NARRATOR: Outnumbered and
outgunned, Israeli fighters streak into battle. Their jets are not designed
for close in air to air combat. But now it's dog fight or die. [gunshots] Winning and living depends on
superior flying and sheer guts. Now you're in the cockpit. As Delta Wing
Mirages and missions duel with heavy hitting
Hawker Hunters and Make 21s, experience the battle, dissect
the tactics, re-live dogfights of the Desert Aces. [theme music playing] November 13, 1966, two Israeli
Mirage 3 fighters shatter the dawn silence as they streak
towards the Jordanian border. Hostile aircraft are
firing on Israeli troops. Mirages are flying
to the rescue. Within minutes, the
two Delta Wing Mirages arrive in the hot zone. The Israelis immediately
identify the distinctive swept wings of Jordanian
Hawker Hunters. The Jordanians had a very good
aircraft produced by Britain called the Hawker Hunter. Now those airplanes did not
have the power and speed of the Mirage, but they could
be very effective dog fighter equipment. NARRATOR: Another pair of 119
squadron Mirages joins up, but the Israelis are
still outnumbered. Four Mirages against eight
heavily armed Hunters. The Mirages are here. The hunters are here attacking
Israeli ground forces. The Israelis quickly roll into
the attack from 5,000 feet. The adversaries merge
into a World War I style melee at jet speeds. Major Ran Ronen, 119 Squadron
CO, leads the attack. It was our first fight against
the Jordanians and the Hunters. It was a very tough fight. NARRATOR: Turning and
twisting with maximum effort, the Israelis fail
to get a clean shot. RAN RONEN: What
was his surprise, they acted and
reacted and maneuvered better than I thought. NARRATOR: The French built
Mirages were originally designed as high altitude
Mach 2 interceptors, optimized to attack bombers
with air to air missiles. LON NORDEEN: The fact is
that with an interceptor, you want to get up there and
accelerate quickly and climb to high altitude. But those interceptors
were not initially designed for dogfighting because
that was not their mission. NARRATOR: Jordanians, trained
by the British Royal Air Force, are good. Very good. RAN RONEN: It's like having
a dog fight again [inaudible] in a train. You know, and the
training was tough. MICHAEL EDREI: And that battle
that lasted about six minutes is so, which very long in air
combat, there were no kills. Israelis couldn't get
any of the Jordanians, and Jordanians couldn't
get any Israelis. NARRATOR: But Ran Ronen's
professional pride and the honor of the
squadron demands a victory. He singles out a Hunter. Then I was upset and said no. I must get one. And I found one of
them and said this one I'm going to shot down. NARRATOR: Ronen slips
behind his intended victim and manages to track
it with his gun sight. His finger is poised
on the trigger. Suddenly, the Hunter breaks. The Jordanian rolls inverted,
dives for the ground. He desperately tries to shake
the grim reaper off his tail. Then the Hunter pitches
nose up and zooms skyward. It's a smart move. The Mirage is faster and
has a higher stalling speed. In order to stay on the
slower Hunter's 6:00, Ronen must slide back and forth. He's unable to get a clean shot. And the constant scissoring is
bleeding off precious airspeed. If Ronen gets too slow, he'll
stall out, lose control, and become an easy
target for the Hunter. Ronen balances in the air
with stiff and delicate taps of the rudder, flying a
tightrope between stalling and overshooting the Hunter. He pulled. I went here and then
here behind him. We were very close. We looked at each other. NARRATOR: Ran Ronen is seconds
from losing the battle. He's pushed his Mirage 3 to
the razor's edge of sustained flight. When the Israelis acquired
the Mirage 3 in 1962, they knew it wasn't
built to dogfight, but it was the most
advanced fighter they could get their hands on. There were few countries
willing to supply arms to the Jewish state. The Mirage had a strong
streamlined airframe and at Israel's insistence
two 30 millimeter cannon. It used a distinctive
triangular winged shape called a delta, product
of German World War II research into high speed flight. LON NORDEEN: The delta
wing is very efficient. Structurally, it is small. It is strong. It provides a lot
of room for fuel. And it also is highly swept
so that it reduces the drag at increasing speed supersonic
and near supersonic. NARRATOR: While the delta wing
