ELEVEN
November 1, 1956 – Cairo, Egypt
It was early morning. Francis Powers was again tasked to take reconnaissance photos of strategic locations in Egypt. Eisenhower wanted to keep a close watch on what was happening on the ground. The U2 was flying at seventy thousand feet when it passed over the West Cairo military airfield. The planes and buildings were clearly visible. The runway looked like it was still in good shape and absent of any bomb damage. Powers didn’t personally care one way or the other. It was above his pay grade to figure out the mess unfolding down below. That’s Ike’s job, he thought. He pressed the record button on his camera controls and took a series of high resolution photographs of the airfield and surrounding area.
He had orders to take photos at a minimum of two different angles so the analysts could compare any questionable photographs. The U2 was an unwieldly beast and wasn’t the kind of aircraft that would turn on a dime like a jet fighter. He performed a slow arcing turn and circled back around. It took almost ten minutes to complete the full turn and reposition the aircraft for a second reconnaissance run. When he flew over the airfield again he noticed that things had dramatically changed. Most of the buildings and aircraft were burning and the runway had huge craters in it. He thought for a moment, then realized that while he was making his turn, British or French bombers had attacked the airfield below. He looked around for any sight of them. The sky was clear except for the black smoke rising from the airfield. He hit the record button again and photographed the damage. This will be a great story that I can tell my grandchildren, he thought. They’ll probably be bored to tears. He slowly turned his aircraft for home.
November 1, 1956 – Suez Canal Zone, Egypt
French reconnaissance planes combed the Suez Canal and the surrounding area for potential targets and to keep tabs on Egyptian troop movements. The pilot of an F-84 Thunderstreak was flying over Lake Timsah when he saw two tug boats pushing the Egyptian Navy’s LST Aka toward the narrow channel at the southern end of the lake.
The LST Aka was three hundred and twenty-eight feet long and weighed over sixteen hundred tons. She was a big bruiser and ideally designed for her new purpose as a blockship. Originally built as a military landing craft for tanks and vehicles, the Aka was being pushed into the main channel by the two tug boats. Her hull had been filled with cement and debris. Once scuttled, she would be difficult to raise. If she landed upright on the bottom of the channel, she was tall enough to prevent all commercial vessels from traveling through the Suez Canal unless they were willing to risk their hulls being ripped open by the Aka’s bridge tower and loading cranes.
The pilot radioed back his findings including details of the ship’s current position, speed and direction. It wouldn’t take long before the Aka had been moved into position and scuttled. There was no time to waste if the British were going to stop her. The Thunderstreak flying overhead did not have any bombs loaded on the hardpoints under its wings. It was on a reconnaissance mission and needed to conserve as much fuel as possible. The most it could do was strafe the ship with its machineguns which wouldn’t cause any real damage but might give the crew of the tug boats a good scare. He checked his fuel gauge and decided against it. He was running low on fuel. He banked his aircraft hard and headed back to his base on Cyprus.
November 1, 1956 – Mitla Pass, Egypt
Brigitte joined an Israeli reconnaissance unit sent to scout the area between the Mitla Mountains and the Suez Canal. The Egyptians were retreating to the west and crossing over the canal. Sharon wanted to know what was out there and if the retreat was real or just a ruse. He had strict orders from Dayan not to move his brigade any farther west than its current position. Sharon did not believe that meant he was to remain blind. He instructed his reconnaissance units to keep out of sight and to avoid all enemy contact as they traveled west. They were to observe only and maintain radio silence. At the first sign of trouble they were to return and report.
Sharon still had not heard any news of the Spanish cargo plane crash. He didn’t know if Brigitte’s American pilot was dead or alive. He considered telling her about the crash but decided against it. He had grown to like the sassy French journalist. She was doing her job and telling her would only hurt her. He wasn’t sure how she would respond and he didn’t need a weeping woman while fighting the Egyptians. The time would come when he could not hold back the truth anymore, but for now his silence was merciful.
Brigitte boarded one of the three jeeps, and the reconnaissance unit took off down the mountain. She had seen the carnage from the last Egyptian ambush and was feeling anxious as the jeeps snaked their way down the mountain road into the valley below. She was surprised at the complete absence of Egyptian soldiers. The pass was clear. The three jeeps drove out into the valley and toward the Suez Canal, unmolested.
November 1, 1956 – Mediterranean Sea
A flight of four British Hawker Sea Hawks was already armed and ready for takeoff on the HMS Eagle aircraft carrier sailing in the eastern Mediterranean when the message came in from French intelligence. The aircraft were immediately retasked to sink the Aka in Lake Timsah before she entered the main channel. The jets launched, formed up and headed inland at maximum speed.
November 1, 1956 – Suez Canal Zone, Egypt
The three reconnaissance jeeps from the 202nd Paratrooper Brigade pulled to a stop behind a small hill. The Lieutenant in charge of the unit pulled out his binoculars and exited the jeep. Brigitte followed him to the top of the hill where he laid down. In the distance was the Suez Canal. Brigitte laid down next to him and said, “Why are we stopping here? Why not go all the way to the canal?”
