Air Action 1973

This coming October marks the 40th anniversary of the 1973 Mideast war. Recently, I purchased a book, Israeli Mirage and Nesher Aces. It has an interesting account of an engagement at the very start of the conflict.
The war began with Egyptian airstrikes. Approximately 200 aircraft, including SU-7s, attacked Israeli positions in Sinai. Many did not hit their targets, however, and some even failed to reach them. At one point, four Sukhoi fighter bombers were heading east at low altitude, close to Israeli fighters already airborne. An Israeli pilot recalled having difficulty seeing an SU-7, even though his shafrir missile was locked on and, when fired, destroyed the jet. After three SU-7s were knocked down, a single Mirage was left chasing the sole Sukhoi. (His wingmen were diverted to protect the Israeli base at Gifgafa.) Undaunted by the loss of the other jets, the sole Egyptian pressed on, before being downed. "The guy was dedicated to his mission" the Israeli later commented. The Egyptian pilot was probably Atef el-Sadat, half brother of the Egyptian President. I've long known "he died in the first few minutes of the war, at the controls of his Sukhoi fighter bomber." I had assumed, though, that he was killed by AA fire. The Egyptians had long claimed that their initial strikes met no resistance from the Israeli Air Force. That was not true, for in addition to eight MIG-17s lost at Sharm el Sheikh, some SU-7s fell in aerial combat. As a well-connected man, Atef el-Sadat was probably the flight leader. His dedication stemmed from determination to do well, to please his relative, the President. But luck was not with him. Atef's death was greatly mourned by his famous half brother. An old movie about Sadat portrays him weeping over the coffin containing Atef's remains.