I Want a MiG-21! Part 2

After successfully poaching Redfa it came the time for him(Redfa) to meet Mossad and Athens was chosen for the first meeting.

With a false cover of his wife's illness, Redfa travelled to Athens. There he met with Mossad Officers and Israeli Air Force officers. And was given the code name of "מבצע יהלום" Romanization Mivtza Yahalom or Diamond.

Operation Diamond.

Mossad promises Redfa that if he delivers a MiG-21 they will not only pay him USD 1 Million ($1,000,000) but will also get his family members out of Iraq safely.

After a Day of thinking it through, Redfa agreed and then was taken to Rome and from Rome to Tel Aviv.

He spent 24 Hours in Tel Aviv and during this time he was briefed about operation's details and secret codes.

After spending 24 hours, Redfa left Tel Aviv for Athens and from there for bagdad to prepare for the last stages of the operation.

Redfa was back in Baghdad and everything who is going according to the plan.

But then Redfa made a silly mistake which could jeopardize the whole operation. For just a few bucks he started selling all his home furniture in bulk.

And this scared the world out of Mossad handlers.

They were almost certain that Redfa's mistake will be caught by Iraqi Intelligence Agency, Mukhabarat and now they will arrest Redfa and put him behind bars.

But stars were favouring Redfa and Mossad. No one suspected anything and he sold all his furniture quietly.

One night, Redfa's 43 family members were taken to secluded mountains. From there were airlifted by Turkish helicopters and while flying undetected from radars. They were all taken to Turkey.

As soon as the landed in Turkey read for received a message.

Mosaad: Your sister has just delivered a healthy baby girl.

It was a signal to Redfa that his family had landed in Turkey safely. And now it's time for him to fulfill his end of deal.

Munir Redfa: Y.

Y meant Yes I'm ready.

On July 19, 1966, Munir Redfa ttokboff his MiG-21 and started flying towards Israel.

Israel Air force commander Mordechai Hodd had given clear orders to all stations, that if you see an enemy plane in Israeli Airspace you don't shoot, you do absolutely nothing and sit tight. He had also recruited three Ace Pilots of Israeli Air Force to escort Redfa's MiG-21.

As soon Redfa enter Israeli air space, all three Israeli plane started escorting him. Redfa also started tilting his plane's wing towards right which meant he comes in peace, please don't shoot.

After 65 minutes of taking off from Baghdad Redfa's MiG-21 had landed on Hatzor Airbase, Israel.

Israel had done the Impossible. They received their MiG-21.

And because this operation was done in James Bond Style, the MiG-21 was nicknamed 007.

Israeli pilots studied this plane in depth and also did a lot of exercises using it.

And all this came in handy a year later when Israel alone fought a war with four Arab countries Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Jordan and defeated them badly in only 6 days. This war is now known as the 6 day war.

Had Israelis not gotten a MiG-21 in 1966 you never know 1965's 6 day war would have been called 60 day.

See you soon in Espionage stories' next episode.

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