“I suppose we can if you don’t mind being shot at. The Egyptian army is on the opposite bank. If they spot us they might decide to take a few potshots with their artillery and mortars. We can see everything we need to see from here,” said the Lieutenant. “That alright with you?”
“Sure. I’m in no hurry to die,” said Brigitte pulling out her own set of binoculars and peering at the canal.
Just as the lieutenant had said, she could see Egyptian forces on the opposite bank. There were two tanks with their gun barrels pointed toward the eastern bank of the canal. “Can they see us?” said Brigitte, alarmed.
“No. Not unless they are really looking for us. I doubt they know we are here.”
Brigitte relaxed. She trusted the lieutenant even though he was young. There was something about him that made her feel safe like when she was around Coyle or Bruno. She scanned the horizon and spotted the Aka being pushed by the tug boats. “Looks like someone’s having engine trouble,” she said.
The lieutenant turned his binoculars to see what she was seeing. “I don’t think that’s it. I think it’s a blockship.”
“What’s a blockship?”
“Nasser threatened to block the canal if any foreign army set foot in Egypt. He fills old ships with heavy debris from demolished buildings and floats them into the center of the canal. When the time comes, he blows out their hulls and sinks ’em.”
“You think that’s what they’re doing?”
“Probably. Most of the ships are headed for salvage and their engines are caput. They have to be towed into position.”
“Mind if I ask you a few personnel questions?”
“No. Go ahead and ask. I just don’t promise I’ll answer.”
“Fair enough. What’s it like living in a country where all your neighbors want you wiped off the face of the earth?”
“More boring than you would expect.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, well… our commanders drill the possibility of complete annihilation into our heads so much we kinda become numb to it. Most of our time is spent waiting around for the apocalypse. It’s times like these when we can actually go out and do something about it that are exciting.”
“Interesting.”
“Probably not but it is the truth. I’ve had a target on my back my whole life, yet one day pretty much looks the same as the last.”
“The idea of millions of armed Arabs doesn’t scare you?”
“Sure. A little… but we’re well trained and I’m told we have God on our side.”
“You don’t believe in God?”
“I don’t believe and I don’t not believe. I just don’t know and frankly I don’t think it matters.”
“And yet you fight for Jews?”
“I fight for the survival of my people and my country. Religion has nothing to do with it.”
“I think there are a lot of both Jews and Arabs that would disagree with you.”
“And I think you’d be surprised if you really knew what was in people’s hearts.”
“Maybe.”
“At the end of the day war is a test of wills. They fight for revenge. We fight to survive. Now who do you think is gonna win?”
The lieutenant stopped talking as if something had caught his attention. He looked toward the sky. “Listen… jets,” he said.
“Egyptian or Israeli?” said Brigitte feeling very vulnerable on a hill with no cover in sight.
The lieutenant spotted the incoming aircraft and peered through his binoculars to get a closer look. “Neither. They’re British. Sea Hawks, I think.”
The British aircraft reached the Egyptian vessel as she was about to enter the mouth of the narrow channel at the southern end of Lake Timsah. The first two Sea Hawks swooped in for an attack as the other two kept overwatch in case any Egyptian fighters showed up. The first two Sea Hawks were armed with four five-hundred pound bombs each. It was not the ideal weapon to attack a ship like the Aka but there had been no time to switch out the armament before takeoff. As they flew over the ship, the pilots released their payloads.
One of the bombs hit one of the tug boats and blew it apart killing the crew. Another bomb hit the Aka just in front of the bridge and blew a ten-foot hole in the deck. The damage looked a lot worse than it was since the cement and debris packed into the cargo area prevented the explosion from reaching the bottom of the hull. The Aka was pouring out black smoke but still moving toward the channel with the help of the remaining tug.
The pairs of Sea Hawks switched places and the second set of aircraft swooped in to attack while the first set kept watch. One of the aircraft in the second set had been armed with sixteen 127-mm unguided rockets designed to take out heavily armored vehicles such as tanks and mobile artillery. The first aircraft dropped its bombs with little effect. The second aircraft swooped in low hugging the water surface. As it approached within five-hundred yards it fired all sixteen rockets in a matter of seconds and pulled up into a hard climb to clear the ship’s masts. One of the rockets struck the Aka’s hull and punched a hole at the waterline.
The Aka started to take on water. It was sinking, but slowly. The Egyptian tug captain pressed his vessel to maximum speed and pushed the Aka deeper into the channel. The Aka had been rigged with explosives at the bottom of the cargo area but they proved unnecessary. The Aka stayed afloat just long enough to move into perfect position before sinking. It settled upright on the bottom of the main channel.
