Eagles over the Golan

Eagles Over the Golan is the history of 62 Squadron, a specialist Egyptian MiG-17 unit formed in 1968 and trained to hunt Israeli MIM-23 HAWK missiles. The squadron was established as a specialist unit for the suppression of enemy air defences, staffed by a cadre of young pilots trained to hunt and destroy the very missiles designed to keep them grounded.

The MiG-17F-equipped squadron mastered low-level ingress and high-speed pop-up attacks. Recognising the urgent need to bolster Syria’s defences, the unit was transferred north in 1972 under Lieutenant Colonel Fikry el-Gindy. Tasked with supporting the Syrian Arab Air Force in the impending war to liberate Sinai and the Golan Heights, 62 Squadron became the spearhead of the Arab alliance’s aerial strategy on the northern front.

Now, for the first time in English, el-Gindy provides a visceral, blow-by-blow account of his squadron’s pivotal role in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War. From the intense build-up and pre-war training from Syrian airbases to desperate, high-stakes sorties over the Golan Heights, this narrative strips away propaganda to reveal the raw reality of air war. It is a story of extraordinary skill, immense courage, and the relentless pressure of fighting a technologically superior enemy.

Complemented by rare photographs, detailed maps, and authentic colour profiles, Eagles Over the Golan is a unique and indispensable addition to the historiography of the Arab-Israeli wars.