Phoenix over the Nile

About This Book

Since the end of World War II the Egyptian Air Force (EAF) has fought in the 1948 War of Israeli Independence, the 1956 Suez Canal conflict, the 1967 Six Day War and the subsequent war of attrition, the 1973 Yom Kippur/Ramadan War, and numerous border skirmishes, as well as in the conflicts elsewhere in the Middle East and Africa. Phoenix over the Nile recounts the origins, operational history, and battle performance of an air force that now stands as one of the most capable and combat-experienced in the Third World. Drawing on extensive research, declassified information, and interviews with EAF officers and air defense personnel, the book provides for the first time the Egyptian military perspective on the Arab-Israeli wars. The authors cover the contributions of British, Soviet, and American technology and training and present the candid views of Egyptian pilots on their country's leaders, Soviet advisors, and American technocrats. Crisply written and illustrated with many never-before-published photographs, Phoenix over the Nile provides a detailed record of the development of the Egyptian aviation industry while contributing to a better understanding of Egyptian foreign policy and military capability.