is optimized for high speed, the swept wing is more
versatile, a compromise between maneuverability
and speed. The Hawker Hunter used the more
traditional swept wing design typical of 1950s fighters. It was a large wing blended
into the fuselage so it had excellent lift, and it had a
10,000-pound thrust engine. So it was a good
maneuvering platform. NARRATOR: The Mirage is
faster, but the subsonic Hunter is more maneuverable with
a lower stalling speed. It also has four 30 millimeter
cannon to the Mirage's two. Now a skilled Jordanian in
an older and slower Hunter has put Ran Ronen
at a disadvantage in a vertical fight. The Mirage is about to
run out of air speed. And he made a big mistake. NARRATOR: The hunter pilot
suddenly loses his nerve. He breaks first. This is what the
fighter pilots wait for, the other people's mistake. NARRATOR: Now Ronen
seizes the moment. He drops behind the Hunter. Before Ronen can get off
a shot, the Jordanian dives for the ground and
ducks into the hills. The escape route towards
east would have taken him away, and he didn't think
that the Israelis are that crazy to follow
him in that canyon. But they didn't know Ronen. He was crazy. He was determined to get
him, and he followed him into the canyon. NARRATOR: The Hunter skims over
the earth at over 500 knots, Leaving a wake of dust
and kerosene fumes. His only hope is to drive
Ronen into the ground or into the canyon wall. RAN RONEN: I never saw such
a low level flight like this until, you know, at the
bottom of the canyon. Never. MICHAEL EDREI: There
was a lot of turning, but he couldn't put the
peeper on and shoot him. He had to be approximately
15 feet below him in order to shoot. He couldn't be at the
same level as he was. NARRATOR: The 30 millimeter
cannon arching trajectory requires that the Mirage
be angled slightly up at the target. RAN RONEN: I couldn't
go 2 meters down to put my gun sight on him. It's amazing. I was 250 meters behind
him all the time. NARRATOR: For 2 and 1/2
minutes, the roar of jets echoes through the hills. The Hunter pilot maneuvers
confidently through the canyon. Behind his oxygen mask,
sweat streams down Ronen's face and
pools under his chin. The sound of his own heavy
breathing fills his helmet. His frustration mounts. It looks like the Jordanian
is going to make it. Suddenly everything changes. Ronen got lucky. And there was a little
hill inside that canyon. NARRATOR: The Hunter
raises its nose. Ronen nearly shouts for joy. RAN RONEN: He was
forced to pull. He got to my gun sight,
and I pulled the trigger for less than one
second, 21 bullets. NARRATOR: 30 millimeter
high explosive rounds impact with deadly efficiency. The tail of the Hunter
begins to disintegrate, but the airplane
stubbornly flies on. Ronen stares down
at his handiwork. What happened next
haunts him to this day. RAN RONEN: The L plan turned
to the left 90 degrees. Then he ejected and crashed
to the wall of the canyon. That's what I saw that
I turned and I saw. It was unbelievable. NARRATOR: Splash one Hunter,
Ronen has his first kill. But his opponent had
fought like a lion. RAN RONEN: I was happy that I
was the one who landed safely. On the other hand, after such
a fight of 8 and 1/2 minutes the way he did, leave aside
that this enemies, leave aside as a fighter pilot,
as a colleague, I felt that he would
deserve to eject safe. NARRATOR: Half a
year later, Ron Ronen and his fellow Israeli pilots
make history during the Six-Day War in June 1967, destroying
the combined air forces of three Arab countries
in a matter of hours. Nevertheless, the Mirage III
becomes an icon of the jet age combat. The cream of Israeli
fighter pilots show that it's not
so much the airplane but the man in the cockpit that
makes the critical difference. The lightning war
over the desert also marks the first dogfight
for one novice Israeli pilot who was destined to earn
the title of the world's top scoring jet ace. June 6, 1967, the Six-Day War. Over southern Israel, two
Mirages from 101 squadron are heading west towards Egypt. Number two in the flight is
Lieutenant Giora Epstein. He only has three
combat missions in the Mirage and no kills. But he is destined to become
the world's top scoring jet ace. Epstein and his leader
are on the prowl for Egyptian aircraft. RAN RONEN: And we start down
in above at 20,000 feet, and suddenly I feel two
airplanes pulling behind us. But I look. I see it's Mirages. NARRATOR: Fighter pilots are
