364. The Impossible Mission: Entebbe Part 1

Battleground

Goalhanger

History

4.5 • 820 Ratings

🗓️ 21 January 2026

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

On June 27, 1976, Air France Flight 139 was diverted to Uganda, sparking a crisis that would redefine special operations forever. In the first of a two-part special, hosts Saul David and Patrick Bishop break down the lead-up to Operation Thunderbolt. Saul provides a first-hand look at the "Unit"—the elite Sayeret Matkal—and the internal friction between legendary commanders like Yoni Netanyahu and Muki Betser. We dive into the chilling logistics of the hijacking, the "selektzia" that echoed the darkest days of WWII, and the secret intelligence gathered by a hostage who faked a miscarriage. From the "Goldfinger" ruse involving a black Mercedes to the clandestine refueling deal struck in Nairobi, Part 1 covers the 48 hours of desperation and ingenuity that preceded the most daring 2,000-mile flight in military history. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - podbattleground@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson X (Twitter): @PodBattleground Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Shopify. With Shopify, 2026 is the year you make it happen. It gives you the tools to build your dream store, online and in person. Plus with marketing built in, it'll help you reach exactly who you need to. Join the millions who've already made the leap, like Jim Shark and all birds, and ring in the new year with Shopify.
0:23.4	Sign up for your £1 per month trial at shopify.
0:26.7	Shopify.com.ukau.ukes slash Spotify. Hello and welcome to Battleground Special Forces with me Saul David and Patrick Bishop.
0:48.2	Last week we looked at the nature of special forces and why they have such a grip on the public's imagination.
0:55.7	This week and next in a two-partner we're concentrating on the Cyret Matt Kahl, the Israeli version of the SAS, which in the
1:02.0	summer of 1976, carried out arguably the most daring special forces operation in history, and there's
1:08.5	a bit of competition for that, that of course was the rescue of
1:12.1	Israeli and Jewish hostages from Interi Airport in Uganda. Yeah, I suppose we've got some
1:18.7	competition from Delta Force now, haven't we, saw with the whole Venezuela-Maduro operation. No doubt
1:26.0	come on to that further down the line.
1:28.7	But yeah, just to say, you know, I've got listeners of privilege to have one of the greatest
1:34.0	experts in the historical field anyway on the subject in Saul, because in 2015 he wrote
1:40.6	a very well-received book Operation Thunderbolt, which goes into all this.
1:45.6	It was later turned into the feature film Entebbe, starring Rosman Pike and Daniel Brawl.
1:52.4	So I think it's fair to say, you know what you're talking about here, Saul,
1:55.8	but I do know about the Israelis, having been based in Jerusalem for the Daily Telegraph for some years and
2:02.7	know a bit about the Israeli military. But back to the matter in hand. And I think we've
2:08.6	better just set the scene here. So on the afternoon of the 3rd of July, 1976. So that
2:16.2	makes it what 50 years ago is, isn't it, this year? Four heavily-laden
2:22.5	Hercules, C-130s, carrying, these are like, you know, we all know what they look like,
2:27.5	big old-fashioned transport planes, carrying the cream of Israel's special forces, took off from
2:33.4	an air base in the Sinai Desert and flew
	...

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