On the hillside, Brigitte watched. She couldn’t help but think of the irony of what had just transpired. It was the first time in eighty-seven-years the Suez Canal had been blocked and it was the British that sank the blockship. The whole point of the French and British invasion was to keep the canal open and now it was blocked. This is gonna make a great story, she thought.
The Aka was the first of many.
November 1, 1956 – Suez Canal Zone, Egypt
In retaliation for the British and French airstrikes on Cairo, Nasser had given the order to block the Suez Canal. If Egypt wasn’t allowed to control the Suez Canal, it would be closed to the entire world until the world saw reason.
Forty blockships were towed out into the shipping channels of the Suez Canal. Each ship was placed in a strategic position in an area of the canal to achieve maximum affect. The Egyptian engineers lit the fuses to the explosives in the hulls and ran for the waiting tug boat to carry them away to safety. The explosions were spectacular and caused small earthquakes in the villages and cities near the canal. Egyptian spectators along the shores of the canal cheered as each ship exploded, sending geysers of water into the blue sky. Some ships cracked in half and others tipped their bows up for a final salute before sinking. Each ship sank until it came to a rest on the muddy bottom of the canal. Although some of the ships were completely submerged, many still had their steam stacks and masts visible above the waterline.
The destruction was complete. Any commercial or military ship that dared to navigate the wreckage was risking having its hull torn open and sinking, causing even more blockage. Insurance companies refused to insure any shipping company attempting to use the canal. The Suez Canal would be blocked from all shipping traffic for over a year until the sunken ships could be cut into pieces by divers and the pieces removed by tugs and tractors. The canal was the very reason nations were fighting and now it was completely useless. Egypt would miss out on millions of dollars in tolls and construction of their dam project would be delayed once again for lack of funds.
The Suez Canal, one of mankind’s greatest engineering achievements, was nothing more than a very long and narrow swimming hole in the middle of a desert.
November 1, 1956 – Washington D.C., USA
It was very early in the morning in the White House. Eisenhower was asleep when his personal butler opened his bedroom door and entered. The butler walked over to the bed and gently shook Eisenhower’s arm until the president awoke. “Mr. President, Director Dulles would like to see you. He says it is urgent,” said the butler.
“Of course. What time is it?” said Eisenhower.
“Two-thirty, Mr. President.”
“Alright. Give me a moment. I’ll meet him in my study,” said Eisenhower.
The butler left and Eisenhower rose and put on his robe and slippers. With luck, he would be able to go back to bed and get a few more hours of sleep before starting the day. He walked through the bedroom doorway and into the hallway. His personal study was just two doors down. He entered. Allen Dulles was waiting. “I’m sorry for waking you, Mr. President,” said Dulles.
“No, you’re not. It’s your job. Out with it.”
“We just received word… Nasser has sunk thirty to forty ships in the main canal. It’s completely impassible. The canal is shut down to all naval traffic.”
“Well, I can’t say I’m surprised. When a lion is backed into a corner it fights back. How long before it can reopen?”
“We won’t know until we get a better look at the damage. We are sending a U2 to take reconnaissance photos.”
“Alright. Let’s wait and see where we stand.”
“Should I have waited until morning?”
“No. I’ve grown used to it. I’d rather be informed than awake and chirper.”
“Are you heading back to bed?”
“Yeah. I won’t get any sleep but I think better horizontally.”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
“Ya, know, Allen… this may not be all bad news.”
“How’s that, Mr. President?”
“Britain and France just shut off most of their oil supply, along with the rest of Europe. They’ll deplete their reserves within a week or two.”
“You think there may be an opportunity?”
“Perhaps. I’ll think on it. You do the same. Let’s rendezvous at breakfast. Good night,” said Eisenhower moving toward the door.
“Good night, Mr. President.”
Eisenhower went back to bed and surprisingly… slept.
November 1, 1956 – Sinai, Desert
Coyle and the navigator continued their trek across the wasteland of the Sinai. They had dodged several Egyptian patrols over the last two days. The farther north they moved, the more panicked the retreating Egyptian forces seemed to be. They even saw a group of twenty soldiers crossing the hot desert barefoot and weaponless. Coyle thought about stopping them using their pistols, but he figured they probably didn’t have any water or food. The Egyptians were in worse shape than they were.
Coyle and the navigator stopped for a moment and shared the remaining water in the goat-skin bag. “Well that went fast,” said Coyle tossing the empty bag to the ground.
The navigator picked up the empty bag and slid it over his shoulder. “I like your positive attitude. That’s great if we find water but it’s gonna slow us down. Even empty it’s heavy,” said Coyle.
“Esta bien,” said the navigator.
“Suit yourself,” said Coyle continuing to walk in the same direction. “I suppose it ain’t gonna matter much anyhow if we don’t find some water soon. Then your bag’s gonna come in real handy. Whoopi.”
The navigator followed, silent.