territorial, especially when it comes to their hunting grounds. So I told them,
hey, we are friends. Leave us alone. And suddenly I see that
they split us down. And when I look where
their noses pointed, I see three Sukhoi 7s. NARRATOR: The
Russian built Sukhoi is a big and heavy
swept wing fighter, very effective in the
ground attack role. Even so, it's 16,000-pound
thrust engine can push the SU-7 near supersonic on the deck. Epstein is here. The two interloping Mirages are
here diving on the three SU-7s. But another pair of Mirages
is already giving chase. The seven jets form up into
a bizarre deadly procession. GIORA EPSTEIN: There was one
Sukhoi, one Mirage, one Sukhoi, one Mirage, and then
sides Sukhoi and Mirage. And everybody start
shooting together. NARRATOR: 30 millimeter cannon
tracers rip through the sky. The Egyptians are
firing erratically. The Mirages are untouched. Epstein watches
this first one then another Sukhoi falls
to Mirage cannon fire. But a third SU-7 is escaping. A Mirage is on his tail. GIORA EPSTEIN: And I see
the Mirage chase the Sukhoi, and it was a little
bit far for me. NARRATOR: Epstein sees a
chance for a kill, his first. He hurtles earthward, chasing
the Sukhoi at near Mach 1. The first Mirage launches a
heat seeking Shafrir missile. It passes under the
Sukhoi without exploding. Israeli pilots don't have much
faith in the first generation Israeli made heat
seeking missile. They call it a
bedon or wing tank. We used to say the Shafrir
one, if you launch it, it goes like a bedon,
hit the ground. NARRATOR: The first Mirage now
resorts to long-range cannon fire. And then they shoot all
this munition from the cannons but too far, and
nothing happens. NARRATOR: Ammunition expended,
the first Mirage pulls away. Epstein now slides
into position. The Sukhoi has
incredible acceleration and is nearing Mach 1. With a loud bang, Epstein
advances the throttle into four afterburn. And Mirage's tailpipe
glows red hot. The Sukhoi thunders
over the desert floor. The Egyptian is racing for home. The young Israeli
has other plans. The career path that would make
Giora Epstein a master of jet combat was unconventional
even by Israeli standards. Initially rejected
for flight training in 1956 due to a heart murmur,
Epstein became a paratrooper instead. In 1963, he was finally
accepted into pilot training and won his wings. Epstein soon made a
name for himself while in fighter training. Every fighter pilot,
both new and experienced, hones his combat skills
through the practice dogfight. On one such flight, he's pitted
against his squadron commander. Epstein accidentally
goes into a spin. Now I was freefall
paratroopers and I have about 500
jumps at that time. So I feel in the air
very comfortable to it-- It didn't mean to mean anything
that I'm spin because I made spins without aeroplanes
very easily in the air. NARRATOR: But Epstein's CO
sees impending disaster. But he was getting panicked. And he shout at me you
are down-- right turn, no, left turn, no, right
turn, left turn. Do that and do this. At the end, U have told
him please shut up. You just make it harder for me. And I get out from
the spin very easily. No problem at all. NARRATOR: Epstein adventures
quickly into the Mirage III. He is a natural born
aviator and gifted with such extraordinary
eyesight that it's actually measured by radar. GIORA EPSTEIN: I can see
fighters for 24 miles when average pilot can see
them between eight to 12 miles. So I have an advantage. In all the dogfights
that I took parts, I see the [inaudible] first. NARRATOR: Hawkeye, as he's
called by his fellow pilots, is now champing at
the bit for a kill. Epstein is determined that the
big Egyptian fighter hugging the ground in front of
him will be his first. I went after the Sukhoi
for a very long chase. NARRATOR: Epstein finally gets
within cannon range 1,200 feet. The pipper is on the target. He has visualized
this moment for years. Epstein squeezes the trigger. Nothing happened. NARRATOR: In his
excitement, he's forgotten to engage the
cannon arming switch. What I did, I hit
circuit breakers. And at that time I
was 250 behind him, and I gave a very short rest. And the Sukhoi 7 has a
huge engine, really huge. All the bullets go
inside this engine, and it was a
tremendous explosion. And when he came out
of the explosion, there is only wings and nose. And this little
