The June 1 Ukrainian drone strikes on four Russian airfields might have knocked out 34% of the Russian heavy bomber fleet, as per Ukrainian claims. Though the strike was unparalleled in its innovative use of cheap drones, this was not the first such strike where an Air Force was shattered even before it got an opportunity to get airborne.
In the annals of combat aviation history, there are many such examples where an adversary’s air power was crushed in pre-emptive strikes, taking the enemy by surprise and fire-bombing its fighter jets before they could fire even a single shot.
The Ukrainian strikes on June 1 have been termed Russia’s Pearl Harbor moment. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 is still considered one of the prime examples of the devastating impact a well-planned pre-emptive strike can have.
In a few hours, the US lost more than 180 aircraft, most of them still on the ground. Only six US aircraft could get into the air to repel the attackers. Japan lost fewer than 30 aircraft and was able to deliver a decisive blow to US Air and naval power in the Pacific.
This early Japanese success in a pre-emptive strike became a template for later generations to follow.
When a war is inevitable, make sure you land the first punch and take out the adversary’s air power before they can get airborne was the lesson from Pearl Harbor.
Since then, many countries have attempted to emulate Japan’s success in pre-emptive strikes. Pakistan attempted it against the Indian Air Force in the 1971 war. Egypt and Syria tried it against the Israeli Air Force in the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and Iran tried to cripple Iraqi Air Force in the 1980 Iran-Iraq War.
However, in the history of combat aviation, there was one strike that even surpassed Japan’s success at Pearl Harbor.
Four hundred fifty-two enemy aircraft were turned to ash by an Air Force that had fewer than 250 fighter jets.
Before that preemptive strike, the adversary clearly had a superior air force. By the end of the day, the adversary was without an Air Force. Most of its fighter jets were turned to ash while still on the runway. Its Air Force was dismantled even before they could get airborne or fire a single shot.
The country that launched the pre-emptive strike enjoyed unchallenged air superiority by the end of the day, and its air superiority lasted for at least a couple of years.
The Prelude To The War
Following the Suez Canal crisis in West Asia in 1956, most of the Arab countries, as well as Israel, knew that another war was coming. Israel and the Arab countries also understood that the next war would be fought primarily in the air, and thus, they were strengthening their Air forces.
By 1967, the Egyptian Air Force had amassed nearly 400 aircraft, including state-of-the-art fighter jets, bombers, and transport aircraft. Most of its aircraft were of Soviet origin.
It had nearly 120 MiG-21 Fishbeds. These were modern, supersonic interceptors equipped with air-to-air missiles and cannons, forming the backbone of Egypt’s air defense.
Egypt also had about 60 MiG-19 Farmers. These were older but still effective supersonic fighters used for both air-to-air and ground-attack roles.
The Egyptian Air Force also had nearly 150 MiG-15UTI and MiG-17 Frescos. It also had a bomber fleet of Tu-16 Badgers (nearly 25) and Il-28 Beagles (40 to 50). Besides, it had trainers and transport aircraft.
On the other side, the Israeli Air Force had fewer than 250 aircraft, mostly of French and US origin.
It had approximately 80 Dassault Mirage IIICJ. They formed the backbone of its air superiority fleet. These supersonic jets were equipped with 30mm cannons and could carry air-to-air missiles (like the French Matra R.530).
Israel also had nearly 100 Dassault Super Mystère B.2s and Dassault Mystère IVAs. It also had about 20 Sud Aviation Vautour IIA and some 30 Fouga Magister, which were primarily trainers but were modified for light-attack roles.
What made the job of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) more difficult was that Egypt also enjoyed the support of Syria and had just concluded a defense treaty with Jordan. Both Syria and Jordan also had formidable Air Forces. The combined fighter jet strength of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan was well above 600.
IAF understood that it was vastly outnumbered and outgunned in a dangerous Arab neighborhood. It was understood that the only way it could prevail in a war was by launching a preemptive strike.
Operation Focus: An Unparalleled Success In Combat Aviation History
By June, Egypt had amassed its 130,000-strong Army in the Sinai Peninsula on the border with Israel. On Israel’s north, Syria, and on its East, Jordan were also making aggressive moves.
Israel understood that it’s a now-or-never moment for its survival.
On June 5, 1967, Israel decided to go for the kill by launching Operation Focus, marking the beginning of the Six-Day War.
At 7:00 a.m., nearly 200 Israeli jets, including Dassault Mirage IIIs, Mystères, and Fouga Magisters, took off, leaving only 12 to defend Israel’s skies. Flying low over the Mediterranean to evade radar, the IAF achieved complete tactical surprise.
The first wave struck 11 Egyptian airfields at 7:45 a.m., destroying 197 aircraft and eight radar stations, primarily on the ground, using innovative rocket-assisted anti-runway warheads to disable runways. A second wave at 9:30 a.m. hit 14 more bases, destroying 107 additional Egyptian aircraft.
By now, the Syrian and Jordanian Air Forces also attacked Israel to relieve the pressure on Egypt. The IAF shot down multiple Syrian and Jordanian fighter jets in dogfights.
By noon, the IAF had crippled the Egyptian, Jordanian, and Syrian air forces, totaling about 452 aircraft destroyed. As Arab forces retaliated ineffectively, IAF planes were diverted to strike Syrian, Jordanian, and Iraqi targets, ensuring air supremacy by day’s end.
Most of the IAF fighter jets made multiple sorties. They returned to Israeli air bases after bombing Egyptian planes, refueled and rearmed, and returned for another wave of strikes.
Most of the jets achieved a turnover time of less than eight minutes. They fought on three fronts simultaneously, the Egyptian front in the south, the Syrian front in the north, and the Jordanian front in the east.
Israel lost 19 aircraft, approximately 10% of its fighter jet fleet, mostly to ground fire, with five pilots killed and five captured. The Arab coalition lost approximately 452 aircraft.
The Egyptian Air Force suffered the most significant damage. It lost nearly 311 aircraft, most of them on the ground. Egypt lost almost 75% of its fighter jets and 100% of its bomber fleet.
On the morning of June 5, 1967, Egypt had a formidable Air Force, consisting of over 400 fighter jets. The Egyptian Air Force was one of the largest in the Middle East.
By the afternoon of the same day, the country was effectively without an Air Force. The Syrian and Jordanian Air Forces also received decisive blows.
By evening, the IAF had unchallenged air superiority in the region.
The decisive air victory of the IAF ensured a swift triumph for Israel. Within six days, Israel had routed a grand Arab coalition. At the end of the six days, Israel had expanded its territory by nearly three times.
It was now in occupation of the Sinai Peninsula, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, including the historic East Jerusalem, and the strategic Golan Heights.
More than 50 years later, Israel is still in possession of most of these territories except the Sinai Peninsula, which it returned to Egypt.
The wild success the IAF achieved in Operation Focus is unmatched in the annals of combat aviation history.
- Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from the University of Sheffield, UK.
- THIS IS AN OPINION ARTICLE. VIEWS PERSONAL OF THE AUTHOR.
- He can be reached at ahlawat.sumit85 (at) gmail.com
