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War
eafh.com
World War II
As the Egyptian border was threatened by an Italian and German invasion, the
Royal Air Force established more bases in Egypt during World War II. The
Egyptian Air Force was sometimes treated as a part of the royal Air Force, at
other times a policy of neutrality was followed. As a result of this
vacillation, few additional aircraft were supplied by Britain, however the arm
did receive its first modern fighters, Hawker Hurricanes and a small number of
Curtiss P-40 Tomahawks. In the immediate post war period, cheap war surplus
aircraft, including a large number of Supermarine Spitfire Mk9s were acquired.
The REAF also bought Macchi MC205V fighters and trainers from Italy.
The 1948 War
Following the British withdrawal from Palestine and the founding of Israel on
the 14th of May 1948, Egypt declared war along with other Arab countries on the
new state. The Egyptian Air Force contributed to this conflict with C-47 Dakotas
and Spitfires and managed to shoot down two Israeli aircraft but suffered heavy
losses. Egyptian air force Spitfires also attacked Royal Air Force Spitfires,
which the Egyptian government incorrectly believed were to be handed over to
Israel. The first raid surprised the Royal Air Force, and resulted in the
destruction of several RAF aircraft on the ground and the death of an airman.
The British were uncertain whether the attacking Spitfires had came from Arab or
Israeli forces. When a second raid followed shortly afterwards it met a well
prepared response, and the entire Egyptian force was shot down - the last
aircraft being baited for some time as the RAF pilots attempted to get a close
look at its markings. This was the only occasion Spitfires fought each other.
Relations with Britain were soon restored, although poor relations with Israel
ensured that arms purchases continued. New Mk22 Spitfires were purchased to
replace the earlier models. In late 1949 Egypt received its first jet fighter,
it was the British Gloster Meteor F4 and shortly after De Havilland Vampire
FB5s. However the policy of the Nasser government lead to Egypt also acquiring
aircraft from the Eastern Block.
The first Soviet aircraft arrived in Egypt in 1955. Initial deliveries included
MiG-15 fighters, Ilyushin Il-28 bombers, Il-14 transports, and Yak-11 trainers.
Instructors from Czechoslovakia accompanied these aircraft. This period in
Egypt's air force history also yielded the first indigenous aircraft production
as the country began manufacturing its own Czech-designed Gomhouria Bü 181
Bestmann primary trainers.
The Suez Crisis
After Nasser decided to nationalize the Suez Canal in 1956, Egypt was attacked
by Israel, France, and the United Kingdom in what came to be known as the Suez
Crisis. Heavy losses were sustained by the Egyptian side. The conflict, though
devastating militarily, turned out to be a political victory for Egypt and
resulted in the total withdrawal of the aggressor forces from the country. It
also forced the EAF to begin rebuilding its Air Force with non-British help.
Soon after the war, Egypt formed a political union with Syria and Yemen and the
Egyptian Air Force became known as the United Arab Republic Air Force.
By the mid-1960s, British aircraft were replaced completely by Soviet hardware.
The Soviet Union became the principal supplier of the EAF and many other Arab
states. This allowed the EAF to greatly modernize and boost its combat
effectiveness. The MiG-21 Fishbed arrived in the early 1960s, bringing with it a
Mach 2 capability. The MiG-21 would remain Egypt's primary fighter for the next
two decades. In 1967, Egypt had 200 MiG-21s. The air force also began flying the
Sukhoi Su-7 fighter/bomber in the mid-1960s.
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