel and ejected over the Province of Friesland in Norway. He suffered no injuries and the jet crashed in Lake IJsselmeer.
October of 1956 brought more trouble in the air for Mo. Ray Cleber was Flight Commander at the time and Mo was deputy Flight Leader. Ray happened to be on Mobile Control when Mo and Johnny Jones were given a fairly good weather report for their flight. Johnny Jones was on Mo’s wing and had NO radio.
There was ELFCA lighting to the runway, and if the aircraft was more than 15 degrees off from the runway heading, it would not receive the lights that take you to a safe landing. After the first attempt at landing failed, Ray requested a fuel check and Mo said he had the fuel to take him to Bitburg Air Base with GCA. It was raining so hard at the time that Mo stated he would make one more 360-degree turn and try again.
In the meantime, the Dutch Approach Control had allowed a Dutch C-47 to enter the pattern unknown to Mo or Ray. The tops of the clouds were about 2,000 and the C-47 was in the clouds when Mo entered the airspace, still unaware of the C-47. Mo had to abruptly pull up to miss the C-47. Johnny saw that he was over the Runway, chopped power, pulled the drag chute and disappeared in a rooster tail down the runway, and Ray thought that if Jones didn’t hit the breaking spot on, he might end up in the Officers Club which was off to the left. Jones was one lucky pilot and stopped in plenty of time and were glad to have him safely on the ground.
By this time Ray had suggested to Mo, who was still in the air, that he was contacting Leeuwarden that had the choppers for Rescue and to head that way. Mo climbed to around 17,000’ before his plane ran out of fuel. Still short of Leeuwarden but over land, he ejected and landed safely where the Rescue Chopper picked him up and brought him back to Soesterberg. The plane came down in the Wilhelmina canal near the village of Oosterhout in the Netherlands. Enough errors were made by the Dutch and Mo that most of the blame stayed with the Dutch.
The third time, Mo was on a training mission, flying out from Soesterberg Air Base. At approximately 100 feet just as he was over the town of Hilversum, he noticed smoke and fire in the cockpit. Ejection at this altitude would have been impossible and he continued to gain altitude steering the flaming jet toward Ulsemeer Lake. At the time of the ejection, he separated from his seat and parachuted down. On the way down he wondered where his seat and his plane had gone.
The seat came down on Coehorrnstreet in Hilversum and remained hanging from the roof of a house owned by the Edelstein family. Mo himself landed on the roof of a home for the elderly called Villa Clara. His first call after reaching safety was to his wife followed by a call to the 32nd FIS.
The F-100 flew on and crashed on the property of a military camp in Bussem. Four soldiers who had been walking on the road were killed in the crash. One of the wings had detached and hit another soldier, a young sergeant killing him. The impact of the aircraft left devastation all over the camp and a nearby street.
The crash was investigated by a team led by General J.E. Roberts. There were considerations due to the fact that Mo Rezk had crashed 3 times. The board of investigators found no relation between the incidents and Mo Rezk went on to accumulate 10, 732 flying hours in numerous aircraft.
