40 years ago today, Israeli Defense Forces mounted a daring and long-range raid on the airport at Entebbe, Uganda, to free the 248 passengers and crew of Air France flight 139, which had been hijacked by 4 pro-Palestinian hijackers and diverted to that airport for asylum. During the week on the ground at Entebbe, non-Israeli passengers had been released by the hijackers, leaving 94 Jewish desendent passengers and the 12 Air France crew being held by the hijackers for ransom and being threatened with death.
Immediately upon the Air France A300 landing in Uganda and the hijackers being given asylum by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, Israeli military planners swung into action. One week later, on 4 July, IDF military forces mounted a nighttime rescue operation with 100 commandos and transport aircraft, from Israel 2500 miles to Entebbe.
Using 4 C-130 Hercules transports and 2 707 jets, 1 for medical and 1 for Command/Control, the Israelis landed the 100-man commando team, plus 1 Mercedes car, 2 Land Rover vehicles (to simulate Idi Amin's Presidential convoy) and multiple Light Armored Vehicles for security. The C-130s flew low level to remain undetected by Ugandan radar sites, and landed blacked-out at Entebbe, quickly stopping and offloading their troops right on the runway. The ensuing lightning raid rescued all but 3 of the hostages and resulted in all hijackers killed as well as 45 Ugandan soldiers present killed, and most of the MiGs of the Ugandan Air Force destroyed on the ground, to ensure no one was able to chase the assault force as it departed. The only Israeli military casualty was IDF assault force commander, LtCol. Yonatan Netanyahu, older brother of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was killed in the firefight with the hijackers. The commando force and rescued hostages were quickly shuttled out in the C-130s.
The entire operation lasted 1 hour on the ground.
Particular praise was noted for the success of this operation, including high praise from the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Iranian Armed Forces, who on 13 July praised the Israeli commandos for the success of the short-notice planning time mission, and also extended condolences for the death of LtCol Netanyahu.
The operation remains to this day, one of the most successful hostage rescues in history.
Aerial recon photo (below) showing Entebbe airport and the hijacked Air France 139 at the approach end of RW 30. Battle plan-view map (above) of the Entebbe airport and hangars/buildings where the hostages were being held.
Immediately upon the Air France A300 landing in Uganda and the hijackers being given asylum by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin, Israeli military planners swung into action. One week later, on 4 July, IDF military forces mounted a nighttime rescue operation with 100 commandos and transport aircraft, from Israel 2500 miles to Entebbe.
Using 4 C-130 Hercules transports and 2 707 jets, 1 for medical and 1 for Command/Control, the Israelis landed the 100-man commando team, plus 1 Mercedes car, 2 Land Rover vehicles (to simulate Idi Amin's Presidential convoy) and multiple Light Armored Vehicles for security. The C-130s flew low level to remain undetected by Ugandan radar sites, and landed blacked-out at Entebbe, quickly stopping and offloading their troops right on the runway. The ensuing lightning raid rescued all but 3 of the hostages and resulted in all hijackers killed as well as 45 Ugandan soldiers present killed, and most of the MiGs of the Ugandan Air Force destroyed on the ground, to ensure no one was able to chase the assault force as it departed. The only Israeli military casualty was IDF assault force commander, LtCol. Yonatan Netanyahu, older brother of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was killed in the firefight with the hijackers. The commando force and rescued hostages were quickly shuttled out in the C-130s.
The entire operation lasted 1 hour on the ground.
Particular praise was noted for the success of this operation, including high praise from the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Iranian Armed Forces, who on 13 July praised the Israeli commandos for the success of the short-notice planning time mission, and also extended condolences for the death of LtCol Netanyahu.
The operation remains to this day, one of the most successful hostage rescues in history.
Aerial recon photo (below) showing Entebbe airport and the hijacked Air France 139 at the approach end of RW 30. Battle plan-view map (above) of the Entebbe airport and hangars/buildings where the hostages were being held.
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