Today in 1966, Operation Diamond was launched.
In 1959, the Soviet Union developed the MiG-21, which is considered the most sophisticated and powerful fighter jet. The aircraft’s capabilities were vague in the eyes of NATO; but when the Soviet Union began to supply the planes to the Arab countries, this ambiguity also became a problem for Israel. Ezer Weizmann, the commander of the Air Force, asked the Mossad to get him one MiG plane, so that they could diagnose its features and weaknesses; the Mossad launched an espionage operation, which ended up in the Iraqi Air Force pilot Munir Radfa. He was a Christian, and his promotion was delayed; this caused him frustration and a desire to emigrate to a Western country. The Mossad offered him $50K to defect to Israel with a MiG plane, and Rafa agreed, on condition that his family be smuggled with him. In a complicated operation, the Mossad smuggled the Radfa family into Israel, and Munir himself met with the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate; he then returned to Iraq, and in August 1966 he went on a regular training flight with his plane, where he changed direction and flew toward Israel, and landed at Tel Nof Airport. The MiG reached the Air Force and was later used by it; he did not disclose the money, and later emigrated with his family to Europe.
Photo Source: Wikipedia
