Israeli forces operating in southern Syria have uncovered part of a long-lost helicopter that crashed over 50 years ago during the Yom Kippur War. The discovery was made public on December 23 by the Israeli Air Force.
During routine operations in Syria, the IDF’s Shaldag unit, supported by the 810th Mountain Brigade, discovered the rotor head of an SA 321 Super Frelon helicopter, known to the Israeli Air Force (IAF) as the “Wasp.”
The rotor was located in a remote area, part of a buffer zone between Israel and Syria, a region where the IDF has reinforced its presence following the collapse of the Assad regime earlier this month.
The Super Frelon had been dispatched on April 27, 1974, during the Yom Kippur War, to rescue Israeli paratroopers trapped on Mount Hermon after a Syrian artillery shell strike. The attack killed eight soldiers and wounded several others.
The helicopter was dispatched to evacuate the wounded, but due to the threat of Syrian missiles, it flew lower than usual.
During the landing approach, a tailwind destabilized the aircraft and caused it to crash when its main rotor hit a rock. The explosion of onboard explosives scattered debris across the area.
The explosion killed all six crew members aboard. Among the fallen were Maj. Golan Levy and Lt. Amir Amit, the helicopter’s pilots, as well as mechanics Staff-Sergeant Jacob Berhnheim and Staff-Sergeant Yaakov Roll.
Also killed were Major Dr. Ahikam Avni Feinstein, a doctor with the elite Unit 669, and medic Sergeant Meir Rosenstruch. Their remains were later returned to Israel for burial.
In recent days, the IAF’s search and rescue teams, along with the military’s missing persons unit, conducted a thorough search of the crash site, recovering the rotor head and making sure that no personal items or remains were left behind.
The recovery is an effort to honor the fallen soldiers and bring a sense of closure to the bereaved families.
This discovery comes at a time when the Israeli military has stepped up its presence in southern Syria as part of broader security measures amid ongoing instability in the region.
Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon Helicopter
The Aérospatiale (formerly Sud Aviation) SA 321 Super Frelon, also known as the “Super Hornet,” is a heavy transport helicopter powered by three engines, produced by the French aerospace manufacturer Sud Aviation.
At one point, it held the title of the most powerful helicopter ever built in Europe, in addition to being the world’s fastest helicopter.
The first prototype of the Super Frelon made its maiden flight on December 7, 1962. By July 1964, the French Government ordered the helicopter to support logistical operations at the Centre Experimental du Pacifique.
The Super Frelon was produced in both civilian and military variants, with the military versions being the most widely manufactured. These military variants served not only with the French armed forces but were also exported to several countries, including Israel, South Africa, Libya, China, and Iraq.
The Super Frelon was built in three primary military versions: transport, anti-submarine, and anti-ship. The transport variant was capable of carrying 38 fully equipped troops or 15 stretchers for casualty evacuation.
In particular, the Super Frelon was the first helicopter in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) capable of operating from the flight decks of surface vessels.
Beijing also locally produced versions of the Super Frelon, designated the Z-8. This variant continues to serve as a land- or ship-based ASW/SAR helicopter.
In the mid-1960s, Israel purchased 12 units of the Super Frelon. The first of these helicopters arrived in April 1966. The arrival led to the establishment of the 114 Squadron, also known as the “Super Frelon Squadron.”
By the time of the Six-Day War in June 1967, only four units had been delivered, yet they played roles in both transport and assault missions, completing 41 sorties during the conflict.
Throughout the subsequent War of Attrition, the Super Frelons demonstrated their versatility and effectiveness by participating in major operations such as Helem, Tarnegol 53, and Rhodes.
These missions highlighted their strategic value in diverse combat scenarios. After hostilities subsided, the remaining eight helicopters were delivered to Israel.
One of the most notable operations involving the Super Frelon occurred on December 28, 1968, during Operation Gift, when eight of these Israeli helicopters took part in a special forces mission at Beirut International Airport in retaliation for the hijacking of an El Al flight by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
During the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Super Frelons operated extensively across all fronts, fulfilling vital roles in transport and medical evacuation missions. Despite their significant contributions in earlier conflicts, the helicopters were gradually overshadowed by the Israel Air Force’s CH-53s, which offered superior performance and cost-efficiency.
Due to their relatively high maintenance requirements and declining operational capabilities compared to the CH-53s, the Super Frelons were ultimately retired from Israeli service in 1991.
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