Changes

Phantoms were thrown into combat almost as soon as they arrived.  In late 1969, Israel was in middle of a conflict with [[Egypt]] that would later be known as the [[War of Attrition]].  The first Phantoms arrived on Sept 5, 1969, and the first operational mission of the Kurnass was a month and a half later, on October 22.  The plane scored its first aerial victory for Israel three weeks later, when a Phantom of the 201 Squadron downed an Egyptian MiG-21 while on a combat air patrol.[http://www.iaf.org.il/Templates/Kills/FirstDown.IN.aspx?lang=EN&lobbyID=43&folderID=43&subfolderID=293&docfolderID=293&docID=1249&docType=ARTICLE]

Phantoms were thrown into combat almost as soon as they arrived.  In late 1969, Israel was in middle of a conflict with [[Egypt]] that would later be known as the [[War of Attrition]].  The first Phantoms arrived on Sept 5, 1969, and the first operational mission of the Kurnass was a month and a half later, on October 22.  The plane scored its first aerial victory for Israel three weeks later, when a Phantom of the 201 Squadron downed an Egyptian MiG-21 while on a combat air patrol.[http://www.iaf.org.il/Templates/Kills/FirstDown.IN.aspx?lang=EN&lobbyID=43&folderID=43&subfolderID=293&docfolderID=293&docID=1249&docType=ARTICLE]

One of the more prominent Phantom missions during the War of Attrition was on May 16, 1970.  Eight F-4s, led by [[Six Day War]] veteran Aharon “Yalo” Shavit, flew to the Egyptian port of [[Ras Banas]] and sank an Egyptian destroyer in retaliation for the sinking of an Israeli patrol boat a few days earlier.  It was the longest-range fighter-bomber mission taken by the IAF up to that time.  Phantoms were also extensively used against Egyptian SAM sites that year in what became known as Electronic Summer, in Wild Weasel-type missions using tactics developed by American pilots in the [[Vietnam War]].

One of the more prominent Phantom missions during the War of Attrition was on May 16, 1970.  Eight F-4s, led by [[Six Day War]] veteran Aharon “Yalo” Shavit, flew to the Egyptian port of [[Ras Banas]] and sank an Egyptian destroyer in retaliation for the sinking of an Israeli patrol boat a few days earlier.  It was the longest-range fighter-bomber mission taken by the IAF up to that time.  Phantoms were also extensively used against Egyptian [[Surface-to-air Missile|SAM]] sites that year in what became known as Electronic Summer, in Wild Weasel-type missions using tactics developed by American pilots in the [[Vietnam War]].

The War of Attrition ended with a negotiated ceasefire in August.  Half a dozen Phantoms had been lost to SAMs and anti-aircraft fire, and IAF Phantoms had shot down six Egyptian aircraft (five MiG-21s and an [[Ilyushin Il-28|Ilyushin jet bomber]]).  The first loss of a Phantom in aerial combat happened on April 2, 1970, when a Syrian MiG-21 downed a Kurnass near Mt. Hermon.<ref>The pilot of the Fishbed was [[Bassam Hamshu]], who became an ace in the Yom Kippur War and ended his career with seven confirmed victories, including another Phantom.</ref>

The War of Attrition ended with a negotiated ceasefire in August.  Half a dozen Phantoms had been lost to SAMs and anti-aircraft fire, and IAF Phantoms had shot down six Egyptian aircraft (five MiG-21s and an [[Ilyushin Il-28|Ilyushin jet bomber]]).  The first loss of a Phantom in aerial combat happened on April 2, 1970, when a Syrian MiG-21 downed a Kurnass near Mt. Hermon.<ref>The pilot of the Fishbed was [[Bassam Hamshu]], who became an ace in the Yom Kippur War and ended his career with seven confirmed victories, including another Phantom.</ref>

*''Rolling Thunder:  Jet Combat from World War II to the Gulf War'', by Ivan Rendall

*''Rolling Thunder:  Jet Combat from World War II to the Gulf War'', by Ivan Rendall

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[[Category:Vietnam War]]