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Double Strike

F-4 Phantoms of IAF in the Yom-Kippur War 1973
Double Strike - Israeli Air Force F-4 Phantoms - Aviation Art by Robert TaylorDouble Strike © Robert Taylor
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Edition
Double Strike - Israeli Air Force F-4 Phantoms - Luftfahrtkunst von Robert TaylorDouble Strike © Robert Taylor
Description
Robert Taylor’s powerful and dramatic aviation art print 'Double Strike' depicts an action during the largest jet-to-jet battle in history - the Yom Kippur War. One such strike that took place on 14 October 1973, half way through the war, when Israeli F-4 Phantom fighter-bombers made simultaneous strikes against the Egyptian air bases at Mansoura and Tanta north of Cairo.
 
Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement – is the holiest day in the Hebrew calendar and in Israel is marked by a national holiday but on that day in 1973 the unexpected happened. At 14.00 hours on 6 October the coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israeli positions. Thousands of Egyptian troops swarmed across the Suez Canal into Israeli- held Sinai whilst in the north nearly 1,500 Syrian tanks backed by artillery thrust west towards Israel. Facing this sudden surprise attack on the Golan Heights were less than 200 Israeli tanks. In the air, too, Egyptian and Syrian air forces struck in a single, co-ordinated assault hitting the Israeli’s anti-aircraft defences and hoping to deliver a fatal blow.
 
Largely unprepared, Israel reeled however within hours it mobilised its fighting reserves and began a ferocious battle to stem the enemies advance. As Israeli tanks and infantry rushed to hold the front line and, in the north, push the enemy back, Israeli Air Force jets overhead fought a heroic battle to regain the initiative and control of the skies. It was grim work. Both Egyptian and Syrian forces were equipped with hundreds of Soviet-supplied SAM missiles but the tide of war was turning and a battered Israeli Air Force now went on the counter-offensive. And amongst their main targets were the heavily-defended Egyptian air bases that lay deep in the Nile delta.
 
After the first wave struck the elite Egyptian MiG-21 units at El Mansoura, the other Phantom squadrons attacked Tanta in waves, turning to dog-fighting immediately after dropping their ordnance. Tanta was also home to two squadrons of Libyan Mirage 5s and the furious air battle that ensued involved countless fighter aircraft. Despite bitter opposition, the successful IAF missions eliminated much of the effectiveness of the Egyptian Air Force and its Libyan allies.
 
Robert Taylor's publisher is honored to present one of its most ambitious projects which has brought together no less than TWENTY TWO Israeli Phantom Pilots and Navigators who have autographed this unique edition, including some of the foremost Phantom Aces of all time. Rarely have so many Phantom crews gathered together to sign a print edition and this powerful painting serves as a lasting tribute to all IAF Aircrew that flew the F-4 Phantom with such bravery and distinction during many conflicts to defend Israeli territory.

Editions:
  • 400 limited Edition, signed by the Artist plus 22 F-4 Pilots and Navigators.
  • 25 Artis's Proofs, signed as above.
  • 25 Remaques*, signed as above. (sold out)
  • 10 Double-Remarques*, signed as above. (sold out)
  • 50 Giclée Studio Proofs printed on Canvas (Format ca. 91 cm x 53 cm), signed by the Artist only.
The Signatories
 
Pilots:
  • Brigadier General AMIR NACHUMI – scored 14 victories in total, 7 in the F-4 and 7 in the F-16.
  • Brigadier General SHLOMO EGOZY – 10 victories, 2 in the Mirage and 8 in the F-4, Israel’s highest-scoring F-4 ace.
  • Colonel EITAN PELED – he was credited with at least 6 victories, all in the Phantom
  • Major General AVIHU BEN-NUN – 4 victories, 2 in the F-4 and 2 in the Mirage, became the Commanding Officer of the IAF between 1987-1992.
  • Brigadier General YORAM AGMON – scored 6 victories, 4 in the Phantom and 2 in the Mirage, including the first ever Mirage kill.
  • Colonel NAFTALI MAIMON – he scored 3 victories all in the Phantom.
  • Brigadier General YOEL FELDSHO – 4 victories, 1 in the F-4 and 3 in the F-15, including the longest bombing mission ever staged in October 1985.
  • Brigadier General SHAMUEL BEN-ROM – credited with at least 2 victories in the F-4.
  • Brigadier General URI BAKAL – he was on one occasion forced to eject from his F-4 after suffering a direct hit.
  • Brigadier General ZVI KANOR – he was credited with at least 1 victory in the Phantom.
  • Colonel AMNON GURION – as a Pilot he was officially credited with 2 victories in the F-4 and spent time flying with Navigator ace ITZCHAK AMITAY.
  • Major MEIR SHANI – scored at least 2 victories in the F-4 with Navigator ABRAHAM ASHAEL, before being shot down and taken POW.
  • Colonel SHMUEL GORDON – he scored at least 1 victory while flying the Phantom before moving onto the F-16.
  • Colonel DANI SHAKI – he shot down 3 MiGs in the F-4 on his first combat mission with AMIR NACHUMI.
  • Lieutenant General DANI HALOTZ – scored 3 victories in the F-4, becoming the IAF Commanding Officer and later Army Chief of Staff.
Navigators:
  • Brigadier General ITZCHAK AMITAY – scored 5 victories in the F-4 including 3 on a single day.
  • Lieutenant Colonel YAIR DAVID – while flying the F-4 he was shot down but recovered in a daring Combat Search and Rescue mission.
  • Brigadier General MOSHE BARTOV – credited with at least 1 victory flying the Phantom.
  • Brigadier General ABRAHAM ASHAEL – scored at least 2 victories in the F-4 with Pilot MEIR SHANI before becoming a POW.
  • Colonel YEHOAR GAL – scored 2 victories in the F-4, flying with Pilots EITAN PELED and DANI HALOTZ.
  • Colonel ELI TOVEL – while flying the F-4 he ejected having been shot down but was later recovered.
  • Lieutenant Colonel ACHIKAR EYAL – scored 1 victory in the F-4 which was the Phantom’s first aerial kill for the IAF.

* These copies have a small unique original pencil drawing (Remarque) inscribed on it by the Artist Robert Taylor.

Published December 2015
Overall Height ca.
60
cm
Image Height ca.
41
cm
Overall Width ca.
86
cm
Image Width ca.
70
cm