Changes

At 1320hrs on July 3 the aircraft took off from Lod airport and headed in different directions to fool potential spies; they then flew south at extreme low level to avoid radar detection by [[Soviet]] spy ships and [[Egypt]]ian radar.

At 1320hrs on July 3 the aircraft took off from Lod airport and headed in different directions to fool potential spies; they then flew south at extreme low level to avoid radar detection by [[Soviet]] spy ships and [[Egypt]]ian radar.

By 2230hrs the aircraft had reached Lake Victoria, just a short distance from Entebbe by air, and at 2300hrs on July 23 (Israeli time) the lead aircraft touched down and lowered the cargo ramp. Ten of the commandos exited the still moving plane to set up landing beacons for the other aircraft. Then the black Mercedes and two Land Rovers drove out, flying Ugandan flags; all 35 commandos were dressed in Ugandan Army uniforms. They drove towards the terminal with their lights on at only 40 mph, and had been driving for a minute before any Ugandan sentries challenged them. The vehicles slowed down, then the commandos shot the sentries with silenced weapons; however, one of them released a burst from his own weapon, so Lt. Col. Netanyahu immediately ordered the drivers to head for the terminal at full speed. As they approached, several soldiers and a terrorist could be seen milling about outside in confusion.  

By 2230hrs the aircraft had reached Lake Victoria, just a short distance from Entebbe by air, and at 2300hrs on July 23 (Israeli time) the lead aircraft touched down and lowered the cargo ramp. Ten of the commandos exited the still moving plane to set up landing beacons for the other aircraft. Then the black Mercedes and two Land Rovers drove out, flying Ugandan flags; all 35 commandos were dressed in Ugandan Army uniforms. They drove towards the terminal with their lights on at only 40 mph, and had been driving for a minute before any Ugandan sentries challenged them. The vehicles slowed down, then the commandos shot the sentries with silenced weapons; however, one of them released a burst from his own weapon, so Lt. Col. Netanyahu immediately ordered the drivers to head for the terminal at full speed. As they approached, several soldiers and a terrorist could be seen milling about outside in confusion.  

The vehicles quickly parked by the control tower adjacent to the old terminal and the commandos jumped out and began their attack. The lone terrorist seen outside ran inside yelling, "The Ugandans have gone nuts - they're shooting at us!" As the Ugandans eventually realised what was happening, they did begin to return fire, and it was at this point that Yonatan Netanyahu was shot.  

The vehicles quickly parked by the control tower adjacent to the old terminal and the commandos jumped out and began their attack. The lone terrorist seen outside ran inside yelling, "The Ugandans have gone nuts - they're shooting at us!" As the Ugandans eventually realised what was happening, they did begin to return fire, and it was at this point that Yonatan Netanyahu was shot.  

Within '''three''' minutes of the first C-130 landing, four of the seven terrorists had been killed.<ref>[http://www.combatreform2.com/m113combat.htm Combat Reform 2] Accessed July 3 2007</ref>  

Within '''three''' minutes of the first C-130 landing, four of the seven terrorists had been killed.<ref>[http://www.combatreform2.com/m113combat.htm Combat Reform 2] Accessed July 3, 2007</ref>  

Once the terrorists had been eliminated, only the Ugandan soldiers stood in the way of a safe escape. The second C-130 landed six minutes after the first and two [[APC|armored personnel carriers]] (APC's) drove off the cargo ramp and headed to the terminal, where Ugandan resistance was then silenced. Forty-five Ugandan soldiers had been killed. The third C-130 landed a few minutes later, offloading two more APC's; one joined the first two, the second headed off and destroyed 11 [[MiG-17]] fighter jets stationed at the base to prevent the Ugandan Air Force from following them. Fifteen minutes had elapsed from the touch down of the first C-130 landing to the hostages being freed and the area completely secured. A team of Israeli Air Force technicians were already refuelling the C-130's from the airports own supplies, a process that would take well over an hour. At 2352hrs, less than an hour after the first Hercules landed, the C-130 with 106 rescued hostages took off; the last C-130 left Entebbe at 2429hrs, 89 minutes after the first one had landed.<ref>Combat Reform 2 op cit.</ref> Three hostages had been killed by cross-fire during the rescue, and Netanyahu died on board the aircraft he had been evacuated to after his injury.  

Once the terrorists had been eliminated, only the Ugandan soldiers stood in the way of a safe escape. The second C-130 landed six minutes after the first and two [[APC|armored personnel carriers]] (APC's) drove off the cargo ramp and headed to the terminal, where Ugandan resistance was then silenced. Forty-five Ugandan soldiers had been killed. The third C-130 landed a few minutes later, offloading two more APC's; one joined the first two, the second headed off and destroyed 11 [[MiG-17]] fighter jets stationed at the base to prevent the Ugandan Air Force from following them. Fifteen minutes had elapsed from the touch down of the first C-130 landing to the hostages being freed and the area completely secured. A team of Israeli Air Force technicians were already refuelling the C-130's from the airports own supplies, a process that would take well over an hour. At 2352hrs, less than an hour after the first Hercules landed, the C-130 with 106 rescued hostages took off; the last C-130 left Entebbe at 2429hrs, 89 minutes after the first one had landed.<ref>Combat Reform 2 op cit.</ref> Three hostages had been killed by cross-fire during the rescue, and Netanyahu died on board the aircraft he had been evacuated to after his injury.  

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://www.yoni.org.il/ Yoni] Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu official memorial site

*[http://www.yoni.org.il/ Yoni] Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu official memorial site

*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,914272,00.html Time Magazine] ''The Rescue: "We Do the Impossible"' July 12 1976 Accessed July 3 2007

*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,914272,00.html Time Magazine] ''The Rescue: "We Do the Impossible"' July 12, 1976 Accessed July 3, 2007