JDupre5762 wrote:

I have just recieved the one of the latest books in Osprey's Aircraft of the
Aces series, number 59 Israeli Mirage/Nesher Aces.

I have only just begun reading it but in the captions and list of aces its
states pretty clearly that the number two ace of the Israel Air Force is
Avraham Shalmon with 14.5 total victories.

Other references, notably Peter Mersky's book Israeli Fighter Aces list Yftach
Spector as the number two ace with 15 or 15.5 total victories. The Oprey book
lists with him with only 12.

Why the change? I know that some Israeli aces privately claim higher scores
than officially credited because they are certain they are responsible for
claims that could not be officially confirmed. I understand that this is
especially true of pilots who caused enemy aircraft to crash through manuveur
rather than firing a weapon. Is that the case with Spector or is it due to
further research in claims and losses?

It's equally possible that it's just a mistake. Even assuming Spector's count has
been decreased (which AFAIK hasn't happened), then Amir Nahumi would presumably
step into the number 2 spot(Mersky lists him at 14, most other sources credit him
with15). Are you sure that the claim wasn't for Shalmon as the number 2
Mirage/Nesher ace? That would be correct, as he would only be behind Giora Even
in that category, while Spector was an ace in both the Mirage and F-4, and Nahumi
in both the F-4 and F-16. Mersky lists Shalmon tied with Asher Snir at 13.5
(vice14.5) total, but Snir got some of his kills in the F-4.

Guy