[Video] Israeli Fighter Pilot explains how he became the first F-15 Driver to score a MiG Kill

[Video] Israeli Fighter Pilot explains how he became the first F-15 Driver to score a MiG Kill

By Dario Leone
Mar 9 2020
Share this article

Spotting the two MiG-21s first, Moshe Melnik became the section leader and turned towards them, launching a Python 3 AAM as he closed on the enemy jets.

Bought in the mid-1970s to secure air superiority for Israel in the Middle East for decades to come, the F-15 Eagle has indeed been the unrivalled master of the skies since its arrival in December 1976.

As the description of the Smithsonian Channel’s video in this post explains, the fighter claimed its first kills three years later in the disputed airspace over southern Lebanon, when the IDF/AF skirmished with the Syrian Air Force.

At 1107 hrs on Jun. 27, 1979, Israeli COMINT and SIGINT stations detected radio traffic indicating that Syrian radar had acquired IDF/AF attack aircraft flying along the Lebanese coastline. As explained by Shlomo Aloni in his book Israeli F-15 Eagle Units in Combat, three formations of SyAAF MiG-21s (and not the MiG-17s featured in the clip) were scrambled to intercept the Israeli aircraft, but as they crossed the Lebanese-Syrian border, the IDF/AF jets withdrew west and the Arab interceptors were ordered by their fighter controllers to abort the mission and return to base.

[Video] Israeli Fighter Pilot explains how he became the first F-15 Driver to score a MiG Kill
This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. F-15C Eagle 36th TFW, 22d TFS, BT/79-051 / 1981

At 1120 hrs Syrian radar operators detected more Israeli jets over Lebanon, so the SyAAF MiG-21s were again vectored to engage. One minute later, Israeli radio jamming blocked any communication between the Syrian pilots and personnel manning the Ground Control Intercept (GCI) stations. The latter then spotted F-15s popping up from low altitude on their radar screens, but they were unable to relay this information to the MiG-21 pilots due to radio jamming. The Baz pilots were now just moments away from their first clash with the SyAAF.

Flying the lead jets, Benny Zinker (then Commander of Double Tail Squadron) and Moshe Melnik (then Commander of Flying School Fighter Training Squadron) quickly achieved a radar lock on their targets and fired a single AIM-7F each in a BVR engagement. As was typical for this time of year, the weather was clear and sunny, allowing the Baz pilots to keep visual contact with the two large AAMs that they had just shot off. Time passed and the Sparrows disappeared from sight, having missed their targets. Both pilots could now see the MiG-21s, so Zinker and Melnik decided it was time for WVR combat.

F-15 Model
This model is available to order from AirModels – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS.

Spotting the two MiG-21s first, Melnik became the section leader and turned towards them, launching a Python 3 AAM as he closed on the enemy jets. Again, he kept his eyes glued on the missile’s flightpath, and this time he was relieved to see it score a direct hit on the MiG-21, which duly broke apart into two large sections.

Although already a 5.5-kill ace F-4 ace, Melnik was so overwhelmed by this sight that he totally ignored the second SyAAF fighter. Fortunately, Yoel Feldsho (Double Tail Squadron’s senior deputy CO) was covering the lead section, and he fired an AIM-7F which destroyed the MiG-21 before it could get onto Melnik’s tail.

The following footage features Melnik explaining how he became the first F-15 pilot in the world to shoot down an enemy plane.

Israeli F-15 Eagle Units in Combat is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.

Photo credit: Israeli Air Force


Share this article

Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share this article


Share this article
Share this article

Always up to date! News and offers delivered directly to you!

Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.



    Share this article
    Back to top
    My Agile Privacy
    This website uses technical and profiling cookies. Clicking on "Accept" authorises all profiling cookies. Clicking on "Refuse" or the X will refuse all profiling cookies. By clicking on "Customise" you can select which profiling cookies to activate. We and our selected ad partners can store and/or access information on your device, such as cookies, unique identifiers, browsing data. You can always choose the specific purposes related to profiling by accessing the advertising preferences panel, and you can always withdraw your consent at any time by clicking on "Manage consent" at the bottom of the page.

    List of some possible advertising permissions:

    You can consult: our list of advertising partners, the Cookie Policy and the Privacy Policy.
    Warning: some page functionalities could not work due to your privacy choices