November 1, 1956 - Abu Ageila, Egypt
The 7th Armored Brigade was given the mission of preventing Egyptian forces from escaping the Hedgehog and fleeing north to Al-Arish. They would be the anvil. The 10th Infantry Brigade commanded by Colonel Shmuel Goder would be the hammer and assault the Hedgehog from the eastern side. Without any armor, the 10th Infantry Brigade was not well-suited to assault the well-defended Hedgehog. With only three infantry battalions, a jeep-mounted company and a heavy mortar company, the 10th Brigade was no match for the Egyptian anti-tank guns, artillery, and heavy machine guns dug into the ridge. To make matters worse, it was an uphill battle for the Israelis and they were attacking a well-prepared defensive position. It spelled disaster from the start.
The Israeli Defense Forces commander Moshe Dayan was an infantry-man. He believed that his infantry brigades were the best for almost any situation. Infantry was flexible and could be easily mobilized if required. They could climb the roughest terrain. They were more dependable than his armor brigades which were always having problem with breakdowns and required large amounts of fuel to keep going. He ensured his infantry brigades were well-armed to take on armor when encountered or any other mission they were tasked with. Few politicians agreed with Dayan but he was the man in charge and would have things his way. Dayan wanted infantry to take the Hedgehog.
As their jeeps rode over the desert, 10th Brigade began their assault. It didn’t take long before the Egyptians responded with a ferocious barrage of artillery and heavy machinegun fire. The Israelis abandoned their jeeps which were easy targets for the Egyptians. It was safer to approach on foot so the Israelis could use the terrain as cover. Even a shallow slope or wadi offered some protection against the Egyptian machineguns.
The Egyptians were using up their ammunition at an alarming rate as they poured shells and bullets into the approaching Israelis. They were acting as if they had an infinite supply of munitions, which they didn’t. The Egyptians had been cut off from resupply when the village of Abu Ageila was captured by the Israelis. But either they hadn’t realized that fact or they just didn’t care. They were determined not to let the Israelis get any kind of foothold on the eastern front of the Hedgehog.
Adan and his men attacked from the western side up the Katef Ridge. Their job was not to take the Egyptian positions on the ridge but to give up enough of a fight that the Egyptian commander would split his forces in two allowing the 10th Infantry to successfully assault the ridge on the opposite side of the Hedgehog. It was a feint but it had to be believed. The Israeli tanks, now repaired and resupplied with ammunition, fired on the Egyptian positions from the base of the slope while the Israeli infantry fired their anti-tank guns and heavy machineguns from the top of the dam. The Egyptians were taking a beating from both sides of the Hedgehog, but they held on.
Just after noon, the Israelis on the eastern side broke off their assault. They had suffered heavy casualties and lost most of their jeeps. They were stuck and unable to make any progress against the Egyptian positions. It was hopeless without armor to support their advance. It didn’t matter what his commanders believed. Infantry alone was not going to make it up the slopes of the Hedgehog. Goder finally pulled the plug on the operation and ordered his men to withdraw back down the slope.
November 1, 1956 - Southern Israel
Dayan was furious when he received word that 10th Brigade had withdrawn from the battlefield. He refused to believe that the ridge could not be taken with infantry. He decided to visit the battlefield and confront Goder directly.
November 1, 1956 - Abu Ageila, Egypt
Dayan arrived by small aircraft in the early afternoon and reviewed the situation for himself. He railed on Goder for not properly preparing the battlefield before the attack. He was especially adamant about the lack of a preparatory bombardment of the Shinhan Ridge where the Egyptians had been using their artillery to support their defensive positions on the eastern side. Goder reminded Dayan that his brigade was not equipped with artillery or armor. The one heavy mortar company that he did have at his disposal focused its attack on the Egyptian positions on the ridge his men were assaulting.
“Why did you withdraw?” said Dayan.
“My men were unable to advance. They were being slaughtered,” said Goder.
“You know to expect some losses.”
“Some losses, yes. But if we had stayed much longer my entire brigade would have been wiped out.”
“Shmuel, we have to take the Hedgehog. If we could go around it, we would. It’s just not possible without exposing our supply lines.”
“I understand the need for the mission. But I will not just sit back and watch my men get slaughtered without at least a hope of success.”
“You are the commander. You create the hope. You create the opportunity for success.”
“I tried, Moshe. The Egyptians wouldn’t budge.”
“Then you eliminate them one by one.”
“Of course, if we could find them. Our intelligence reports have been worthless. They showed the Egyptian guns in one position and when we arrived they had shifted to another. Lives wasted capturing dirt and sand.”
“Then you should have kept going until you found them.”
“We tried. My men took a terrible beating.”
“They’re soldiers. It’s their job to take a beating when on a mission.”
“Sir, now that they’ve taken the dam and opened the road, 7th Armor is receiving supplies. The Egyptians in the Hedgehog are cut off. It is only a matter of time before they run out of ammunition and supplies. They’ll be forced to surrender. We don’t need to sacrifice Israeli lives to take the Hedgehog. It will fall on its own.”
