18 years in captivity - Ron Arad

[Nesher]

articles from the IAF site about Ron Arad

today we mark 18 years to his captivity

 

 

Operation 'Peace for the Galilee'

 

October 16th 1986:

A Phantom that had been carrying out attacks

against terrorist targets in south Lebanon suffers

a technical malfunction and is shot down.

Its air crew men bail out. The navigator, Ron Arad, is taken captive.

 

The pilot, Major Aviram, is rescued on a Cobra's skid to Israel.

 

A Phantom is hit over Lebanon. Ron Arad is captured

 

In October 1986, during a routine attack in Lebanon,

an IAF Phantom was damaged as a result of a technical malfunction.

The crew - pilot Maj. Aviram, and the WSO, Maj. Ron Arad, had no choice but to bail out.

Maj. Aviram was rescued in a daring operation by a Cobra helicopter,

in which he hung on to the chopper's landing gear. Ron Arad was taken captive.

 

Rescue on a Cobra's skids

 

On Thursday, October 16th 1986, a Phantom carrying

out a routine attack in Lebanon was hit following a technical malfunction,

and the two crew members had to bail out. The pilot had a rough fall and

rolled into a wadi, but crawled into a thicket of raspberry bushes and

camouflaged himself, awaiting rescue. The navigator, Maj. Ron Arad,

fell captive. The terrorist forces who had captured him scoured the

area looking for the pilot, and shot at the two Cobras which came to rescue him.

The Cobras managed to make contact with the pilot. They flew low

in his direction, and directed him to climb as far up the wadi wall as he could.

One of the Cobras managed to sidle up to the Phantom pilot. The plan called for

the weapons drum hatch to be opened, for him to sit on, but instead he took hold of one

of the chopper's skids under one arm, grabbed the radio with the other hand and shouted 'go!'.

He flown thus - hanging in midair from the Cobra's skid - to Israeli territory.

 

RON ARAD Born for Freedom!

[Nesher]

Missing Formation over Israel

 

by Yoni AKA StrikeEagle in Gamer.co.il forums

 

by Ron S AKA Gongon

[pins]

To see that missing man formation brings tears to my eyes.

Nesher if the Major is still alive may he see his family soon.

[Nesher]

i hope so too

 

the formation is performed by his Squadron

69th "Hammers" flying the F-15I

he was in the time when the Hammers were flying the good old Phantoms