Exclusive for Podcrashers:
In this Layover Episode for our Podcrasher community, Shelly recounts how an Iraqi pilot absconded to Israel with a MiG-21 – and forever ripped open the secrets of Soviet fighter capabilities for the West during the now infamous Operation Diamond.Sources consulted for this story:
- Blake Stilwell for The Mighty. The remarkable history of the Russian MiG in under 5 minutes
- Doron Geller for The Virtual Jewish Library. Israel Military Intelligence: Stealing a Soviet MiG
- Tom Cooper. In 1966, Israeli Intelligence Convinced an Iraqi Pilot to Defect With His MiG-21
- Author Unknown. When Israel's Mossad Stole A Iraqi
- Mig-21: The Story Of Munir Redfa
- Episode 11, Season 1, The Good Assassins Podcast
Credits:
Written and produced by: Shelly Price and Stephanie HubkaDirected and engineered at: Snow Monster Studios
Sound editor: Stephanie Hubka
Producer: Adam Hubka
Music by: Mike Dunn
The MiG-21F-13 — serial number 534 — as it was shown to the international press a few weeks after Redfa flew it to Israel on Aug. 16, 1966. Source: Tom Cooper Collection photo.