“That’s wishful thinking. They could counterattack and retake the village cutting off our supply lines once again.”
“And if they do, we can take the Hedgehog and rain fire down upon them. They will surrender. Our men shouldn’t be asked to give up their lives for nothing. No man should.”
“It’s not for nothing, Shmuel. If we don’t win this war soon, the Egyptians will consolidate their forces and counterattack. If they are successful at driving us back, I doubt they will stop at the border. Our country is at risk. Our intelligence reports that the Egyptians are at the point of collapse. We just need to push them.”
“Moshe, 37th Armor will arrive this evening. With their tanks we can combine forces and take the Hedgehog.”
“We cannot wait. I am taking over operational control.”
“What?!”
“I am sorry but your mission is too critical to the overall strategy. You have become soft and indecisive, Colonel. I am taking over.”
“I see.”
“You will attack within the hour.”
“In broad daylight?”
“Yes… in broad daylight. That is an order.”
“Yes, sir,” said Goder offering a lackluster salute and moving off.
November 1, 1956 - Abu Ageila, Egypt
The Israeli Infantry lined up, some riding in the remaining half-tracks. Colonel Goder said, “I hope everyone got some sleep. No naps are allowed during the assault.”
His men chuckled at their commander. They all knew what they were facing and few were in the mood for humor. Many prayed in the last moments. Goder glanced at his watch. It was time. The Israeli artillery opened fire.
The ridge above them exploded in cascades of rock and sand. It would do little good. The Egyptians were dug in like ticks. They would keep their heads down and wait for the attack they knew was coming. Some looked forward to it. Another chance to kill Jews.
Goder felt terrible ordering his men up the long slope leading to the ridge top. He had his orders and he would obey them. He knew he needed to display confidence for the sake of his men. “Advance,” he shouted in the strongest voice he could muster. The Israelis moved forward.
The Egyptians waited until the first half-track reached the base of the slope before opening fire with their Archer anti-tank guns. Three Israeli half-tracks were destroyed and their crews killed in the opening ten minutes of the assault. More Israeli infantry fell as Egyptian machineguns raked their lines and artillery shells tore into the hillside. Some Israelis took cover behind groups of boulders only to have 120-mm mortar shells rain down on them. The Egyptians had pre-targeted any position that looked like it could offer cover. Their aim was deadly.
The Israelis fought back, targeting the Egyptian positions with their light machineguns and ordering in artillery and mortar strikes. It wasn’t much, but it was something. Each time the Israelis attacked they chipped away at the Egyptians who were unable to receive replacements or resupply. They had what they had and it was enough to hold off the Israelis once again.
The assault lasted less than an hour. The Israelis didn’t even get close to the top of the ridge line. It was the Israeli platoon sergeants that finally called for their men to retreat. They were the bravest of the brave, but they knew when a mission was beyond hope. They didn’t care about the consequences. They could not watch their men die for no reason. The company commanders said nothing and let the sergeants’ orders stand.
Goder ran out to meet the survivors. Most were wounded. Every half-track had been hit by at least one Egyptian shell spraying the driver and riders with hot shrapnel. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he said to the men in his brigade as they limped past him. He knew he was done as their commander. Dayan would be furious at the brigade’s failure to take the ridge. Goder didn’t care. He could not order his men to attack the ridge again. It was too much to ask.
Goder was right. Dayan relieved him of his command and replaced him with a more aggressive colonel experienced in infantry tactics.
November 1, 1956 – Sheik Zuweid, Egypt
In the early afternoon, the Israeli vanguard rolled into the Egyptian outpost of Sheikh Zuweid about six miles west of Rafah. It was empty and every building was a smoking ruin. Israeli Ouragan and Mystère jets had caught the Egyptians forming up in a convoy to abandon the outpost and head toward the bridges over the Suez Canal. The destruction was complete. The Egyptians had removed their dead and wounded but it was clear from the burning armored cars, jeeps, and trucks, that the air attack had been devastating. It was an eerie demonstration of mankind’s perfection of warfare. The Israelis were silent as they moved through the wreckage.
The Egyptians were retreating to the western bank of the Suez faster than the Israelis could advance. The Israelis had mixed emotions learning about this development. It meant little resistance, but it also meant that significant Egyptian forces were escaping destruction and could be used in a counterattack later in the conflict or in a future war.
November 1, 1956 – Jeradi Pass, Egypt
The Egyptian rearguard, an infantry company, had taken up a blocking position at Jeradi Pass. The mountain range holding the pass was the last natural obstacle between 27th Armor and Al-Arish. The gap in which the pass was located was narrow with high cliffs making a flanking attack all but impossible. It was a strong position for the Egyptians.
