COURTROOM SCENES; LIBRARY FILM AIR FIGHTING DURING THE WAR.




Initials DHC/VS/JH/LMC



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Background: EGYPT'S AIR FORCE COMMANDER DURING THE JUNE ARAB-ISRAELI WAR WENT ON TRIAL BEFORE A MILITARY COURT IN CAIRO YESTERDAY (MONDAY), CHARGED WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR EGYPT'S MILITARY SETBACKS IN THE FIGHTING. THE FORMER COMMANDER, MOHAMMED SEDKY MAHMOUD, FACED TRIAL WITH THREE OTHER SENIOR AIR FORCE OFFICERS.

THE PROCESSIONS WERE DISCLOSED FOR THE FIRST TIME YESTERDAY.

THE THREE OTHER ACCUSED HAVE BEEN NAMED AS RETIRED AIR MARSHAL GAMAL AFIFY AND RETIRED AIR VICE-MARSHAL AMID EL-DOGEID AND ISMAIL LABIB.

THE COURT YESTERDAY HEARD THE INDICTMENT READ OUT AND BRIEF STATEMENTS WERE MADE BY DEFENDING AND PROSECUTING COUNSEL. THE TRIAL WAS THEN ADJOURNED UNTIL NOVEMBER 11.

CAIRO NEWSPAPERS HAVE RECENTLY BLAMED THE AIR FORCE FOR EGYPT'S WAR REVERSALS AND ACCUSED ITS COMMANDERS OF DERELECTATION OF DUTY.

OUR LIBRARY FILM INCLUDES LIBRARY FOOTAGE OF ISRAELI JETS FIGHTING EGYPTIAN AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND AND IN THE AIR. AT THE TIME OF THE RECORDED FIGHTING, ISRAEL CLAIMED EGYPT HAD COST 185 SOVIET-BUILT MIG AIRCRAFT, 70 SOVIET-BUILT JET BOMBERS AND 30 OTHER TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS.