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Inanaddendatotherecentlypublishedbook"ArabMiG19andMiG21UnitsinCombat",byDr.DavidNicolleandTomCooper,Franz
VajdaandTomCooperprovidethisindepthanalysisofArabairpoweron5June1967.

Algeria
QJJ(alQuwwatalJawwiyaalJazaeriya)
HavinggaineditsindependencefromFranceonlyin1962,AlgeriawasacompletelynewappearanceinthewarsbetweentheArabsand
Israel.Thetrueextensionofitsparticipationinspecificphasesofthisconflictremainslargelyunknownuntiltoday.
In1967theQJJwasstillayoungservice:theAlgerianAirForcewasformedonlyinNovember1962withSovietandEgyptianhelp
aroundfiveMiG15s,12GomhouriahssuppliedfromEgypt,and12CzechC.11s(Yak11).Afterpurchasingadditionallightaircraftand
helicoptersfromtheUSAandFrance,in1963morecombataircraftwereacquiredfromtheUSSRagain,including15MiG15bis,few
MiG15UTIs,20MiG17Fs,and12Il28s.AfterashortwarwithMorocco,in1963,in1964and1965evenmoreaircraftwerereceived,
including20MiG17Fs,12additionalIl28s,andthefirsteightMiG19sandsixMiG21F13s.ByJune1967theAlgeriansthereforehada
fullydevelopedregimentwiththreesquadronsofMiG17s,onebomberregimentwithtwosquadronsIl28s,amixedfightersquadron
withMiG19sandMiG21s,onesquadronofMiG15sandatransportregimentwithasquadroneachofAn12sandIl14s.
AlmostalltheAlgerianMiG17sandcertainlyallMiG21sweresenttoEgyptduringthewar.FlyingviaTunisiaandLibyatheaircraft
formedintotwolargeMiG17units,andoneMiG21unittheystartedarrivingalreadyontheafternoonof5June,althoughmost
followedonthefollowingday.

Egypt
UARAF
TheEgyptianAirForcewasdefinitelythemostpowerfulArabairarmin1967.Itboasted560aircraftandhelicopters,plusasmall
reserve,ofwhich431werecombataircraft,including278modernMiG19sandMiG21s,Su7s,andTu17s.combatand200support
aircraftandhelicopters,staffedby11.000militaryand5.000civilianpersonnel.Thislargeforcesawadecadeoffascinating
developmentsincethelastwarinwhichitparticipated.
AlthoughthereweresomenegotiationswiththeUSAimmediatelyaftertheSuezCrisis,inlate1956Egyptonceagainturnedtothe

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USSRforacquisitionofnewweaponsneededtorebuilditsbatteredmilitary.TheSovietswereswifttousetheopportunityandpromised
suppliesofarmsandequipmentworth$150million,inadditiontoalreadygrantedloansforthebuildingoftheAsswandam.Alreadyin
March1957threeSovietmerchantsarrivedinAlexandria,with15MiG17,tenIl28,andradarequipmentfortheEAF.Meanwhileallthe
aircraftevacuatedtoSaudiArabiaandSyriawerereturnedtoEgypt.
AdditionaldeliveriesfromtheUSSR,aswellas650Soviet,Polish,andCzechoslovakinstructorsenabledEgypttocompletelyrebuildand
reorganizeitsairforce,butalsostandardisetheequipment.ByJuly1957theEAFboastedalmost100MiG15sandMiG17s,and40Il
28s,andmanyoftheseaircraftwerepresentedtothepublicduringalargeparadeinCairoon23ofthesamemonth.Atthesametime
alargenumberofEgyptianofficers,pilots,andtechniciansweresenttotheUSSR,Poland,Bulgaria,andCzechoslovakiafortraining,
feweventotheUSA.SomeofthemweretospenduptofouryearsondifferentcoursesoutsideEgyptinthefollowingyears,asthe
investmentintrainingandfurtherdevelopmentoftheEAFwasmassive.InthecourseofthefollowingyearstheEgyptianshave
completelyreorganizedtheirairforce.ManywouldsaythatthenewstructurewasaccordingtotheSovietdoctrine:theEgyptians,
however,alwaysstressthattheyweredoingtheirthingsintheirownway,takingsomeidesfromtheSoviets,butothersalsointhe
West.
Indeed,theEAFwasnowformedintoAirBrigades,eachofwhichconsistedofusuallythreeunitsandwasconnectedintoacentralized
airdefencesystem,controlledbytheSupremeCommandCouncil(SCC),itselfundercontroloftheGeneralHeadquarters.Some
brigades,orunitswithinthemwereactuallyputunderadirectcontroloftheArmy.Ontheothersideofthechainofcommandair
brigadeswerelocalcontrolcentres,inturnintegratedintoanewlyestablishedcommandandcontrolsystem,supportedbytwodozens
ofradarstationsandnumerousgroupsofgroundobservers.Mostoftheexistingairfieldswerealsoenlargened,withadditionalhangars,
workshops,anddepotsbeingbuilt.
Whenin1958Egypt,YemenandSyriajoinedintotheUnitedArabRepublic,theEAFwascorrespondinglyrenamedintoUnitedArab
RepublicAirForce(UARAF),anditscommandstructureenlargenedtocontrolalsotheSyrianandtheYemeniairforces.Despiteintense
cooperationandunitexchangeinthefollowingyears,however,theUARAFwaseventuallynevertobecomeareallyunitedairforce.
ThesimplereasonwasthattheEgyptianairforcewaswellrelativelydeveloped,equipped,andtrained,butalsoconfrontedwith
completelydifferentproblemsthantheothertwoforcesthatmadetheUARAF.TheSyrianArabAirForce(SyAAF),forexample,was
sufferingfromseveralsubsequentcoupsinDamascus,eachofwhichbroughtanewpurgeofcommandingofficers.TheYemeniAir
ForcewasexistentonlyduetoextensiveEgyptiansupport.Besides,exceptIsrael,allthethreepartsoftheUARAFhadalsodifferent
otherenemies.Syria,forexamplewasantagonizedbyTurkeyandIraqasmuchasbyIsrael,whileYemenhadnobordertoIsraelat
all.
Nevertheless,theestablishmentoftheUARmadeEgypttotheleadingArabnation,andacquisitionsofadditionalaircraftdevelopedthe
EgyptianpartoftheUARAFintothemostpowerfulairforceintheMiddleEast.EveniftheUARwasnottolastverylong(itfellapart
alreadyin1961,mainlybecauseofanewregimethatclimbedtopowerinDamascusafteranothermilitarysupportedcoup),the
EgyptianairforcekeptitsnameandwasthereforestilldesignatedUARAF.
By1960theEgyptianairforcewaslargerthanthewholeIDF/AF.MostoftheEgyptianfighterswerealsomoreadvancedthanthetypes
flownbytheIsraeli:theEgyptianpartoftheUARAFboastednolessbutfourregimentswithatotalofalmost150MiG15sandMiG
17F/PFs,oneregimentwithsome60Il28bombers,andonetransportregimentwithIl14sandAn12s.However,inthesubsequent
yearstheEgyptianpartoftheUARAFwastobefacedbyconsiderableproblems,mostofwhichwereconnectedwiththesimultaneous
acquisitionofalargenumberofcombataircraftofanentirelynewgeneration,butalsoduetoEgyptsinvolvementinthewarinYemen.
Between1958and1965Egyptpurchasedatotalof100MiG19Sfighters.Originally,thenumberofacquiredairframeswasmuchlower,
andonlyenoughtoorganizetwosizeableunits,the20thand21stFighterSquadrons.However,theaircraftprovedtohaveseveral
seriousflawsinconstruction,themostimportantonebeingthatthepipingofthehydraulicsystemwaspositionedtooclosetotheengine
andthussufferedfromoverheating,causinganumberofcatastrophicaccidents.Thenumberofavailableaircraftfellsorapidly,thatby
1964the20thand21stSquadronhadtobecombinedintoonelargeunit.OtherArabairforceshadevenmoresignificantproblems
whenoperatingMiG19s,however,soin1964adecisionwastakentheEgyptianstotakeoverallthe30remainingSyrianandtenIraqi
examples.WhiletheexIraqiMiG19swereflowntoEgypt,amajorityofSyrianMiG19sremainedinSyria,butweregiventotwo
EgyptianUARAFunitspermanentlybasedthere.
MeanwhiletheEgyptianslearnedabouttheappearanceofanewfighterjet,capableofflyingatMach2,butrelativelysimpletofly:the
MiG21.Excellentflyingcharacteristics,armamentoftwo30mmcannonsandausefulrangingradarmadethe21exceptionally
interesting.Whenin1961itbecameknownthatIsraelwasabouttoorderwhatwasthoughttowouldbe40MirageIIICsfromFrance,
EgyptimmediatelyorderedasimilarnumberofMiG21FsfromtheUSSR,andthefirstgroupofEgyptianpilotswassenttotheUSSRfor
training.Thefirst40MiG21F13sarrivedinEgyptalreadyinJuneandJuly1962,formingasingleregimentofthreesquadrons.In1963,
however,theUARAFlearnedthatthetotalIsraeliorderwasfor72Mirages,andconsequentlyasecondorderforMiG21F13swas
issuedtoincreasethenumberofthesefightersto120,andequipacompletedivisionwiththem.Afterthepilottrainingprovedmore
complexthanexpected,in1964also40MiG21Uswereacquired,whileinthesameyearalsothefirst40allweatherMiG21PFswere
purchased,usedtoreequipthreeunitsthatwerepreviouslyflyingMiG21F13s:thisolderversionwasthencascadedtootherunits,
previouslyflyingMiG17sandMiG19s.
In1962theUARAFwasfurtherreinforcedby30TupolevTu16bombers,anumberofwhichbelongedtotheTu16K1116version,
equippedwithAS1andAS5guidedairtogroundmissiles,andcouldtargetIsraelfromsafedistances,withouttheneedtoriskbeing
interceptedbyIsraelifighters.AsingleregimentwiththreesquadronsofTu16swasformedin1964,butitwasstillintrainingin1967.
Inthemeantime,theacquisitionprocessofMiG21swascontinued,asin1966theUARAFpurchasedalso75improvedMiG21PFM
fighterstoestablishfournewsquadrons.Actually,nonewsquadronswereestablished:fourselectedunitsconvertedtothisvariant,
cascadingtheirownMiG21F13sandMiG21PFstootheralreadyexistingunits.ManyF13sandPFsweremeanwhilelostin
accidents,whilesomeweregiventootherairforces.Consequently,althoughpurchasingnolessbut235MiG21sbetween1961and
1967,andatleastonthepaperhavingsixinterceptorandsixfighterbombersquadronsequippedwiththemon5June1967the
UARAFeffectivelyhadonly108MiG21sinservice,whichwereenoughforonlynineunitsof12aircrafteach!
Anotherveryimportantdeliverywas64Su7BMKgroundattackplanesbetweenJuly66andJune67.theEgyptianpilotsdislikedthe
type,becauseofitsshortrange,butalsobecauseoflotsofdefectsandlittlefightingcapabilityduetoitssmallpayload.But,theSoviets
insisted,andthusthefirstbatchof64aircraftwasordered,followedbyasecondbatchof30.ByJune1967atotalof64weredelivered
andtherewereplanstoorganizeafulldivisionwithtworegimentsandsixsquadronswiththem.But,byJune1967onlytheNo.55
Squadron,basedatFaid,wasabouttocompletetheconversion,having15qualifiedpilotsand15operationalSu7BMKs.
Itshouldbementionedhere,thatintheearlyandmid1960sEgyptwasalsoinvestingheavilyintothemanufactureoftheHa200and
thenthedevelopmentoftheHa300jetaircraft.ThefirstwasatrainerdevelopedinSpain,63ofwhichwerebuiltattheAircraftWorks
inHulwan,asHa200alKahiras,butwhichsufferedfromunreliableengines.TheHa300wasamuchmoreambitiousprojectforalight
weight,deltawinged,supersonicfighter,developedwithGerman,Austrian,andSpanishhelp,andwithIndianinvolvement.Thishighly
interestingandpromisingproject,however,wascancelledafterthewarin1967.
Intotal,by1967theEgyptianairforcewasaverymodernairarm,wellequipped,butthequalityofthetrainingofitspersonnelwas
different.TheUARAFforemostlackedsufficienttechnicianstokeepitsaircraftoperational.Outofsome700qualifiedpilotsand150
navigators,onlyroughly150wererotatedtoYemenwheretheygainedcombatexperience,andbarelymorethan200couldhavebeen
consideredasexperienced.Mostoftheotherswerestillinthemiddleofthetrainingofonesortortheother,andexactlythis,together
withthefundamentalweaknesseswithintheSCCaswellastheGeneralHeadquarters,wastoeventuallyproveasthemainweaknessof
theUARAF.Namely,theEgyptianslackedanythingbutaverygeneralplanforthecaseofawar:despitehavingtheonlyairforcein
possessionofdedicatedlightandmediumbombersinthewholeMiddleEast,theEgyptianswerenotexpectingtodeploytheirairpower
inoffensivemanner.Infact,mostofthecommandingofficersinresponsiblepositionssimplydidnotknowwhattodointhecasethe
fightingwouldbreakout.Mostwerealsonotreadytoactontheirown,insteadpreferringtowaitforordersfromabove:ifthesewould
notarrive,theirunitswoulddonothing.Thehighlycentralizedcommandsystemwasalsoslowtoforwardcommandsdowntovarious
squadrons,andthecooperationbetweentheUARAF,theArmyandtheNavywasthereforeverypoor.AlthoughtheEgyptianpilotsand
officerswereconfidentandtheirequipmentmodern,theirexperiencesfromYemenaswellascombatagainsttacticalfightersasflown
bytheIsraeliwerecompletelyignored,andthewholeforcewasactuallyuntestedincombat.Brig.Gen.(ret.)TamimFahmiAbdAllah
criticisedtheSoviettrainingconceptsofthetime(seePhoenixovertheNile,p:
Ididntlikethekindoftrainingweweregettingbecauseitwasveryhypothetical.Wewerenotunique,probablytheSovietUnionandall
Sovietbloccountriestrainedthesameway,butIwillneverforgiveusforfollowingthissamepath.WewereincombatalotinYemen,
soweshouldhaveknownbetter.ButwegotourequipmentfromtheSovietsandwebelievedthem,wedidntbelieveourselves.We
wereflyingallthetimeathighaltitudes,highspeedssupersonicmuchofthetime.Anyonewhowouldfllowcouldgetcourtmartialled.
IwasonceinbigtroublebecauseIflewlow.WedidsoinYemenalot,butafterwecamehomeitwasforgotten.
ManyEgyptianofficerscomplainedtheSovietswerenottrainingthemanytacticsatall.Brig.Gen.(ret.)QadrialHamidconcluded(ibid,
p.198):
Wewerelackinginthetheoryofaircombat:theRussianshadgivenustrainingbutnotgoodtactics.TheytrainedustoflyatMach2and
dohighlevelinterceptsandnightfighting.Allofthisdidnothappeninthe1967WarwithIsraelitwasallfoughtonthedeck.Youtrain
forsomething,andifitdoesnthappenthatway,youarentprepared.
Maj.Gen.AbdelNasr,formerChiefofStaffoftheUARAFcommented(WingsoverSuez,p.366):
WhentheRussianscametheyemphasisedtrainingtomakeusstaffandgeneralofficers.Theydidntteachustacticsbuttheysucceeded

