MiG-17F - Syria - 1967
The same photograph is found also in "Arab MiGs, Volume 1" by the same authors.
This unique color photograph was taken at Al-Mezze air base just outside Damascus, Syria on the 4th of June 1967, therefore 1 day (!) before the Six Day War, showing Syrian MiG-17Fs.
The obviously interesting element are the red painted noses, wing tips and rudders. This was done according to a directive of the United Arab Command (UAC) issued in 1964 together wtih Egypt for an easier identification of friendly aircraft. Nevertheless, there is evidence that not all Syrian combat aircraft have had these red painted areas by the time the Six Day War started (a few MiG-21F-13s definitely did not have them).
Also, two obvious unit insignias can seen here painted on the noses of two MiG-17s, which is a very rare occurance for any SyAAF aircraft. The serial numbers appear to be unusually large for the first aircraft having the serial 2025, while the second one from the right with the serial 2300 has slightly smaller digits.
One such example is openly found in this short online review/presentation of the "Arab MiGs, Volume 1" found on the publisher's website (Harpia Publishing)
harpia-publishing.co..ries/AMV1/index.html
Again, NONE of the Syrian or Egyptain combat aircraft of Soviet origim have had any camouflage painting by June 1967. This was in fact one of the lessons learned from the war. Also, Syrian MiGs no longer had at this moment the older insignia with the green contour.
Personally, I think this kit has a mediocre fit and quality especially at the nose, wings and underside and it's barely better (if at all) than the new MiG-19 from KP (as a comparison).
Next are the serial numbers and stencils.
Seems like and easy kit, but it took a while to get here.
The SyAAF MiG-17 number 2300 as seen on an airfield close to Damascus one day (!) before the Six Day War (1967). This aircraft can be seen in the second picture of this album, the second in the aircraft row from the right to the left.
(check article: MiG-17PF - Egypt - 1967 | Album by Redicus (1:72))
Kommentare
Andy BallI didn't realise you were working on this one too? I think we've encountered similar challenges regarding fit? Yours looks great!!
MariusThank you Cuajete and Andy for stopping by.
Andy, I am currently having 3 MiG-17s in work and I might be starting 2 more quite soon.
The work on the other two ones is slower, so I posted the Syrian one first.
Yes, we definitely encountered the same fit issues. But in the end, there are far worse kits out there.
Bernd GrünA nice looking 'Fresco', Marius. Great paint job and weathering. Cheers! 👍
Mid FranconianGreat MiG! I suppose the original one did not survive Israeli air raids during Six Day War…
MariusThank you Franconian for the comment, I am happy you like it!
I can't tell much about the number 2300 itself. But as a matter of fact, the SyAAF was by no means battered in the first day of the war, unlike the wide spread perception. I have written a little bit about this in my Syrian MiG-21F-13 project (MiG-21F-13 - Syria - 1967 | Project by Redicus (1:72)). There were plans made even before the war to evacuate the aircraft to the northern airbases in case of an Israeli attack. Since Egyptian bases were hit first, there was some time to save most aircraft. A few Syrian MiG-17s were still hit on ground, but most Syrian MiG-17s lost during the Six Day War were actually lost during ground attacks against the advancing IDF shot down by ground fire during rather uncoordinated or chaotic actions. I don't have exact numbers right now but I can recheck the literature if needed. It is hard to say how many actually survived the Six Day War, but many certainly lived long enough to see extensive action later in 1973. I am actually working on another Syrian MiG-17 from 1973 (with camouflage painting).
MariusThank you so much mates, highly appreciated! I think lightning and photography are quite important at the end. I am certainly not mastering this part.
I managed to recently finish another related MiG-17:
MiG-17PF - Egypt - 1967 | Album by Redicus (1:72)
Andy BallThe lighting and photography are superfluous to a great build completed! Bravo!!
Album info
While Egypt already had the opportunity to use the MiG-17s for the first time during the Suez War (November 1956), Syria received the first delivery of MiG-17s only shortly after the conflict. Just to avoid any confusion in this text, Syria was not directly involved in the Suez War. It is certain, that the MiG-17s entered service with the SyAAF wearing the initial SyAAF roundels with the green contour and three red stars.
During the existence of the United Arab Republic (UAR), meaning the political union of Egypt and Syria (1958-1961), the two air forces merged completely sharing therefore the aircraft insignia as well. The green colour from the old Syrian flag and roundels was replaced by red, while the three stars became only two. Not all Syrian aircraft were as hastly repainted with the new insignia.
Due to several divergences, unequal and unfair treatment by the Egyptian military command towards the Syrian side and as a result of an internal coup in Syria, Syria decided to leave the UAR in 1961. The infamous Egyptian Vice-president Abdel Hakim Amer was one of the main characters to blame for the constant tensions, the same person held responsible for the disaster of the Egyptian Army during the Six Day War (I mentioned an interesting event involving him in this other project: MiG-17PF - Egypt - 1967 | Album by Redicus (1:72)).
Upon leaving Syria, the Egyptian crews basically evacuated almost everything that could be taken from the Syrian airbases. The newly reformed SyAAF was left with only approximately 40 MiG-17s as a main attack aircraft. The SyAAF also changed the insignia and flag again, adding a third star once more while keeping the red contour.
A further try at a military alliance resulted in the UAC (United Arab Command), which aimed at coordinating several Arab countries in case of a war with Israel. Egypt had once more the main leading role. A particularly interesting directive was applied in 1964 and required military aircraft to wear very clear red identification stripes on the nose, wing tips and tails. The SyAAF is known to have applied these stripes to the MiG-17s and MiG-21F-13s by 1967.
As the Six Days War started, most machines of the two aircraft types in the SyAAF service obviously had these red markings still on. An extremely rare color photograph taken 1 day (!) before the Six Day War (see album) reveals this feature for a row of MiG-17s aligned on an airfield outside Damascus. Note the national markings, not one aircraft still had the markings of pre-1961 with green, as often wrongly depicted in color profiles of aircraft, decal sheets or kit intructions.
To be noted that up to this moment in time, there was no such thing as camouflage painting on any of the Soviet made aircraft in the service of any of the Arab countries. Except for the MiG-19s (which were grey from delivery, see for example my project: MiG-19S - Egypt - 1967 | Album by Redicus (1:72)) all Soviet-made combat aircraft of Syria, Egypt and Iraq were left either in their initial metallic finish.
The operations of the SyAAF MiG-17s during the Six Day War were plagued by command and coordination issues caused by rivalries between factions within the SyAAF itself but also between the SyAAF and ground troops. The MiG-17s couldn't be effectively used in a ground support role. Several losses are known to have occured due to ground fire or air combat, but this still could not stop the IDF concquer the Golan Heights.
The MiG-17s further played a signifficant role in the October War (1973) and were subsequently retired from service at the end of the 1970s.
T. Copper, D. Nicolle, et al., "Arab MiGs Volume 1", Harpia Publishing
T. Copper, D. Nicolle, et al., "Arab MiGs Volume 2", Harpia Publishing
T. Copper, D. Nicolle, et al., "Arab MiGs Volume 3", Harpia Publishing
T. Copper, D. Nicolle, et al., "Arab MiGs Volume 5", Harpia Publishing
T. Copper, D. Nicolle, et al., "Arab MiGs Volume 6", Harpia Publishing
T. Copper, D. Nicolle, "MiGs in the Middle East, Volume 2", Helion and Company
Bill Norton, "75 Years of the Israeli Air Force, Volume 1", Helion and Company
