The Fable of the Magic Carpet and the Plane-makers - Ron Reed

The narrative provides a first-hand historical record of Operation Magic Carpet, a clandestine 1967 air defence mission organised by British government officials, mercenaries, and representatives from the aviation firm Airwork Services. The author chronicles the high-stakes deployment of British airpower—including veteran fighter pilots and ground crews—sent to support the Saudi Royal family in their fierce conflict with Egyptian-backed North Yemeni forces. Written with sharp technical precision and historical candour, the book strips away decades of official denial to explore how private British enterprise and covert military force shaped the geopolitics of the Arabian Peninsula. Copyr.