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inteachingustothinkinaproperandorganizedmanner...WhenIwasintheSovietUnionIhadmanyrelationswiththetraining
departmentbecauseofmyjob.Iwasdiscussingwiththemhowtotrainourtroops.Idiscoveredthattheygaveusacoursein
elementarytrainingbuttheydidntteachustactics.Theyhadtheirowntacticsbuttheywouldntbegoodforusbecausetheydepended
uponmassingandheuseoflargenumbersthatwerenotavailabletous.
ContrarytotheIsraeliAirForce,weretheaggressivenessandinitiativeweresomeofthemainpredispositionsforallofficersandpilots,
theEgyptianswerenotpermittedtooperateaggressively,asCol.(ret.)TahsinZakirecalled(PON,p.192):
Iwascommanderofthe2ndAirWingofMiG17sduring1965,whichincludedasquadronofMiG17sstationedpermanentlyatalArish.
OurorderswerenottoflyneartheEgyptianIsraeliborder,buttheIsraelisoftenpenetratedourairspace,flyingverylow,evenright
overalArishairport.Thismademypilotsfeelverybadbecauseoftherestrictionsthehighcommandhadputagainstpenetratingthe
Israeliborder.Toboostthemoraleofmypilots,Iallowedthem,attimes,topenetrateatlowleveluntilBeersheba.
Consequently,whileimpressiveonthepaper,theUARAFhadsomeseriouslimitations.TahsinZakicommentedinsummary:
Weheldexercisestotesttheefficiencyofourairdefenceagainstlowflyingaircraft.Theairdefencesfailedcompletelytospotany
aircraftflyingbelow400metersbecauseoftheoutmodedRussianradarsthatwereincapableofdetectinganyaircraftflyinglow.A
meetingwasheldattendedbythesupremecommanderoftheAirForce.ThismeetingendedafteroneoftheRussianadvisorssaidthat
theairdefencesystemoftheUARwassoundbutneededsomeminormodificationsoftheSAMsitesnorthoftheCanalZonewhich
surprisedmealot!
Finally,theUARAFwasalsonottrainedforoperationsathightempo.Itstechnicianswerenottrainedtomatchasshortturnaround
timesofaircraftliketheIsraeliswere,andtheEgyptianscouldsedummaintainmorethanbetween60and65%oftheiraircraftin
operationalcondition.EvenifthiswasareadinessratecomparablewithsuchairforcesliketheUSorSovietatthetime,itwas
insufficientagainstIsrael.PerhapsforthisreasontheSCCturneddownrequestsfromlocalcommanderstoflypermanentcombatair
patrolsalongtheSuezCanalandthemostimportantairbases,explainingtherewasnomoneyforthat.Quiteonthecontrary,evenin
thefinaldaysbeforethewartheUARAFinterceptorunitswereflyingonlypatrolsintheearlymorning:after0800hrsalltheaircraft
wouldbeontheground,rearming,refuellingandwiththeircrewsgettingbreakfast.Inthelightofthefactthatnotonlyofficerswithin
theUARAF,butalsosomehigherrankingofficershavewarnedofthewaytheIsraeliswouldattackEgypt,itiscompletelyunclearwhy
wastheEgyptianhighcommandignoringthelessonsfromthewarinYemenorsuggestionsfromitsownexperiencedofficersandpilots
whyweretheaircraftnotdispersedandairbasesreadiedtosurviveasurprisingIsraelistrike.
UARAF:OrderofBattleon5June1967
TheorganizationalstructureoftheUARAFon5June1967wasextremelycomplex,thenintheweekssinceitwasmobilized(on13May
1967)mostoftheunitsweremovedaroundagreatdealinanattempttoconfusetheIsraeliintelligence.Additionally,manyunitswere
preparedtooperatefromseveraldifferentbasesinadditiontotheirmainbase,andhadtheiraircraftdispersedonuptothree
differentairfields.ToincreasetheproblemsintrackingdowntheEgyptianunits,itmustalsobesaidthatin1965theUARAFwas
completelyreorganized,receivingnewsquadronnumbersinseparateblocks,whilemostofthedesignationsforunits1thru29were
kepttoo.InthefaceoftightsecuritymeasuresintroducedaftertheSixDayWar,manyformerpilotsandmoderndayobserversare
thereforestillconfusedabouttheexactdesignationanddislocationofnumerousunitsuntiltoday.Theorderofbattleofferedbellowis
thebestavailableinthemoment.
Itshouldbeadded,thatinJune1967theUARAFhadatotalof431combataircraft,including124MiG15/17s,80MiG19s,108MiG21s,
60Su7BMKs,29Il28s,and30Tu16s,aswellasalargenumberofsupportandtransportaircraft,andhelicopters.
1AB
(thisbrigadewasscheduledforconversiontoSu7BMK,whichweretoequipthreesquadrons,butby5June1967onlyoneunitbecame
operational)
55Sqn,15Su7BMK,FayidEgyptianSu7swerealsoleftinbaremetaloverall,andworesmallblackserialsontheforward
fuselage:7664
UnknownSqn,information
UnknownSqn,information
2ABelArish
(thisBrigadewasscheduledforconversiontoSu7BMK,whichweretoequipthreesquadrons,butthiscouldnotbedonebefore5June
1967)
24Sqn,MiG15bis,JebelLibni
31Sqn,MiG15bis,Kibrit
UnknownSqn,formationonSu7BMKplanned
3or4(?)AB
43Sqn,MiG21F13,statusandbaseunknown(probablyonlynominallyexistent)
46Sqn,MiG21F13,statusandbaseunknown(probablyonlynominallyexistent)
47Sqn,MiG21F13,statusandbaseunknown(probablyonlynominallyexistent)
5AB
10Sqn,20MiG21F13&1MiG15UTI,BirJifjafah/alMulayz
22Sqn,MiG21PFM,Kibrit
26Sqn,MiG21PFM,Kibrit

AsdeliveredtotheUARAF,alltheMiG21F13swereinbaremetaloverall.Theoriginalbatchof40woresmallblackserials
ontheforwardfuselageintherange5001thru(probably)5040.Thesecondbatchof80MiG21F13swereleftinthesame
coloursandwiththesameformofserials,probablyinrangefrom5801thru5919.Withtheseaircrafttheoriginal5th,7th,
and9thAirBrigadeswereformed,in1964.

