Page 83 - Royal Jordanian Air Force Book
P. 83
H O W I T A L L STA RT E D MILESTONES IN RJAF HISTORY
HASHEMITE DIAMOND
In 1964, the Hashemite Diamond aerobatics team On November 14, they performed two shows
was formed, consisting of nine Hunter aircraft, over Amman and Zarqa to celebrate the King's
and on October 19 of that year, all nine aircraft birthday. The Diamond was reformed in May
took off for the first time to practice together as 1965 and flew three shows in June. It was and
a team. The Diamond was formed in a record 11 continues to be the only nine-aircraft aerobatic
days and performed their first show in front of team formed in the Middle East to date.
King Hussein and members of the Royal Family
on November 4 in Mafraq.
FIRST AERIAL DOG FIGHT
December 1964 saw four RJAF Hawker Hunters Two pairs of Hunters took off from the King
involved in a battle with Israeli Air Force (IAF) Hussein Air Base in Mafraq and engaged with
Mirage IIIs that had intruded into Jordanian the Israeli Mirages.
airspace near the Dead Sea. This was the first
time that an aerial dog fight between the two air There were two claims from the battle and later
forces had taken place. Outcome: one kill and on it was confirmed that one Israeli Mirage III
three damaged on the Israeli side. landed damaged and the other crashed short of
the runway out of fuel.
The pilots taking part were — Major Firas
Ajlouni (killed in action on June 5, 1967); Captain The pilots taking part in the battle were —
George Matta; Lieutenant Bader Zaza (killed in a Lieutenant Muwaffaq Salti (killed in action in the
helicopter crash in 1977) and Lieutenant Ghazi same battle); Captain (Lieutenant General) Ihsan
Smadi. Shurdom (Commander of the RJAF, 1983-93);
Captain Jasser Zayyad; Lieutenant (Brigadier)
The second engagement was on November 13, Farouq Abdeen.
1966, when the Israelis launched a reprisal raid
on the border village of Samu in the Hebron
mountains of the West Bank.
82 ROYAL JORDANIAN AIR FORCE