aeroplane that left make the smallest loop
I ever seen in my life. And it was in the ground. NARRATOR: Giora Epstein
has realized his dream and scored his first kill. Six years later,
he's at war again, pushing his fighting skills
to the limit during one incredible day over the desert. It's delta versus delta in
one of the most epic dogfights of the jet age. October 20, 1973, the Yom
Kippur War, Giora Epstein leads a fourship of delta wing
fighters to the Suez Canal. He's flying an Israeli
built Nesher, a copy of the French Mirage 5. Radar control has ordered
Epstein, by now an experienced flight leader and double
ace, to 20,000 feet. Egyptian aircraft have
been picked up inbound. GIORA EPSTEIN: When
we came to the canal, we didn't see anything. And he said that some-- you see something that come from
the south, so I looked there and I see pair of MiG
21s come from the south. And when they are nearly
facing us, a few miles, they turn to the west
and start going to Egypt. NARRATOR: Epstein and his flight
are here, the MiG 21s here. The Israelis dropped
their tanks and give chase going to full afterburn. In the lead, Epstein
gets good tone from his heat seeking missile. GIORA EPSTEIN: And at that time,
the Kippur War, we have good. Missiles we have the
Shafrir 2 and the M9D. So I launched the missile-- And I got a hit and the
two of this pair explode and goes down. And immediately I went
up the number one. NARRATOR: But then
the desert below him comes alive with
camouflaged airplanes. Like mushrooms came
about 10 pairs of MiG 21s. NARRATOR: The Egyptians have
led the Israelis into an ambush. Giora Epstein is about
to put the Nesher to the ultimate test. The 1973 Yom Kippur War marked
the combat debut of a cousin to the Mirage 3, the Nesher. The sleek delta wing fighter
was born in the shadows of international espionage. By 1967, Israel
needed new airplanes to boost its fleet of
top line Mirage 3s. They worked with
Dassault aviation to design a simpler
and less expensive delta wing fighter
called the Mirage 5. Israel paid France
for 50 airplanes. But on the eve of
the Six Day war French president
Charles de Gaulle imposed a total arms
embargo on the Jewish state. Israel, with the help of
accomplices outside of France, obtained blueprints,
which allowed them to build their own
version of the Mirage 5. The Nesher or Eagle was first
flown in September 1969. LON NORDEEN: The
Nesher was really a Mirage 3 that was optimized
more toward the ground attack solution than the
air to air combat. The characteristics
of the Nesher slash Mirage 5 were more in the
multi-mission mode versus air combat or intercept. NARRATOR: Although the Mirage
III was lighter and more agile, the Nesher carried nearly
1,000 pounds more fuel without external tanks. The slight loss in
maneuverability due to the extra weight
was more than compensated for by the Nesher's
longer legs and extended time on station. Attributes that would prove
critical to Giora Epstein in his fight against a swarm
of Russian built MiG 21s. The MiG 21 was the
standard daytime fighter of the Soviet bloc. A mach 2 capable delta wing
fighter was widely exported. Since 1962, it was
supplied in great numbers to the Arab states. One of the major
differences between the MiG 21 and the Nesher is the tail. The Nesher uses a tailless
delta configuration, typical of Western delta wing fighters,
but the Soviets gave the MiG 21 a conventional tail,
which in their opinion provided better pitch
or up and down control. In this duel of
delta wing fighters, the airplanes are
almost equally matched. It is the pilot that makes
the critical difference. Epstein will rely on his
exceptional skill and warrior spirit to make it through one of
the most famous dog fights ever fought in Middle Eastern skies. 20 MiG 21s ones have stayed
under Israeli radar using the first pair as bait to
draw Giora Epstein's fourship formation into an ambush. GIORA EPSTEIN: But
they made one mistake. They start form too
low and too slow, so when they came
up to our level, they have no advantage because
they are not fast enough. So immediately, we start the
dog fight against all of them. NARRATOR: Epstein's killed
one of the decoy pair and is locked on the
tail of the leader. GIORA EPSTEIN: For me, it's
about four minutes, maybe more, of chasing this guy. I was behind him all the time. But there is no way I can put
my nose on in to shoot him down because a fly like in
