Ogaden War (1977)

Ogaden War (1977) wikipedia

isrlmrca.btl

In 1977, the Ethiopian province of Ogaden was the target of an invasion by neighboring Somalia (in the guise of the West-Somali Liberation Front or WSLF, an organization aimed at bringing the 500,000 Somali muslims living in this Ethiopian Province under Somali governance). Thousands of WSLF troops flooded into Ogaden, precipitating a war between Ethiopia and Somalia. The Ethiopians had in previous years received F-5A and F-5Es from the US, and after the beginning of this conflict, the Israeli's provided support and mercenary pilots. The Somali's reportedly received support from Iraq and Syrian pilots, who helped carry out at least some air raids on Ethiopian targets. On July 16, two Israeli pilots on a "training combat air patrol" flying Ethiopian F-5As encountered a flight of 4 Somali MiG-21s. In the ensuing combat, the Israelis destroyed two MiG-21s and the two other MiG-21s collided trying to avoid AIM-9Bs fired in their direction.

In this version, I have used F-5As, as described in Ogaden War, 1977-1978 by Tom Cooper (http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_188.shtml). Cooper also mentions that Ethiopian F-5As could not carry Sidewinder missiles, which contradicts the claim that F-5As were involved in this combat. So, in isrlmrcb.btl I have substituted F-5Es for the F-5As.....a more realistic pairing in the light of the involvement of Sidewinders in this combat.

isrlmrcb.btl

In 1977, the Ethiopian province of Ogaden was the target of an invasion by neighboring Somalia (in the guise of the West-Somali Liberation Front or WSLF, an organization aimed at bringing the 500,000 Somali muslims living in this Ethiopian Province under Somali governance). Thousands of WSLF troops flooded into Ogaden, precipitating a war between Ethiopia and Somalia. The Ethiopians had in previous years received F-5A and F-5Es from the US, and after the beginning of this conflict, the Israeli's provided support and mercenary pilots. The Somali's reportedly received support from Iraq and Syrian pilots, who helped carry out at least some air raids on Ethiopian targets. On July 16, two Israeli pilots on a "training combat air patrol" flying Ethiopian F-5As encountered a flight of 4 Somali MiG-21s. In the ensuing combat, the Israelis destroyed two MiG-21s and the two other MiG-21s collided trying to avoid AIM-9Bs fired in their direction.

In this version, I have used F-5Es on the Ethiopian side of this encounter. As described in Ogaden War, 1977-1978 by Tom Cooper (http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_188.shtml), Cooper mentions that Ethiopian F-5As could not carry Sidewinder missiles, which contradicts the claim that F-5As were involved in the substituted F-5Es for the F-5As.....a more realistic pairing in the light of the involvement of Sidewinders in this combat.