Bloodletting Over the Canal: MiG 21 vs Mirage III (War of Attrition, 1969)

This episode takes you into the early air battles of the Arab–Israeli War of Attrition, when Egypt emerged from the shock of 1967 and began testing its rebuilt air power against Israeli Mirage III fighters over the Suez Canal and Sinai. We look at how Nasser’s “War of Bloodletting” moved from an early SAM ambush to tense fighter clashes as both sides upgraded their technology and tactics. You’ll see the March 1969 engagements where Egyptian MiG 21s tried to intercept Mirages along the Canal, leading to claims, losses, and captures that don’t always match between the two sides. We also explore Egypt’s improvised reconnaissance solutions using British Vinten cameras on MiG-21s and Su-7s, and how these innovations fed into later operations. The video then hints at the complex April 1969 battle over the Mitla Defile, as MiG-21s and Su-7s clash with Mirages from No. 119 Squadron. Through Egyptian and Israeli pilot accounts, we touch on missile duels, disputed victories, and how air to air missiles were starting to change the nature of air combat in the region. If you’re interested in MiG 21 vs Mirage encounters, Cold War proxy warfare, and the lesser known story of the War of Attrition, this episode continues the series’ detailed look at this intense but often overlooked conflict. Watch the previous videos if you missed them:    • From Six Days to Attrition: Arab Rebuild, ...      • Did Egypt Shoot Down 4 Israeli Mirages? Th...   Main Sources: The Arab-Israeli War of Attrition, 1967-1973: Volume 1: Six-Day War Aftermath, Renewed Combat, Air Forces https://amzn.to/3Lrvi3H The Arab-Israeli War of Attrition, 1967-1973: Volume 2: Fighting Across the Suez https://amzn.to/4pEvzOA The Arab-Israeli War of Attrition, 1967–1973: Volume 3: Gaza, Jordanian Civil War, Golan and Lebanon Fighting, Continuing Conflict and Summary https://amzn.to/4aWnYY8 The Soviet-Israeli War, 1967-1973: The USSR's Military Intervention in the Egyptian-Israeli Conflict https://amzn.to/4qSVFP1 Arab MiGs. Volume 4: Attrition War, 1967-1973 https://amzn.to/4sH2Awh Israeli Mirage and Nesher Aces https://amzn.to/49mb2to Purchasing these books on Amazon using the links given in this description will result in a small commission to the channel without extra cost to you. This will used to purchase more books and help create new videos. Support the channel on Patreon:   / showtime112   Donate via Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/showt... Join our Discord server:   / discord   Echoes of Time by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/