Hebrew we say mashugana, like a crazy guy. MICHAEL EDREI: He
was doing loops. He was the brakes. He was doing split S's. He was doing
everything in the book, and he tried to shake him off. NARRATOR: While Epstein
pursues his own make, the remainder of his flight has
dissolved into a fluid state of mutual awareness. Dog fighting within what
Giora Epstein calls the bowl. GIORA EPSTEIN: During the
dog fight, inside this bowl, there are incidentally meetings. Sometimes you are going after me
and you see one of your friends there and you'll
see a mug up there. So you told him look left,
up, you say OK, and he goes. Sometime you see somebody
that may come after him, and you told him to break. NARRATOR: Epstein glances away
from the wildly jinking MiG and spots his number two. Epstein is here. His wingman is here chasing
down another Egyptian. The wingman fires a missile. The MiG explodes. But the missiles exhaust plume
is sucked into the Nesher's air intake, disrupting the
airflow and causing the engine to cut out. Without missing a
beat on his own MiG, Epstein talks his squadron
mate through an engine restart. I told him to close to
idly close, to idle open, and it's OK. And I told him to
go home because I think it's enough for him. NARRATOR: Number two
leaves the flight. Almost immediately, the other
two Israelis also depart. One runs out of fuel. The other has chased
a MiG out of the bowl. Epstein stays focused on the
crazy MiG driver off his nose. But now he's alone in the bowl
with 11 MiG 21s out for blood. October 20, 1973,
Giora Epstein is alone in the sky with 11
Egyptian MiG 21s. He's been chasing
one for five minutes. As the turning MiG
bleeds off energy, the chase has been
driven lower and lower. All the time, he
maneuvered so hard that he lost speed and height. MICHAEL EDREI: They ended
down about 3,000 feet. And that crazy Egyptian pilot
start doing the craziest thing of all this maneuver and
that's split S at 3,000 feet. NARRATOR: The
Egyptian is desperate. He'll attempt a diving reversal
called a split S. It's supposed to take 6,500 feet to do
this maneuver in a MiG 21. Epstein can't believe his
eyes as the MiG rolls inverted and pulls down. GIORA EPSTEIN: And I
didn't go after him because I think it's too low,
and I think it will crash. NARRATOR: He waits
for the fireball. GIORA EPSTEIN: I don't
know how, but he went out with clouds of dust. MICHAEL EDREI: And
he thought that's it. It crashed. Split seconds after
that, he sees that MiG 21 raising up like a rocket. NARRATOR: The Egyptian has
pulled off an amazing aerobatic feat, subjecting both
himself and his airplane to crushing acceleration forces. Plainly, he did
things that I-- it's hard to believe
that MiG 21 can do. NARRATOR: But the Egyptian
pilot for all his heroic efforts has run out of
energy and options. The throttle is firewalled. 16,000 pounds of thrust
shriek an angry protest against the heavy pull
of the desert floor. Epstein is waiting. The MiG is dispatched
with a short burst. A quick look over his shoulder. Another MiG closing on his tail,
nine more circling all intent on blowing him out of the sky. Epstein is enveloped by
five pairs of MiG 21s. Each pair will take a
crack at the lone Israeli. As soon as two MiG
21s complete a pass, another pair is ready to engage. I was on the defense all the
time, but from time to time, I have the opportunity
to do things. NARRATOR: Epstein's
epic 1 versus 10 fight begins with the first
pair of MiGs on his 6:00, the leader firing wildly. Epstein will break hard left,
forcing the MiGs to overshoot. But his delta wing
Nesher will lose energy in a sustained
turn, making him vulnerable to attack. Epstein throws the stick over. Then levels his wings. It's called unloading
or decreasing the centrifugal g-forces
that deplete energy. GIORA EPSTEIN: So immediately,
you level the aeroplane and try to gain as much speed
as you can until the other plane come after me. If you continue to
turn after you break, then you lost all your speed. And then somebody else can come
from the outside and kill you. NARRATOR: No sooner
does he level the wings that he sees two other
MiGs directly off his nose. GIORA EPSTEIN: Suddenly I
see flashes in front of me, and I see two MiG 21s launch
missile against me head on. NARRATOR: The missiles have no
chance of arming or detonating from the forward quarter, but
just the impact would be fatal. All Epstein can do is duck. The missiles and MiGs pass