7AB
41Sqn,MiG21F13,CairoInternational
42Sqn,MiG21F13,AbuSawayr
45Sqn,MiG21F13,AbuSawayr
EachUARAFsquadronhadahandfulofMiG21Us.Thesewereleftinbaremetaloverallandworesmallblackserialsontheforward
fuselage,intherange5601thru5640.

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9AB
40Sqn,MiG21PF,Faid
44Sqn,MiG21PF,Inshas&BirJifjafah/alMulayz
49Sqn,MiG21PFM,Inshas
TheEgyptianMiG21PFswerealsoleftinbaremetaloverallandtheyworesmallblackserialsontheforwardfuselageintherange5401
thru5440.ThemoreadvancedMiG21PFMswereleftinbaremetaloverallaswell,butsomewereobservedhavingsmallblackanti
glarepanelsinfrontofthecockpit.Theirserialswereintherange5201thru5240.

12AB(ThemainbaseofthisunitwasKibrit,anditsmaintaskwasclosesupportfortheArmy.Forthatpurposepartsofitssquadrons
wereputdirectlyundertheArmyCommand.)
25Sqn,MiG17F,Kibrit,elArish&BiralThamadah
31OCU,MiG17PF,Kibrit&Luxor

15AB
20/21CombinedSqn,MiG19,Hurghada/alGhardagah
?Sqn,MiG17s&MiG19sinDamascus,Syria

20AB
5Sqn,MiG17F,elArish
18Sqn,MiG15&MiG17F,elArish&JabelLibnialuminiumoverall,redwhitechequeredrudder

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61AB
2Sqn,MiG17,BifalThamadah
8LightBomberSquadron,Il28,AbuSawayrbaremetaloverall,blackserialontheforwardfuselage:1733
9LightBomberSquadron,Il28,CairoWest&RasBanas
?LightBomberSquadron,Il28,CairoWest

65AB
?MediumBomberSquadron,Tu16,CairoWest
?MediumBomberSquadron,Tu16,BaniSuwayf
95MediumBomberFlight,Tu16K1116,CairoWestaircraftwereleftbaremetaloverall,buthadlargeblackserialsinPersian
charactersontherearfuselage:4374,4384
Otherunits
7HelicopterSquadron,6Mi6CairoWest
11TransportSquadron,DC3/C47/DakotaCairoWest&elMansourah
12HelicopterSquadron,Mi4,BirJifjafah
?TransportSquadron,Il14,CairoWest&Bilbeis
16TransportSquadron,An12B,CairoWest,Aswan
40Sqn,Mi8,BirJifjafah&Hurghada/alGhardagah&
ThedetailedlossesoftheUARAFduringtheSixDaywarwereasfollows:
89MiG15/17s(including9inairtoaircombat)
29MiG19(including16inairtoaircombat)
98MiG21s(including29inairtoaircombat)
27Su7BMK(includingfourinairtoaircombat)
29Il28(includingtwoshotdowninaircombats)
29Tu16s
24Il14s(includingoneshotdownbytheIsraelifighters)
8An12s(includingoneshotdownbytheIsraelifighters)
1Mi4
10Mi6
4othersupportaircraftwerelostaswell
Thiswasanobviousandveritablecatastrophe,especiallythatbythetimehardlyahandfulofEgyptianMiG21smeretensurvived
thewar,exceptforthefewsuppliedbyAlgeriafrom5Juneonwards,atleastone,butmostprobablythree,ofwhichendedinIsraeli
hands,whentheyweresenttoelArishairfield,whichwasalreadycapturedbytheenemy.Certainly,itisknownthatoutofsome40
MiG17sandMiG21ssentbyAlgeriatoEgypt,onlybetweensixandeightwerereturnedin1968.Nevertheless,immediatelyafterthe
waramassiveresupplywasstarted.TheCzechshavesent30MiG21F13s(serialledfrom5701upwards)andstartedadeliveryor122
modernL29trainers.75MiG21PFMfromtheUSSRweresuppliedbytheendof1967aswell(serialled8001upwards).Muchmore
problematicwasreplacementofsome100fullyqualifiedpilotskilledduringthewar.InordertobolsterthetrainingtheUARAF
consequentlypurchased24additionalMiG21USaswell(serialled5641upwards).

Iraq
IrAF
Meanwhile,theIraqisfollowedacompletelydifferentpoliticsinregardstotheequipmentoftheirairforce.Essentially,theRIrAFofthe
1950swascompletelyBritishtrainedandequipped.TheRIrAFwasalreadyoperating12VampireFB.Mk.52s,sixVampireT.Mk.55s,as
wellas19VenomFB.Mk.1sandFB.Mk.50ssincethemid1950s.In1956alsothefirst15HunterF.Mk.6wereordered:theywere
suppliedwithUSfinancialhelpintwobatches,thefirstofwhichconsistedoffiveaircraftdeliveredinApril1957,andthesecondof
tenaircraftdeliveredinDecember1957,allfromRAFMiddleEaststocks.In1958theUSAsuppliedalsofiveF86FSabrestoIraq.The
HuntersenteredservicewiththeNo.1Squadron,basedatTahmouz/HabbaniyahAB.TheSabres,however,werenottoenterservice:

