Re: KPAF Pilots in Egypt

["Joseph S. Bermudez Jr." <jbermudez@qwest.net>]

YSK,
 
> Is there more detail?

Unfortunately, no. :-(
 
> All I know is that Jo Myong Rok, DPRK defense minister today, led the
> expedition.  They arrived in Egypt disguised as common laborers and
> mechanics.

Yes, this agrees with my information.

 
> Jo and Mubarek (Egyptian president today) led a surprise air attack on
> Israeli airfields.  Kim Il Sung instructed Jo to fly out to the sea first
> and then loop back to hit the Israelis.

I believe that you are mistaken. Kim Il-sung, Cho Myong-rok, and the KPAF
pilots in Egypt had absolutely nothing to do with the planning the Egyptian
1973 offensive. 

The KPAF contingent, even more so than most of the other Arab allies
contingents, proved to be a significant liability. They came with no
aircraft, had less flying experience then their Egyptian counterparts,
couldn't speak Arabic, were unfamiliar with the area of operations,
unfamiliar with Egyptian operations, procedures and tactics, and were
totally unprepared to fight against the Israeli Air Force (IAF) flying
dissimilar aircraft using different tactics. Additionally, the IAF (with the
probable exception of the USAF and USN) had some of the best trained and
most combat experience pilots in the world.

The KPAF contingent's value, as was that of several of the other Arab allies
contingents, primarily political. They had absolutely no meaningful effect
upon the operations or outcome of the Egyptian effort.

BTW, I am unfamiliar with an Egyptian air base named "Bir Arida." This is
probably an Israeli designation, rather then the name used by the Egyptians
themselves.

Best regards,
Joe B.

Joseph S. Bermudez Jr.