Colonel Barlev considered going around the pass. After all, it was only a company of riflemen and a few artillery pieces. They wouldn’t create much of a threat of attacking the Israeli tanks from behind as they assaulted Al-Arish. Besides, they would probably just surrender once the city fell. The problem was his supply lines. If the Egyptians were stubborn and didn’t give up, they could harass his supply convoys. He decided the pass had to be taken.
There was a minor road that rounded the southern part of the mountain range, but it would take time to get a company in behind the Egyptians. Barlev was already behind schedule. He chose brute force over tactical maneuvers to root out the Egyptians. He sent several of his AMX tanks south to get a better angle of attack on the Egyptian positions. The Sherman tanks in his brigade had thicker armor in front than the light AMX tanks. They would become his battering ram. Like his boss, General Dayan, Barlev didn’t like mixing the Israeli air power with ground assaults because of the risk of friendly fire from the overzealous pilots. But Barlev was cautious and requested a squadron of prop-driven Mustangs armed with rockets to be on standby as his armor attempted to take the gap on their own. The Mustangs flew in huge circles nearby like vultures hoping for a meal.
Israeli artillery and mortars joined the AMX tanks firing from a distance. Israelis shells pounded the enemy positions, forcing the Egyptians to keep their heads down while the Shermans advanced up the road into the gap. As the Shermans approached, the Egyptians opened fire and destroyed the lead tank, which blocked the narrow pass. There was no way to clear the wreck without risking several more tanks and men. Barlev cursed like a sailor and called in an airstrike.
The Mustangs flew in high from the east and dove on the Egyptian positions. As prop-driven planes, they were slower than jets, but that made them ideal air-to-ground fighters. Their rockets were deadly accurate and took out several of the Egyptian artillery pieces and machineguns. With their rocket launchers empty, each Mustang took its turn diving down using its six 50-cal machineguns. Eighteen hundred rounds from each plane tore into the Egyptian soldiers killing over a dozen.
Barlev watched and waited as the Mustangs finished their attack. As the warplanes headed back to their airfields across the border, Barlev ordered his tanks to advance once again. And again, the Israeli artillery, mortars and AMX tanks fired a heavy barrage of shells from a distance, pounding the Egyptian positions.
The Egyptians had finally had enough and broke. They fled back through the gap. They bypassed the city of Al-Arish and fled toward the safety of the west bank of the Suez Canal. The Israelis secured the pass, setting up defensive positions facing the city in case the Egyptians changed their minds and counterattacked. They didn’t.
November 1, 1956 – Mitla Pass, Egypt
Brigitte returned in the jeeps with the reconnaissance team. She was tired from the long drive but wanted to make some more notes on the sinking of the Aka before grabbing some shuteye.
“You made it,” said Sharon approaching.
“I did and I have one hell of a story to tell,” said Brigitte.
“That’s good I suppose.”
“So where do you go from here?”
“Nowhere. We stay put. The British and French have issued an ultimatum. We must keep 10 miles from the canal.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“You do?”
“I heard one of the men discussing it.”
“I see,” said Sharon wondering if Brigitte knew more about what was going on than he did.
November 1, 1956 – Suez Canal Zone, Egypt
A flight of six Egyptian MiG-15 prepared for take-off on an airfield near the shores of the Suez Canal. Their mission was to attack advancing Israeli ground forces in the northern Sinai. Once in the air, the MiGs were fast and maneuverable. They could compete with any of the Israeli jets. However, the Egyptians were no match for the Israeli pilots.
The Soviets had sent experienced instructors and technical advisors to train the Egyptian pilots and ground crews in the use of the technically-advanced aircraft. Unfortunately, none of the instructors or the advisors spoke Arabic. Each training session had to be painstakingly translated by an interpreter. The interpreters provided by the Egyptians knew little about flying and many of the technical terms were misinterpreted, confusing the pilots and ground crews.
Many of the Egyptian generals that commanded the air force had never fought in combat. They were political appointees with family connections. They did not understand the need for training and were reluctant to spend their yearly budgets on the fuel, spare parts and ammunition required for a robust training program. Live fire exercises were particularly scarce and many of the Egyptian pilots fired their first shots at the Israeli planes and tanks during a battle. Experience in the cockpit made a much bigger difference in air battles than technical advancements. The Israelis shot down seven Egyptian jets for every one jet they lost themselves.
When the pilot of the first MiG rolled onto the runway, he looked toward the horizon on the opposite end of the runway and saw eight British Sea Venoms flying at maximum speed toward the airfield. He radioed the flight commander to report as he throttled up his engine. He knew his only hope of surviving was to get into the air where he could fight or run. Considering the enemy’s advantage, running was the most appealing option. He released his wheel brakes and roared down the runway. The anti-aircraft guns protecting the airfield opened fire at the incoming enemy jets.
Halfway down the runway, the lead Sea Venom dropped a one-thousand-pound bomb directly in the MiGs path. The explosion blinded the Egyptian pilot and created a hole in the concrete runway the size of a bus. The MiG was moving too fast to stop or even veer out of the way. Its landing gear hit the edge of the crater and the nose of the jet tipped downward. The aircraft smashed into the opposite side of the crater. Its fuel tank and munitions exploded killing the pilot and creating an even large crater in the runway.