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theywereparkedinahangaratalRaschidAB,andwereleftthereforsometiimebeforebeingreturnedtotheUSA,intheearly1960s.
ThesituationinIraqchangedcompletelyafterthebloodycoupthatseepttheyoungKingFeisalfrompower,in1958,afterwhichthe
newregimealliedwiththeUSSR.ThefightingintheaftermathofthecoupsawthefirstcombatuseofHunters,whenF.Mk.6softheNo.1
Sqn(togetherwithFuryF.Mk.1softheNo.4Sqn)wereusedtorocketandstrafferoyaliststrongholdsinsouthernIraq.
OnceagaintheSovietswereveryswifttoreacttotheIraqirequestsforarmssupplies,andalreadyn1958thefirstMiG15sandMiG
17sweredeliveredtoIraq,enteringservicewiththeNo.5Squadron,replacingVampires.In1962Iraqthenacquired40MiG19from
theUSSR,followedbythefirst12MiG21F13s.TheIraqisexperiencedexactlythesameproblemswiththeirMiG19sliketheEgyptians,
andthisfacthamperedthefurterordersfromtheUSSRforanumberofyearstocome,whilemostoftheMiG19sweresoldtoEgypt,in
1965.
Meanwhile,aftertwootherchangesofdifferentregeimesinBaghdad,by1964IraqwaspurchasingnewfightersonlyfromtheUK,so
thatbetween1964and1966between42and45additionalexampleswereacquired.Theseweresuppliedintwolargebatches,
designatedF.Mk.59(24exBelgianexamples,broughttotheFGA.9standardbeforedeliverey),andFGA.59A(18exDutchexamples,
alsobroughttoFGA.9standardbeforedelivery),allofwhichhadtheirflapscutouttoenablethecarriageoflargeexternaltanks.
Finally,fiveF.Mk.59Bswereadded,allofwhichwerecompatiblewiththreecameranosesforphotoreconnaissance.NewHunterswere
usedtoreinforcetheNo.4andNo.7Squadrons.
Ingeneral,mostoftrainingandtraditionsoftheIraqiAirForceatthetimewereofBritishorigins,andRAFrelated.Inthe1950sfuture
IraqiHunterpilotsweretrainedatRAFChivenor,andtheirtrainingsyllabuswasalmostcompletelybasedonthatoftheRAFHunter
units.Iraqipilotsofthetimeflewbetween170and200hoursannually,withseveralmainexerciseseachyear,especiallyinairto
groundandairtoairgunnery.TheappearanceoftheSovietsinIraq,startingwith1958,changedalmostnothing:theIraqissawthe
USSRonlyasaweaponssupplier,andwantednoSovietpoliticalinfluenceintheircountry.Consequently,eventhepilotsflyingMiGs
continuedusingthetacticalmethodstheyinheritedfromtheBritish.
Infact,itwasnotbefore1966thattheIraqisrealizedthattheBritishwouldnotsellthemtheirLightninginterceptorsandthereforefelt
compelledtocontactMoscowagain,withanorderfornolessbut60MiG21PFs.Thesefighters,however,werenottoreachIraqbefore
theSixDayWar,andthereforeinearlyJune1967theIrAFwasorganizedasfollows:
No.1Sqn/FlightA,HunterF.Mk.6H3/alWallid&Tahmouz/Habbaniyah
ThefirstbatchofIrAFHunterswaspaintedExtraDarkSeaGreyandDarkGreeninstandardRAFpatternover,Silverundersides.These
aircraftworeblackserialsontherearfuselage:394,396,401,403,575,579andothers.
The16F.Mk.6ssuppliedin1957wereallfromRAFstocks,andtheirBritishserialswere:
XJ677
XJ678
XJ679
XJ681
XJ682
XK143
XK144
XK145
XK146
XK147
XK152
XK153
XK154
XK155
XK156
Twooftheseaircraftwereseenwithserials570and578inservicewiththeIrAF.

No.1Sqn/FlightBoperatedthefiveFR.Mk.10sIraqacquiredin1966.AllwereactuallysuppliedunderthedesignationF.Mk.59B,and
wereexDutchaircraft,convertedtoFGA.9standard,albeitcompatiblewiththreecamerareccenoses.TheIraqiFR.Mk.10shadtheir
nosesand/orfinspaintedinred,likethiswasthecasewithJordanianreconnaisanceHuntersaswell.Theexactsignificanceofthese
markingsareunknown.TheirformerDutchserialswere:
N205
N221
N259
N263
No.2BomberSquadron,Il28,MoascaralRashid
IraqiIl28swereleftinbaremetaloverallandhadblackserialsappliedontheforwardfuselage,repeatedonthefin.Knownserialsare:
423(Il28U),426,428(Il28U).
No.3TransportSquadron,AFlight,Freighter,Il14,An12BP
FordetailsaboutIraqiBristolFreightersseearticleIraqiAirForcesince1948,intheArabianPeninsulaandPersianGulfdatabase.
IraqreceivedatleastsixAn12sby1967.ThefirstthreewerepaintedGreyoverall,cockpitroofinwhite,titleI.A.FinblackinArabic
charactersunderneaththecockpit,repeatedinPersiancharactersontherearfuselage:501,502,505,506,636,805,806.
TheonlyknownphotographofanIraqiIl14isinblackandwhite,andshowstheaircraftincamouflagecoloursprobablyconsistingof
DarkGreenandSandover,andRussianLightBlueunderneath,withoutanyserials,butwithalargerIraqiflashonthefin.
No.3TransportSquadron,BFlight,Mi1&Mi4,MoascaralRashid
No.3TransportSquadron,CFlight12WessexMk.52and?Dragonfly,MoascaralRashid
BothtypeswerecamouflagedinDarkEarth/LightBrownover,AzureBlueunderneath.OnlyoneserialforaDragonflyisknown,applied
inBlackontheboom:332.
No.4FighterSquadron,HunterF.Mk.59A,H3/alWallid&Habbaniyah
ExtraDarkSeaGreyandDarkGreeninstandardRAFpatternover,Silverundersideswhiteserialsontherearfuselageknownare
629633,657661,and665677.ThisunitmainlyflewF.Mk.59Assuppliedbetween1963and1965,mostofwhichwereexBelgianand
exDutchF.Mk.6s,broughttotheFGA.9standard.Theirformerserialswere:
IF6
IF10
IF11
IF14
IF20
IF21
IF24
IF27
IF28

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IF32
IF48
IF75
IF79
IF80
IF88
IF94
IF107
IF114
IF122
IF126
IF140
IF142
N234
N247
No.5FighterSquadron,MiG17F,Kirkuk
IraqiMiG17swereleftinbaremetaloverall,andworeblackserialsonthefrontfuselage,probablyrepeatedonthetopofthefin.
Knownexamplesare:343and452.
No.6FighterSquadron,VenomF.Mk.1&FB.Mk.52(replacedbyMiG21PFsin1968),Habbaniyah
FordetailsseearticleIraqiAirForcesince1948,intheArabianPeninsulaandPersianGulfdatabase.
No.7OCU(OperationalelementdesignatedNo.702Squadron),HunterF.Mk.59/F.Mk.59A&T.Mk.66,Habbaniyah:
ExtraDarkSeaGreyandDarkGreeninstandardRAFpatternover,Silverundersideswhiteserialsontherearfuselage.Thisunit
foremostoperatedtwoseatHunters,includingtheoriginalthreethatcameintoexistencethroughconversionofexBelgianF.Mk.6sIF
68,IF84,andIF143,andwereserialled567,568and569inIrAF,afterdeliveryin1962.However,twoadditionalserialsofIraqi
T.Mk.66sareknown,626and627,whichshouldhavearrivedin1965fromanunknownsource.IraqhaslostatotaloffiveHunterson
thegroundduringtheSixDayWar,andoneortwoinairtoaircombats.ThemainequipmentItisunclearifitwasthisunitforwhich
alsothethirdseriesofHunterswasacquiredintheUK.Namely,alreadywhilethefirst24F.Mk.59swereinproduction,theIraqis
ordered18additionalaircraft.Hawkerused16formerBelgianandtwoDutchF.Mk.6stobuildaseriesdesignatedF.Mk.59AinIraqi
service.AlloftheseaircraftweredeliveredbyMayof1967,theiroriginalserialsbeing:
IF8
IF9
IF22
IF25
IF29
IF31
IF54
IF59
IF71
IF72
IF74
IF87
IF93
IF99
IF135
IF138
N253
N255

No.8BomberSquadron,Tu16,alRashid
IraqreceivedatotalofeightTu16sbetween1962and1966,ofwhichsixwereintactandfouroperationalon5June.Theaircraftwere
leftinbaremetaloverall,andworethickserialsappliedinBlackontherearfuselage.Knownoriginalserialswere:499,500,503,and
504.
UnknownCOINSquadron,JetProvostT.Mk.52,baseunknown
AllIraqiStrikemasterswereleftinbaremetaloverall.SeveralexampleswerephotographedwearinglargepanelsinDayGloOrangeon
therearfuselage.Serialswere600thru619,andwornontherearfuselageinBlack.
No.11FighterSquadron,MiG19S,alRashidThisunitwasstillintheprocessofconversiontoMiG21PFafterallofitsMiG19swere
giventoEgypt,in1965.OriginalMiG19softheIraqiAirForceshouldhaveeitherbeenleftinbaremetaloverall,orpaintedlightgrey
overall.ItisknownalsothatmostifnotallofthemalsoworenamesofdifferentIraqicities,appliedinArabic,inwhite,underneath
thecockpits.ThispracticewaskeptbytheEgyptianswhentheaircraftcameintheirpossession.TheMiG19shownbellowwearsthe
nameof"Basrah".

