A579 SOF Historical Case Studies

Son Tay Raid

21 November 1970

Major Bill Patton Major Dennis Levesque 9 January 2006

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PURPOSE
To provide insight into the planning considerations, skills and techniques employed during a long range POW rescue attempt in a non-permissive environment. Also to provide the tactical, operational, and strategic effects created by the conduct of the raid.

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References Situation Area Of Operation Strategic Overview Event Timeline Threat Overview Task Organization Mission Scheme of Maneuver Operational Summary Lessons Learned

AGENDA

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REFERENCES
William H. McRaven, The Raid, (Novato: Presidio Press, 1995). Chaim Herzog, The War Against Terrorism: Entebbe, From Troy to Entebbe, Special Operations in Ancient and Modern Times, ed. John Arquilla, (Lanahm: University Press of America, Inc., 1996). Iddo Netanyahu, Yonis Last Battle, trans. Yoram Hazoni, (Jerusalem: Gefen Publishing, 2002). Yeshayahu Ben-Porat, Etian Haber and Zeev Schiff, Entebbe Rescue, trans. Louis Williams, (New York: Delacorte Press, 1977). William Stevenson, 90 Minutes at Entebbe, (New York: Bantam Books, 1976). David L. Wolper, prod., Victory at Entebbe, (Burbank: Warner Brothers, 1976), Movie.

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SITUATION
On 27 June 1976, at 1230, Air France flight AF 139 was hijacked en route from Lod Airport in Israel to Paris after an intermediate stop in Athens. The A300 airbus had 254 passengers on board. The four hijackers included two Germans (BaaderMeinhof Gang) and two Palestinians. The aircraft was ordered to Entebbe, Uganda where three more terrorists and Ugandan military forces under Idi Amin secured it and the hostages.
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AREA OF OPERATION

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STRATEGIC OVERVIEW
Israel recognized as a sovereign nation 1948 War for Independence, 1948 Arab-Israeli/Anglo-French War, 1956 Six-Day War, 1967
PLO is born Arabs support terrorists

Yom-Kippur War, 1973 Sabena airliner hijacking 1972 Olympics kidnapping May 1974 - Meir school kidnapping
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EVENT TIMELINE
27 Jun 76 1230 - Aircraft hijacked 28 Jun 76 0300 - Plane lands at Entebbe, Uganda 29 Jun 76 1530 - Terrorists state demands
Initial review of military options Rudimentary C-130 flight planning Informal review by CT and paratroopers

30 Jun 76

IDF Intel branch meets with officers with country experience 47 Non-Jewish hostages released Retired COL Burka Bar-Lev contacts Idi Amin

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EVENT TIMELINE

1 Jul 76 0700 - Israel agrees to hostage / prisoner exchange

1300 Terrorists extend deadline (4 July) 1400 Original terrorist deadline 2nd COA developed 101 non-Israeli hostages arrive in Paris

2 Jul 76 0100 - Recall of personnel & OPORD brief

0700 2nd COA developed into final plan Rehearsals begin 2200 C-130 Blackout landing @ Sharm-al-Sheik A/C, vehicles, & equipment moved to LOD Airport
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EVENT TIMELINE

3 Jul 76 - PCI & Final brief to command & government

1130 - Final brief to operators 1320 - A/C Takeoff for Sharm-al-Shiek Final brief / update @ Sharm-al-Sheik 1530 - Takeoff from Sharm-al-Sheik 2301 - Lead A/C Touches Down at Entebbe 2352 - Initial A/C with hostages departs Entebbe

4 Jul 76 0040 - Last A/C departs Entebbe

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THREAT OVERVIEW

4 terrorists on flight 3 terrorists staged in Entebbe Ugandan army provides outer security Idi Amin acts as intermediary
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MISSION
Operation Thunderbolt Task Force seizes Old Terminal 032300JUL76 in order to regain positive control of Israeli civilians, expatriate Jews from Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorists and return them safely to Israel.

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INGRESS

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INGRESS
5 x C130 depart LOD airport (1 x C130 flying spare) 031320JUL76 Land/Refuel at Sharm-a-Sheikh (Sinai) 4 x C130s depart Sharm-a-Sheikh 031530JUL76 (still awaiting final order from Rabin) 2 x 707s would later join the mission directly from Lod and serve as an airborne C2, and a medical platform in Kenya
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INFIL
N Old Terminal (Hostage Location)

City of Entebbe

Military Base With MIGs

New Terminal

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INFIL LOAD PLAN

GFC (BG Shomron) 35 x Commandos 52 x Paratroopers 1 x Mercedes 2 x LandRovers

Addl C2 personnel BG Shomrons jeep 17 x Paratroopers 2 x APCs

30x Golani Infantry 2 x APCs 1 x Jeep

20 x Golani Infantry 20 x medical personnel 10 x Refueling personnel 1 x Fuel Pump

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INFIL
Old Terminal Entebbe

2 3

Military Base & MIG Parking

4
New Terminal

1 1st A/C Lands

2 Infantry Offloads & Emplaces Lights

3 CT Unit, Paras, & C2 Element Offload 4 Paras Assault & Secure New Terminal

5 Mercedes & Land Rovers Engaged

1
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ISOLATE

*McRaven, William. SPEC OP, Case studies in Special Operations Warfare: Theory and Practice

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DOMINATE

*McRaven, William. SPEC OP, Case studies in Special Operations Warfare: Theory and Practice

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EXFIL
2 x APCs destroy 8 x MIGs to ensure Uganda would be unable to attack during egress Golani infantry load hostages hostages are hysterical, hard to control, in shock C130 with 105 hostages departs 2352 Last C130 departs 0040 All Aircraft refuel in Nairobi enroute to Israel

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EGRESS

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RELATIVE SUPERIORITY
Probability of Mission Completion C-130 W/Hostages Departs All C-130s Departed

Hostages Secure (RS Achieved) Area of Vulnerability

RS Line

Assault Begins Ugandan Sentries Shot 1st C-130 Lands

10 20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100 110 120 130

Time (Minutes) SON TAY RAID

OPERATIONAL SUMMARY
All terrorists (7) killed 3 x hostages killed 1 x hostage (75 yr old Dora Bloch) MIA LTC Yoni Netanyahu KIA 105 x hostages returned safely

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LESSONS LEARNED
Good unit SOPs Simple, flexible plan Immediate, detailed, & repeated rehearsals OPSEC & surprise Robust deception operations at all levels Continuous intelligence updates (SITREPS) Political (NCA) support If you are ever a hostage--stay down!!
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QUESTIONS?

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