The other MiGs were trapped. With the runway destroyed the pilots could not take off and there was nowhere on the airfield to hide their aircraft. Some of the pilots abandoned their cockpits and ran for their lives, while others simply said their final prayer to Allah and waited for the inevitable.
The pilots of the Sea Vemons still had to deal with the anti-aircraft guns blazing away at the edge of the airfield. They were flying fast and low making it difficult for the electrically-powered guns to swing around as they passed.
One of the British Sea Vemons firing on the airfield took a direct hit, killing the pilot. The burning aircraft slammed into the desert floor and cartwheeled, sending flames and wreckage into the air.
Seeing his friend die, the pilot of a Sea Vemon dropped his entire payload on an anti-aircraft gun crew and their gun. The resulting explosion left little evidence that the gun ever existed. The pilot swung back around and used his Hispano 20-mm cannons to strafe the MiGs still on the airfield. Three more MiGs along with their munitions blew up killing their pilots and destroying the remaining anti-aircraft gun. With the anti-aircraft guns silenced, the Sea Vemon pilots took their time and destroyed every aircraft, vehicle and building on the airfield. They left the enemy airfield burning out of control and headed for home out in the Mediterranean.
November 1, 1956 – Cairo, Egypt
Amer and the Egyptian generals were in a conference room with maps marked with the British and French air strikes. Nasser was in a panic. The Halloween bombing campaign had shocked him and his generals. “How is this possible?” said Nasser. “The British and French have destroyed half of our air force in less than twenty-four hours.”
“They have been incredibly lucky. Our pilots and air defenses were overwhelmed,” said Amer. “The British and French have committed a large part of their fleets and air forces to this campaign.”
“A campaign that you assured me was a bluff,” said Nasser.
“As you said, what the British and French are doing doesn’t make sense. They will enrage the Arab countries and lose all credibility in the Middle East.”
“Not if they win. I will be made the fool.”
“They cannot win as long as we fight. Our Arab brothers will join our struggle and we will drive the British and French into the sea if they dare set foot on Egyptian soil.”
“I want all of our armed forces across the Suez now. Everything. We must be prepared to repel their invasion when it happens. We must protect the heartland. We must protect Egypt.”
“Of course. It is already being done.”
“I want the rest of our aircraft out of harm’s way. Move our bombers to the Sudan or even Russian if you need to. I can’t lose those bombers.”
“I will see to it personally,” said Amer. “Time is precious. Perhaps you should let me take care of the redisposition of our forces. Your time may be better spent coordinating with our allies and the Russians.”
“Yes. Yes. There is much to do,” said Nasser.
Nasser left the meeting and called the Arab leaders of neighboring countries. At first, he demanded their help as part of the defensive pact they have formed. When that didn’t work, he pleaded for their help as fellow Muslims, declaring Jihad against the Western countries. Whatever his argument, it didn’t matter. Nobody showed any interest in taking on the Israeli, French and British armies. They did however wish him luck and would offer prayers to Allah for his protection. Cowards, he thought. How would they react if their country was being invaded? They will be reminded of this moment when the shoe is on the other foot and they call Egypt for help.
Nasser’s only hope of surviving the coming onslaught was the United Nations and the Soviets. He called his foreign minister and instructed him to plead Egypt’s case to the United Nation general assembly. He knew the U.N. moved like a river of honey and it would take days or even weeks of debate before they could come to any conclusion to help Egypt… or not.
Nasser’s next call was to the Soviet Communist Party Leader, Nikita Khrushchev. Khrushchev was a poorly-educated metal worker that had worked his way up the political ladder to become one of Stalin’s closest advisors. He had been brutal during the Great Purge and had personally ordered the arrests of thousands of Soviet citizens that were eventually executed. He was respected by the military and won the struggle for power that followed Stalin’s death to become the leader of the Communist Party. It was in the Communist Party where the true power of the Soviet Union lay. It was as the leader of the Communist Party that Khrushchev rejected Stalinism and opted for a more liberal society. Many of his policies, especially in agriculture, were well-meaning and intended to help the average Soviet citizen. Unfortunately, most failed and drove the Soviet Union deeper into stagnation and, in some cases, famine. Even with these failures, Khrushchev was one of the most powerful leaders in the world. He had nuclear missiles and wasn’t shy of threatening their use when required to achieve his objectives.
Both Nasser and Khrushchev used translators on the call which made communication laborious and slow. Khrushchev listened as Nasser laid out the situation and predicted the invasion of British and French troops that was about to be unleashed on Egypt. “You say that you want the Soviet Union to be a friend to the Arabs. This is your chance to prove it. We need your help in defending ourselves from Western aggression and we need it now,” said Nasser.