No.17Sqn,MiG21F13,H3/alWallid&Habbaniyah
IraqiMiG21F13swereallleftbaremetaloveral.Smallblackserialswereusuallyappliedonthefrontfuselage.Knownexamplesare:
534(flowntoIsraelinAugust1966),609,628(thelastsurvivedtobecomeagateguardatasShoibiyahAB,inthe1990s).

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UnknownUnit,VampireT.Mk.55,probablyalGayyarAB/Mosul,oralHurriyahAB/Kirkuk
FordetailsseearticleIraqiAirForcesince1948,intheArabianPeninsulaandPersianGulfdatabase.

Jordan
RJAF(RoyalJordanianAirForce)
TheRoyalJordanianAirForcecameintoexistenceonlyintheearly1950s,andwasheavilydependentonforeignhelpinitsearlyyears.
Yet,contrarytothesituationinEgypt,theyoungKingHusseintookagreatcarenottolethismilitarybecomeinvolvedinpolitics.
Besides,theJordanianmilitarywascooperatingverycloselywiththeBritish:allRJAFpilotsweretrainedintheUKandRAFinstructors
werealmostpermanentlyassignedtotheRJAF.Consequently,thelocalofficers,pilots,techniciansandotherranksweretrainedina
highlyprofessionalmanner,andeveniftherewerecomparativelyfewofthem,theywereprobablythebestofalltheArabairmenof
thetime,eveniftheirequipmentwasnotasadvancedasthatofEgyptorevenSyria.
ThefirstjetaircraftoftheRJAFwerenineVampireFB.Mk.9sandtwoVampireT.Mk.11s,suppliedfromtheUKin1954.Twoyearslater
alsosevenexEAFVampireFB.Mk.52sweredonatedbyEgypt.
IntheaftermathoftheirshowofsupportfortheKingHusseini.e.theBritishinterventionin1958(seetheseparatearticleinthis
database)theBritishsupplied12HunterF.Mk.6aswell.ThesewereusedtoequiptheNo.1Squadron,whiletheVampireswere
cascadeddowntotheNo.2Squadron.WhentheBritishinstructorsnoticedthatthelessexperiencedJordanianpilotshadsome
problemswithconvertingfromslowpistonenginedtrainingaircrafttofighterjetsalso12HarvardT.Mk.2Bsweresupplied.By1964
additional23HunterF.Mk.73sandFGA.9sweresuppliedtoRJAF,andby1967theJordaniansplannedtoreequipptheNo.2Squadron
withthemaswell.Thisdecisionwasinpartbasedonthefactthatfrom1965theUSAstartedsupplyingarmstoJordan.Initially,some
200M47andM48tanks,asimilarnumberofM113armouredpersonnelcarriers,andM109selfpropelledhowitzersweredelivered,
butin1967theRJAFwasalsoabouttostartacquiringF104Starfighters.Infact,whentheSixDayWarwasabouttobreakouttwoF
104AsandtwoTF104AswerealreadyatAmmanIAPwheretheywereusedtofamiliariseRJAFpersonnelwiththem.
Jordanianaircraftwereallleftincoloursasdelivered.HuntersandVampiresworethestandardRAFcamouflagepatternsinExtraDark
SeaGrey&DarGreenover,andSilverunderneath.Nationalmarkingswereappliedinsixpositions.
No1Sqn,HunterF.Mk.6&FR.Mk.6,MafraqABmostofthe12HuntersoriginallydeliveredtotheNo.1SqnRJAFhavehadtheinsignia
oftheirunitappliedontheforwardfuselage.Thisconsistedofawolfheadonawhitefield,outlinedinblack,onaredwhitecheckered
arrowwhitecodeswereappliedonthetopofthefinandserialsinwhiteonrearfuselage.Allaircraftwereessentiallyequippedtothe
samestandardasIndianF.Mk.66s.BytheSixDayWartheRJAFstillhadelevenoftheminservice.OriginallydeliveredF.Mk.6swere:
WW597(RJAF711/?)
XE543(RJAF707/?)
XE551(RJAF700/A)
XE558(RJAF701/B)
XE379(RJAF709/K)
XF373(RJAF703/D)
XF380(RJAF710/?)
XF381(RJAF702/C)
XF444(RJAF705/F)
XF452(RJAF708/?)
XF496(RJAF706/?)
XF498(RJAF704/E)
In19601961alsotwoFR.Mk.10sweresuppliedfromRAFstock,andthesetwomighthavebeentheonlyJordanianHunterstosurvive
theSixDayWartheywere:
XF426(deliveredasFR.Mk.10fromRAFstock,becoming853/?withRJAF:thisplanewasprobablytheonlyofalltheJordanianHunters
thatsurvivedtheSixDayWar)
XG262(originallyF.Mk.6,modifiedwithathreecameranose,becoming852withRJAF)
AtsomepointalsotheHunterFR.Mk.10ofunknownoriginwasdelivered,serialled712/NinRJAFservice.Thisaircraftshouldhaveseen
actionin1967,butitsfateisunknown.

InRJAFservicetheaircraftmentionedaboveorseenonphotographswereserialledasfollows:
700/A,F.Mk.6,
701/B,F.Mk.6
702/C,F.Mk.6,flownbyFlt.Lt.SaifulAzam(PAF),on5June1967,itprobablyhadfullNo.1SqnRJAFmarkingsintheearly1960,when
itsurvivedacrashlanding,butwasdestroyedon5June1967
703/D,F.Mk.6,fateunknown,probablydestroyedon5June1967
704/E,(exXF498)fateunknown,probablydestroyedon5June1967
705/C,F.Mk.6,destroyedon5June1967
705/F,fateunknown(perhapsoneofaircraftsuppliedafter1967)
707/H,F.Mk.6,destroyedon5June1967
709/K(exXF379)
710/L,F.Mk.6,destroyedon5June1967
712/L,FR.Mk.6/10,
752,reporteddestroyedatMafraqon5June1967possiblyanIrAFexampleforcedtolandthereaftermorningraidsagainstIsrael.

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No2Sqn,VampireFB.Mk.59&T.Mk.55,Mafraq&AmmantheVampiresofthisunithavealsocarriedtheunitinsigniaablackeagle
onawhitecircleoutlinedinblack,withanarrowchequeredinredandwhite(orinblackandyellow,accordingtoothersources)onthe
forwardfuselageinadditionthenationalinsignia,carriedonsixpositions,wasalsowingedbyfieldschequeredeitherinredandwhite
orblackandyellow.TwoT.Mk.55twoseatersweresuppliedfromtheRAFintheearly1950s,oneofwhichwasserialled209inRJAF.
NineortenVampireFB.Mk.59sweredonatedfromtheRAFin1955,theiroriginalRAFserialsbeingintherangebetweenWX200and
WX260theirRJAFserialswereF600thruF609.TheserialsofsevenVampireFB.Mk.52sdonatedfromEgyptin1955remainunknown.

