Page 15
Info Eduard - December 2010
Page 15
HISTORY
The first two photographs of Shahak 768 were taken at the beginning of the seventies during an open house at one of the Israeli bases, probably
Ramat-David. The aircraft carries the 117th Tajeset marking, to which the aircraft was assigned at the end of 1970.
(Isradecal Studio Archive)
by Asher Snir (Shahak 85), and a MiG-21 by each of Ran
Ronen (Shahak 83) and Eliezer Prigat (Shahak 68). From
October 21st, 1967, tallies rose in the so-called War of
Attrition, which didn’t end until August, 1970.
An interesting kill was gained in the cockpit of Shahak
68 by Reuven Rozen on April 14th, 1969. For the first
time in the history of the Heyl Ha’Avir, a kill was gained
using the American air-air missile, the AIM-9B, known
in the Israeli Air Force as the ‘Barkan’ (Thorn), and the
victim was an Egyptian MiG-21. These missiles were
pressed into service by the Heyl Ha’Avir a short time
prior, as a component of the purchase of the American
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, known in Israel as
the ‘Kurnass’ (Sledgehammer). Combat with Egyptian
MiG-21s was also in the cards on May 21st, when a group
of them attempted to infiltrate over Israeli held areas of
the Sinai. Opposing them was the pair of 119 squadron
Mirages; Asher Snir (Shahak 68) and Eliyahu Menachem
operating out of the Sinai forward base of Refidim. This
pair was quickly joined by another pair of 119 squadron
Mirages lead by Ran Ronen (Shahak 03) and Reuven
Rozen (Shahak 58) who took off out of Tel Nof. During the
ensuing combat, three of the Bat squadron pilots downed
a MiG-21 each (Ronen, Snir and Rozen) and a forth
MiG-21 was downed by a Hawk anti-aircraft battery.
Over the next year, Shahak 68 raised its total by
another four kills, which were progressively added by
Amos Amir, Asher Snir, and two by Avraham Salmon.
Mirage 68’s final documented kill came on July 30th,
1970, when Asher Snir took part in the trap to down
Soviet flown MiG-21MF pilots operating out of Egypt. The
119th squadron was represented by Amos Amir, Asher
Snir (Shahak 68), Avraham Salmon (Shahak 78) and
Avraham Gilad. From the total of five Soviet MiG-21MF’s
downed, the pilots of the Bat squadron accounted for 2.5.
Bat squadron Mirage operations ended in October
1970 as the squadron began reequipping with the
F-4 Phantom II. 119 squadron personnel that opted not
to continue on to operate and fly the Phantom were
distributed among the remaining Shahak units - the 101st
and 117th squadrons. Shahak 68 was assigned to the
No. 117 Tayeset Ha’Silon Ha’Rishona (First jet squadron)
based at Ramat David. Mirage 68 was lost on January
9th, 1973, when, during a low level flight it crashed into
the Sea of Galilee killing the pilot Ran Meir.
Aerial Victories of Mirage 68:
Date Tayeset Pilot Victim Armament
used
8. 6. 1967 119 Avraham Salmon MiG-19 (Egypt) cannon
8. 6. 1967 119 Avraham Salmon MiG-19 (Egypt) cannon
15. 7. 1967 119 Eliezer Prigat MiG-21 (Egypt) cannon
14. 4. 1969 19 Reuven Rozen MiG-21 (Egypt) AIM-9B
21. 5. 1969 119 Ašer Snir MiG-21 (Egypt) cannon
2. 7. 1969 119 Amos Amir MiG-21 (Egypt) cannon
11. 9. 1969 119 Ašer Snir MiG-21 (Egypt) cannon
2. 4. 1970 119 Avraham Salmon MiG-21 (Sýrie) cannon
16. 5. 1970 119 Avraham Salmon MiG-21 (Egypt) AIM-9E
30. 7. 1970 19 Ašer Snir MiG-21 (SSSR) AIM-9D
Sources:
Shlomo Aloni: Israeli Air Force - Tayeset 119, AiDOC 2007
Shlomo Aloni: The June 1967 Six-Day War, Isradecal Publications 2008
Shlomo Aloni: Israeli Mirage and Nesher Aces, Osprey Publishing 2004
Yoav Efrati: Colors and Markings of the IAF, Isradecal Publications 2005
Acknowledgements: I would like to extend my sincere thanks for their help
with photographs and in the preparation of this article to Yoav Efrati and
Ra’anan Weiss of Israel.