“Of course. Of course, we will help in your struggle against the capitalist swine. But there are practical limitations to what we can do militarily,” said Khrushchev.
“What type of limitations?”
“Moscow is almost three thousand kilometers from Cairo. It could take weeks or even months for our troops and equipment to reach Egypt. That’s assuming we could obtain the required permission from all the countries in-between our two nations and that is highly unlikely. Turkey would be especially difficult.”
“What about ships? You have a Navy.”
“Yes, but we do not have any ports that would allow us quick access to the oceans. Even if we did, the French and British would likely blockade Egyptian ports and the ports of its surrounding neighbors.”
“Fine. Your air force can surely reach Egypt. Your jet fighters could destroy the Western air forces and your bombers could drive the British and French landing forces back into the sea.”
“True. But we still need permission to fly over neighboring countries. That will take time to negotiate. And even if we are successful, I doubt the Americans would sit idly by if they saw Soviet fighters and bombers heading toward the Middle East. We are not yet prepared for a military confrontation with the Americans, not to mention NATO. We are still building our nuclear arsenal. We cannot risk all-out war. Not yet.”
“There must be something you can do,” said Nasser exasperated.
“Yes. Of course. We have a great deal of influence in the international community and powerful allies. We can put a great deal of pressure on both the British and the French.”
“Pressure? You offer pressure?”
“Do not underestimate our influence. Politics got you into the mess and politics can get you out. As a member of the Security Council, Russia also has veto power in the United Nations. If the U.N. attempts to pass any resolutions against Egypt I assure you, Russia will stand by you and use its veto.”
Nasser was crestfallen. After delivering the bad news, Khrushchev asked Nasser to keep him informed on the situation and that he would make himself available at any time if Nasser needed a sounding board for any possible solution. Nasser thanked the Soviet leader but secretly cursed him in his mind. The Soviets would be of little help. Egypt was on her own. He promised to remember this lesson when searching for allies in the future.
November 1, 1956 – Al-Arish, Egypt
Before the Israelis was a long, wide plain leading to the city of Al-Arish, the largest city in the Sinai. It was getting late in the day. Barlev decided to keep pushing his forces forward while he still had sunlight. The company of AMX tanks sped ahead toward the outskirts of the city. The Egyptian forces were in disarray and scrambling back and forth as they prepared to move back across the Suez Canal.
With Egyptians literally running across the desert trying to find safety, the Israeli had to be careful not to attack their own units. Friendly fire from tanks and aircraft was turning out to be more costly than enemy fire. Israeli 7th Armor had formed an ambush for the fleeing Egyptians and accidently fired on a company of Sherman tanks from Israeli 37th armor. Before they realized their mistake eight Sherman tanks from the 37th had been hit and their company commander along with several other Israeli soldiers were killed.
Again, the Egyptians set up a blocking force on the eastern outskirts of the city to buy time for the rest of Egyptian forces as they escaped the Israeli advance. When the AMX column came into range, the Egyptian rearguard opened up with an earth-shattered barrage of artillery. The Egyptian shells rained down and exploded en masse churning up the main road, cratering the path to Al-Arish. Barlev called off the attack. The Egyptians were in full retreat. There was no need to risk his men’s lives. By morning the city would be in Israeli hands with little effort. He would leave the remaining Egyptians for the Israeli Air Force and the British and French ground forces landing at the mouth of the Suez Canal.
November 1, 1956 - Abu Ageila, Egypt
The Israeli 37th Armor Brigade arrived at the eastern edge of the Hedgehog as the sun set on the Sinai. The brigade Colonel Shmuel Golinka in command, it consisted of two armored battalions and two motorized infantry battalions with half-tracks. The motorized infantry battalions arrived with Golinka while the two armored battalions lagged behind.
Golinka had heard of Goder’s fate and had no desire to succumb to Dayan’s temper. After looking at the intelligence reports, Golinka, like Dayan, was convinced the Egyptians were ready to break and run. When he received a report that his tanks were still hours away from the battlefield, Golinka grew impatient. He ordered his infantry battalion commanders to get ready to attack. What remained of 10th Infantry would act as their reserve during the assault.
Golinka decided to lead the attack himself using one of the half-tracks as a mobile command post. He ordered the drivers to turn on the lights on their half-tracks. He believed the Egyptians would be intimidated when they discovered that two full battalions were attacking their position.
It was just before midnight when Golinka ordered his men forward. They were well-rested after a few hours’ sleep and eager to get at the enemy.
The Egyptians were surprised to see the headlights on the Israeli half-tracks still on and wondered it was some sort of ruse. They opened fired with their Archer anti-tank guns destroying more than a dozen of the Israeli vehicles. Twenty Israelis died and sixty-five were wounded. Golinka was among the dead. His half-track had been hit by multiple anti-tank shells. The Israelis retreated once again into the night. The half-track drivers, defying their dead commander’s last order, turned off their headlights.