No.3TransportSquadronDove,Whirlwind,Amman
No.4HelicopterSquadronAlouetteIII,Amman
No.6OCUHunterF.Mk.73&FGA.9notmuchisknownaboutthisunitoristinsigniaatthetimeoftheSixDayWar,exceptthatit
wasequippedwithHunterF.Mk.73sallofwhichbelongedtothesecondbatchsuppliedtoJordan.Originally,theseaircraftwereactually
intendedtoequiptheNo.2Squadron:
XF415(RJAF802)
XF417(RJAF810)
XF423(RJAF803)
XF518(RJAF809)
XG132(RJAF804)
XG137(RJAF813)
XG159(RJAF717)
XG171(RJAF808)
XG187(RJAF811)
XG257(RJAF812)
XG267(RJAF805)
XG268(RJAF806)
XG269(RJAF807)
TheonlyHunterfromthisbatchwhichserialisbelievedtobeknownshouldbe809/K.Itsfateisunknown,butitwasmostlikely
destroyedon5June1967.
TheRJAFalsoreceivedthefollowingHunterT.Mk.66Btwoseaters(onenewlybuilt,periodicallyleased,andtwoexKluexamples):
GAPUXspentayearwithNo.6OCUas800/P(carryingfullRJAFmarkings),beforebeingreturnedtoHawkerSiddeley
exN249,probablycoded"714/BinRJAF,thisaircraftsurvivedtheSixDayWarandwaslaterdonatedtoOman
N283,probably"716/?",laterdonatedtoOman.
AllbutfourofJordanianHuntersweredestroyedinIsraelistrikeson5June1967:thesefoursurvivorswerethensenttoIraq.
Immediatelyafterthewar12newaircraftwerepurchasedfromtheUKandsomemoretemporarilyloanedfromIraqbeforeadditional
aircraftreadiedtoJordanianspecificationsfollowedin19681971.TocompletethestoryofJordanianHuntersherealsodetailsaboutthe
examplessuppliedaftertheSixDayWar.
HunterF.Mk.6sandFGA.9stransferredfromRAFandRSAFin1967and1968:
XF454(RJAF816)
XF514(RJAF718)
XG298(RJAF826)
YK150(RJAF821/Q)
HunterF.Mk.73(allformerF.Mk.6s,rebuilttoJordanianstandardandbasicallysimilartoFGA.9,theywereusedtoreestablishtheNo.
2SquadronRJAFin1968):
XE603(RJAF832)
XE645(RJAF827)
XE655(RJAF817)
XF520(RJAF814)

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XG137
XG159
XG231
XG255(RJAF825,seenatMalta,inJuly1972)
XK150(RJAF815)
HunterF.Mk.74A(allnewlybuilt,originallyasF.Mk.6,upgradedtothesamestandardasF.Mk.73sanddeliveredin1969):
XF389(RJAF829)
XG234(RJAF830)
XG237(RJAF828/I,arrivedinJordaninJuly1969)
XJ645(RJAF831)
HunterF.Mk.74A(additionalbatchofformerF.Mk.4s,rebuiltintoF.Mk.74As,suppliedin1971):
WV325(RJAF846)
WV408(RJAF845)
XF364(RJAF843)
XF936(RJAF844)
XF952(RJAF848)
XF968(RJAF847)
XF987
N268(exKLu)
HunterF.Mk.73B(formerF.Mk.4s,upgradedtoF.Mk.73standard):
WV401(RJAF849)
XF979(RJAF850)
N264(exKLu,RJAF840)
N279(exKLu,RJAF841)
HunterT.Mk.7:
XL605(RJAF836)
XL620(RJAF835)

No.9Sqn,F104A&TF104AinorganizationJordanianStarfighterswereleftinbaremetalloverall,withtheusualantiglarepannel
inDarkGreeninfrontofthenose,andtheradomeinwhiteblackserialswereappliedonthefrontfuselage,andablackcodeonthe
topofthefin.

Lebanon
FAL(ForceArienneLibanaise)
TheLebanesehavegottheirfirstsixexRAFHunterF.Mk.6salreadyin1958,theaircraftbeingpaidforbytheUSA,andsuppliedinthe
aftermathoftheUSinterventioninthecountry,whichcameinresponsetoviollentprotestsagainstthegovernmentinBeirut.
In1964threetwoseattrainersreadiedtotheIndianT.Mk.66standardandcorrespondinglydesignatedT.Mk.66Cswereorderedas
wellasfourexamplesbuilttoFGA.9standard,butdesignatedF.Mk.70forexport.AlltheseaircraftwereformerBelgianfighters,and
theywerepaintedintheExtraDarkSeaGrey/DarkGreenover,Silverunderneath,withnationalmarkingsinsixpositionsandcodes
andserialsinblackontherearfuselage(codewasappliedinLatincharacters,andserialnumbersinPersiancharacters):
?SqnHunterF.Mk.6(formerXE534,XE598,XF377,XF461,XF495,andXG167FALserialsL170thruL175),F.Mk.70s(formerIF86,
IF96,IF101,andIF129FALserialsL176thruL179),andT.Mk.66C(formerF.Mk.6sIF34,IF60,andIF112FALserialsL280,L
281,andL282),basedatRayak.
?SqnVampireFB.Mk.52aluminiumoverall,blackcodesinArabicandPersiancharactersontheboom,behindthenationalmarkings:
L155
?SqnSA.316CAlouetteIII,Rayak

