Israeli F-4 Phantom II Aces

Book excerpt: The American manufactured F-4 Phantom II was used by the Israelis in air-to-ground missions, as an attack aircraft, and air-to-air missions as a fighter. Despite performing both roles with equal success the Israeli reliance on the Mirage III and Nesher delta fighters meant that the F-4 was used most regularly in its air-to-ground role. The kill total of the Israeli F-4 community was, consequently, a modest 116.5; significantly lower than that of other Israeli aircraft types in service between 1969 and 1982. A handful of aces were, nevertheless, created and, using first hand accounts, this unique book tells their stories. Many F-4 pilots had previously flown the Mirage III but most of the navigators were either inexperienced flying school graduates or had been transferred from transport aircraft. As Shlomo Aloni explores in this detailed volume, the decision to create such teams may have appeared an odd one and it certainly led to a number of interesting experiences. However, it proved, ultimately, to be so successful that the Israeli air force planned to have more two-seat combat aircraft than single-seat fighters in the coming years. The F-4 experience was, therefore, crucial to moulding the future of the Israeli air force.