right over his canopy. Suddenly another pair of
MiGs moves in from behind. The fact is-- which is lucky thing--
is that when you 6:00, there is a place for
only one airplane. So they can be 20
or 100 or 1,000. Behind you can be
only one airplane. Only those who are
behind you can kill you. NARRATOR: This time Epstein
has a precious few seconds to go on the offense. He'll bank sharply, pop
the brakes, lift the nose, and barrel roll smoothly
onto the trailing MiG's 6:00. In a brilliant display
of aerial dexterity, he's turned the
tables on the MiGs. MICHAEL EDREI: Epstein was
a master of the managing energies, and he always knew
what his potential energy is at every spot. He calculated-- he
knew where he's going. I mean, that-- he
was good at that. NARRATOR: A short
burst of 30 cannon fire then a huge fireball. Epstein immediately
levels his wings, preparing for the
next encounter. The last pair of MiGs
move in for the kill. For seven minutes, Giora Epstein
has fought alone against 11 MiG 21s. The last two are moving
into position on his tail. There are less and less MiGs
until there is only one plane behind me. NARRATOR: Epstein will sense
when the MiGs are about to fire then break hard at the last
moment, forcing an overshoot. Then he will reverse sharply,
bringing his guns to bear. Epstein breaks. The MiGs flash by. Then tried bugging out by
pulling into a steep flight. Exactly as planned,
Epstein reverses sharply levels gain some speed
then climbs in pursuit. He lines up the rear of
the pair in his gun sight. GIORA EPSTEIN: They shoot. They-- number two-- and they seat him
in the cockpit. There was no explosion
and no smoke, nothing, and he just went all the
way down to the ground. NARRATOR: The other
MiG continues to run. Epstein brings his nose to
bear and acquires good tone from his remaining
heat seeking missile. I launch my second missile,
which unfortunately went [pfft] like a bedon. NARRATOR: The missile falls
away from the under wing pylon. Epstein has the cannon
ammunition but not enough fuel for a chase. It would have been his
fifth kill for the day. GIORA EPSTEIN: I was cocky
enough to ask the controller if there is any
more targets for me. So he tell me no. NARRATOR: Epstein returns to
his base, a forward outpost in the Sinai desert. After shutting
down the engine, he has to be lifted
out of the cockpit. My legs shaking and
that was not because it was nearly 10 minutes of
very, very intensive thing. NARRATOR: 10 adrenaline pumping
minutes of dodging and weaving, rolling and reversing, pulling
maximum positive and negative g. MICHAEL EDREI: I spoke
to him many times. I said what make you stay there. He says it didn't even
occur to me to leave. There's no such question. I mean, I had the ammunition. I had fuel. Why should I go anywhere? The target's out there. I got to complete my job. He believed that it was
unthinkable to leave the battle, and that's what
made him a fierce warrior. NARRATOR: Four days
later on October 24th, Epstein is back in the air. He shoots down
three more MiG 21s. The Yom Kippur war
ends the same day. Epstein stayed in delta wing
fighters moving from the Nesher into the follow on Kfir,
the last true delta flown by the Israelis. In 1988 at age 50,
he transitioned into the next generation
fighter aircraft, the F16. The Nets or Hawk as
it's called in Israel represents a quantum leap in
fighter aircraft technology. Younger pilots consider the
F16 with its blended body wing design and powerful engine
to be the pinnacle of agility and responsiveness. But to many old
hands like Epstein, the computer driven
fly by wire fighter lacks the purity of a Mirage. GIORA EPSTEIN: You
are not flying F16. F16 fly itself
from its computer. You are only one of many inputs
to the computer of the F16. Me myself as a pilot,
I need the feelings. I need to enjoy the flight. And in F16, you miss it. It's not exactly the same. The Mirage, every
flight this is joyable. F16, you can have
unbelievable achievements, but the feeling is not the same. LON NORDEEN: On May
27, 1997, at age 59, Colonel Giora Epstein
flew his last mission for the Israeli Air Force. The nose of his F16 was
specially painted to show his 17 kills, all of them
scored in Mirages and Neshers. They are mute testimony to
the legacy of the delta wing fighter and to the fighting
spirit of Israel's Desert Aces. Giora Epstein remains the
world's top scoring jet fighter pilot.