Syria
SyAAF
TheSyrianArabAirForcewaspotentiallythesecondmostimportantIsraeliopponentin1967.Inpractice,thiswasnotentirelythe
case:insteadtheSyAAF,partiallydisorganizedandpoorlyled,wasthrownoutofthebattlewithouthavingsustainedasheavylossesas
JordanorEgypt,andthereisstillnoclearexplanationforthisforthcommingfromDamascus.
Inthetimeframebetween1956and1967theSyAAFwasdevelopingverydifferently.In1956theSyAAFhadonlytwooperational
units,oneequippedwithMeteorF.Mk.4s,andanotherwithsurvivorsofsome20SpitfireF.Mk.22ssuppliedfromtheUKintheearly
1950s.Outof20MiG15sandsixMiG15UTIsthatweredeliveredforSyriatoEgyptshortlybeforetheSuezCrisis,onlyfoursurvived
theAngloFrenchonslaught.Bytheendof1956aprogramofintensivemodernizationoftheAirForcewasstartedandatotalof60MiG
17Fs,togetherwithtenYak11s,tenYak18s,sixIl14s,andtenMi4s.Thefirst12MiG17sarrivedinJanuary1957.Simultaneously,a
groupof20SyrianpilotswassenttotheUSSRand18toPolandforconversiontraining.AdditionalpilotsweretrainedinSyriabySoviet
instructors.Theremainingaircraftweredeliveredbytheendofthesameyear,however,theSyAAFwasshortofpilotsforthemall,and
awholesquadronwasthereforemannedbytheEgyptians.Asthenumberofqualifiedpilotsincreased,in1958atotalofthreeMiG17
unitsbecameoperational,andthefourthunitanightfightersquadronwasthenformedandequippedwithnewlydeliveredMiG
17PFs.BytheendofthesameyearanAirCollegeandtheAeronauticalTechnicalInstitutethefutureAirAcademywerefoundedat
MinakhAB,nearHallab(Aleppo),whereupto30newpilotsandasimilarnumberoftechniciansweretrainedannually,startingonYak
18s,viaYak11s,toMiG15UTIs,andfrom1965onthefirstofover80L29seventuallyacquiredbytheSyAAFoverthenextfewyears.
In1958Syriastartedreceiving40MiG19Ssupersonicfighters,andtheyearlater30additionalMiG15sandthefirsttwoIl28bombers.
Consequently,byMay1961theSyAAFboastedaninventoryof75MiG15bis/MiG17Faircraftinsixsquadrons.However,thisnumber
wassoontodecreaseconsiderably:byJanuary1964thenumberofMiG15sandMiG17sfelltoonly50,justforexample,thenthere
werenumerousaccidentswhileotheraircraftwereunserviceableforlackofsparesormaintenanceproblems.Thefactwas,namely,
thatononesidetheSyAAFlackedsufficienttrainedpersonnel,andontheotherthatagoodpartofSyAAFofficerswererather
interestedinthepoliticsthaninflying.Frequentpurgesofofficersconsidereddisloyaltoeachnewregimecausedadditionalproblems,
andtheSyrianswerethereforeveryslowtotrainanewgenerationoffighterpilots,especiallyasthesewerealsonottrainedas
aggressivelyastheirIsraelicounterparts.
Nevertheless,by1962fouradditionalIl28bombersweredelivered,andaLightBomberSquadronestablished.Meanwhilealsoa
TransportSquadronwasinoperation,havingsixeachofC47andIl14aircraft.BynowitbecameclearthattheintroductionoftheMiG
19inSyAAFservicefailed,andconfrontedwithtechnicaldifficulties,theSyrianseventuallytransferedthe30survivingMiG19sto
Egypt,in1965,eveniftheaircraftremainedinSyriauntilOctober1975.
Thefirstoutofeventual34MiG21F13sreachedSyriaactuallybeforeanyweredeliveredtoEgypt,andweresooninservicewithtwo
units.Duetosubsequentpoliticalunrestsinthecountry,however,theoveralconditionoftheSyAAFwasnottoimprove:by1965the
Syrianshadonlyatotalof30MiG15sandMiG17sleft,onlyfourIl28sand30MiG21s,andthereadinessoftheairforcewassolow,
thatdespitealltheaircraftbarelythreesquadronscouldbeconsideredoperational,twoofwhichwereflyingMiG15sandMiG17s.
Therefore,itwasstillultimatelyimportantfortheairdefenceofSyriatohavetwoEgyptianMiG19unitsbasedatDmeyrAB,evenif
newordersfor39MiG21PFs,issuedin1966,weretoconsiderablyreinforcetheSyAAF.
Soviet,Czech,andEastGermanadvisorswerepresentinSyriatimeandagaininthe1960s.OneoftheSovietinstructorswasGrigory
Neljubov.MemberoftheSovietcosmonautteam,togetherwithGagarinandTitov,Neljubovwasdistancedfromtheprojectafter
appearingathisbaseindrunkenconditionandpickingafightwithaguard:duetohisrefusaltoapologisetheaffairwasmadeofficial
andpublic,andNeljubovsenttoworkasadvisorinSyria,beforehecommittedasuicide,in1966.Theinfluenceofforeigninstructors

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changedastheregimesinDamascuschanged,however,onlyEgyptiansremainingalmostpermanentlyinfluential.Severaloftheir
officerswereinstrumentalinorganizingandtrainingSyrianinterceptorunits.TheirimpactontheoperationalcapabilitiesofSyrianMiG
21unitsremainsunclar,butitiscertainthattheywereoftenworkingespeciallywithMiG17units.
Exactdetailsaboutthecamouflagecolours,serialsandmarkingsofSyrianaircraftin1967areveryscarce.Whatisknownisgiven
bellow,butitseemsthattheSyAAFwassomewhatmoreconsciousaboutcamouflagingtheiraircraft,thenatleastfewSyrianfighters
foremosttheEgyptianflownMiG19sshouldhavebeencamouflagedalreadyatthetime.
InJune1967theSyAAFboastedthestrengthof35MiG15sandMiG17sinthreesquadrons,60MiG21F13sandMiG21PFsinfour
squadrons,andonlytwoIl28sinasolelightbomberunit.
No.1FighterSquadron,MiG21F13,Tsaikal,MarjRealbaremetaloverall,blackserialontheforwardfuselage:1073,2540etc.

TheexactlookofthisearlySyrianMiG21F13remainsunconfirmed,butitsupposedlywasseeninthenationalmarkings
shownhere,knowntohavebeenusedbySyAAFaircraftfrom1961until1963.Subsequently,redreplacedthegreenfieldson
thenationalcolours,whilethestarsbecamegreeninsteadofred.

No.3NightFighterSquadron,MiG17PF
No.7Sqn,MiG21PF(formerlyMiG19s),Tsaikal,T.4
No.8FighterSquadron,MiG17Fbaremetaloverall,blackserialinthreedigitsonthetopofthefin,thelasttworepeatedlargeonthe
forwardfuselage:939/39,982/82etc.

No.10FighterSquadron,MiG17FandMiG21,DmeyrintheprocessofconversiontoMiG21
No.12FighterSquadron,MiG15bisandMiG21,DmeyrintheprocessofconversiontoMiG21
No.22TransportSquadron,Il14,C47,Damascus,Almezzeh
No.54FighterSquadron,MiG21PF,baseunknown,intheprocessofestablishment
No.77FighterSquadron,MiG19Sbaseunknown
ThiswasthesecondSyrianunitknowntohaveoperatedMiG19s.By1967alltheSyrianMiG19sshouldhavebeenunderEgyptian
control.Nevertheless,therearereportsaboutactionsofSyAAFMiG19pilotsduringtheSixDayWar,consequentlytheexactstatusof
thisunitremainsunknown.SyrianMiG19smighthavebeenthefirstArabsupersonicfighterstohavebeencamouflaged,theonly
pictorialevidencefromthetimesaroundtheSixDayWarindicatingthattheywerepaintedDarkOliveandDarkSandorLightEarthon
uppersurfaces,andLightBlueunder.Serialswereappliedinblackontheforwardfuselage,possiblyalsoinblackonthetopofthefin:
1103,1118,1138
No.??LightBomberSquadron,2Il28,T.4AB
No.??HelicopterSquadron,Mi4,Damascus,Almezzeh
TheSyAAFlossesduringtheSixDayWarwereheavy,butmeasuredonthetotalnumberofavailableaircraftnotasheavyasthose
oftheEgyptianorJordanianairforces.Knowntohavebeenlostare:
33MiG21s(including8inairtoaircombat)
23MiG17sandMiG15s(3inairtoaircombat)
anunknownnumberofMiG19s(noneinairtoaircombat)
2Il28s
3Mi4s
Total:61aircraft
LastUpdated(Nov11,2010at09:11PM)

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