Western & Northern Africa Database
Algerian, Egyptian, and Morrocan MiGs
By Tom Cooper
Jul 29, 2003, 05:29

Egypt, 1956: One of the first 12 Egyptian MiG-17Fs, this example - serialled "8044" - was supplied in September or October 1956, only few days before the Israeli-Franco-British invasion, better known as "Suez Crisis". It is now known that Soviet "instructors" in Egypt flew some of these aircraft into combat, and might have claimed a French F4U Corsair shot down. However, almost all the early Egyptian MiG-17Fs were destroyed on the ground during the massive counter-air strikes by British and French fighters. (all artworks copyright Tom Cooper, 2003; all rights reserved)

Meknes, Morocco, 1965: the first jet fighters of the Moroccan Air Force were 12 MiG-17s, supplied from the USSR in 1961. After a coup that brought King Hassan II to power, in 1965, they remained in service with the Moroccan Air Force (ever since known as Force Aerienne Royale du Moroc, or FARM). The example depicted here was sold to the USA in the early 1990s, and should be displayed in an unknown museum ever since. The aircraft is seen here already wearing the FARM insignia: the national markings for the Moroccan Air Force in the period between 1961 and 1965 remain unclear.

Algeria, mid-1960s: this MiG-17F was one of 60 in service with the Algerian Air Force at the time. The interesting insignia (a black and yellow snake) painted on the nose of the aircraft is of unknown significance, but suggested to be applied as a result of "Egyptian influence". A large number of Algerian MiG-17s - an equivalent of two squadrons - were sent to Egypt during the final stages of the Six Day War: six of these landed at the el-Arish AB after this was taken by the Israelis and were all captured. The others where all were pressed into service with the Egyptian Air Force and used extensively for attacks against Israeli troops on Sinai, in the last days of the war, as well as in the early stages of the "War of Attrition". Only few were returned to Algeria in 1968.

Egypt, 1967: The MiG-17F shown on this artwork illustrates the look of most of Egyptian fighters before, during, and immediately after the Six Day War. Other than the usual identification stripes around the rear fuselage and the tips of the wings, as well as a small serial ("2801") not many other markings can be found.

El-Arish, late 1966 or early 1967; This MiG-17F ""2335") might have been another example used by the display team of the Egyptian Air Force during the mid-1960s. The plane did not survive the war: it was hit and destroyed by Israeli Ouragans already duirng the first wave of the Operation "Moked", on the morning of 5 June 1967. Note also the indigeniously constructed rails for rockets caliber 76mm, mounted under the wing-tips of this aircraft. Many Egyptian MiG-17Fs were later also modified by addition of hardpoints attached directly to the fuselage bellow the wings.

Sinai, June 1967: This artwork shows one of the MiG-17Fs painted in the colors of the 18th Sqn UARAF, but also wearing the markings of the Egyptian acrojet team on the fin. The aircraft was badly damaged during the first strikes of the Operation Moked, and then captured by the Israelis on the second day of the war.

Sinai, 5 June 1967: This artwork was prepared on the basis of several photographs showing UARAF MiG-17F-wrecks captured by the Israelis during the Six Day War, in 1967. The plane probably belonged to the 18th Sqn UARAF, and was based either at Meliz/Bir Gifgafa or El-Arish AB.

Kibrit, 5 June 1967: On the morning of 6 June 1967 this MiG-17PF ("2803") was flwon by Capt. Moustafa Hafez into a short air combat against four Israeli SMB.2s over the Kibrit AB. The aircraft was heavily damaged, but Capt. Hafez managed to land it safely, so that it was later repaired. Strangely, the exact designation of the unit to which this MiG-17PF belonged remains unknown: the unit insignia ("bat-winged bird" ) indicates that it was a night fighter squadron.

Algeria, early 1970s: Egyptian incluence in the Algerian Air Force can be seen also in the "Mauve" or "Nile Valley" pattern according to which the camouflage colors were applied to the MiG-17F seen here.

Egypt, time and place unknown: after the catastrophe of the Six Day War, the EAF was intensively trying to recover. One of the first lessons from the defeat (actually suggested by several leading officers already before the war) was to camouflage aircraft. In emergency, the EAF initially used car paints. The MiG-17PF depicted here was probably one of the examples that survived the Six Day war, and should be well-known to model-makers that purchased the corresponding Czechoslovakian 1:72 kit. As no photographic evidence supporting this camo pattern and markings is available, several important conclusions must be drawn without firm confirmation: the aircraft still shows the old Egyptian UARAF markings, which were officially replaced by EAF markings in 1970, albeit known to have been worn by a number of aircraft even during the October War, in 1973. On the other side, it also shows the - meanwhile well-known - "Red Bat" - squadron insignia of the 17th Sqn, like the two examples from the mid-1960s, shown above. Such insignia was re-introduced to EAF fighters only from 1974, however. Consequently, it can be that the flag and the squadron insignia do not fit. If they fit, however, then this aircraft was definitely a highly interesting example - almost a curiosity: this combination of markings, the camo pattern, as well as the fact that Egypt purchased no MiG-17PFs after 1967 would mean, that this aircraft survived the Six Day War, the War of Attrition, and the October War, and served with the EAF into the mid-1970s, apparently all the time wearing the old UARAF markings, and then also getting the squadron insignia was applied....?

Egypt, October 1964; This MiG-21F-13s ("5001") was one out of the first batch of 40 delivered to Egypt, and it was used by one of two units that became operational on the type in October 1964.

Egypt, autumn 1966 and spring 1967: This MiG-21F-13 ("5202") probably belonged to the second or third batch of MiG-21s supplied to Egypt from the USSR. It saw active service during the Six Day War, but it remains unknown if it survived. Note that the UARAF serials at the time were not issued in batches: "5207", for example, was an Egyptian MiG-21PF(SPS).

Cairo West, June 1967: In order to help replace the losses suffered by the Egyptian Air Force on the first day of the Six-Day War, the Algerian Air Force deployed a squadron of own MiG-21F-13s - including the "66" seen here - to Egypt. Immediately upon arrival, all were hastily camouflaged and have got Egyptian markings. It is unknown if even a single of former Algerian MiG-21F-13s was returned to Algeria.

Beni Sueif AB, Egypt, May 1970; this MiG-21MF ("8304") was one of some 70 aircraft deployed by the Soviets to Egypt in spring of 1970, and operated by the unit officially designated as the 135th Air Brigade UARAF at the time. It carried Egyptian markings and serial numbers, but was flown exlusively by Soviet pilots.

El-Mansoura AB, Egypt, Spring 1970; the first batch of MiG-21MFs supplied to Egypt apparently carried this camouflage pattern. The aircraft entered service with the 104 Air Brigade, and flew intensive operations during the later stages of the Attrition War, as well as duirng the whole war in October 1973. Several MiG-21MFs - as well as a number of MiG-21PFs - carried this camouflage well into the 1980s.

Cairo West, 1974; after the October War, in 1973, regulations within the EAF were somewhat laxed and squadron symbology re-introduced. The MiG-21MF "8451" depicted here carries the squadron insignia of an so far unknown unit (two crossed swords, applied in black) on the nose.

Algeria, late 1990s: al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Jaza'eriya still operates up to 40 MiG-21MFs and bis. FA-191 is one of the examples seen relatively recently. Although painted in dark olive over sand, the aircraft usually have a very brownish appearance: due to the influence of the sun and sand, the colors are fading very swiftly.