European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 05, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Diogu s the Bullet riddled control Tower overlooks the Hulk of the air France Airbus that sits rusting at the Entebbe Airport. By Doyle Tillman staff writer he old Airport terminal adjoining the area where american refugee efforts Are going on in Entebbe Uganda is a solemn reminder of a different kind of military. Mission. On the night july 3,1976, three israeli c-130 Hercules carrying commandos and equipment sneaked into the Airport where More than 100 hostages were being held by the popular front for the liberation of Palestine. In a Brief but fierce firefight the hostages were freed and their captives killed or scattered. Air piracy was a common phenomenon during the turbulent 1970s. On june 27, 1976, an air France Airbus on its Way from Tel Aviv to Paris had just returned to the air with 244 passengers and 1.2 Crew members after a Stop in Athens Greece when a Man and woman in the first class Section Rose to their feet. While the woman aimed a pistol at the Crew the Man pushed into the cockpit and announced the plane was being hijacked. After making one Stop the plane received permission to land in Entebbe the capital of the country controlled by dictator maj. Gen. Idi Amin. Over the next several Days some 150 hostages were released mainly women children and French nationals but most of the israeli citizens on the plane remained Entebbe terminal a reminder of Israel s daring Rescue Mission under guard in the Airport terminal. Today the terminal a Bullet riddled ruin adjoins the site where american c 130s now unload and Park. It was probably built in the 1940s, according to an Airport official who asked not to be identified. Up a nearby Hill.,.next to where the joint task Force operation support Hope is now headquartered is a newer More modern terminal that was opened in 1972. Hijackers parked the aircraft next to the older facility according to the Airport official because it was More  but that seclusion worked to4he israeli commandos advantage. The israeli c-130s flew undetected by the Airport s newer equipment the official said and glided to a halt in the darkness. According to one report a plane with israeli military officials circled overhead to coordinate the attack after misleading the terrorists by telling the Airport Tower the plane carried prisoners who were to be released in Exchange for the hostages. The commandos rushed from the plane and opened fire killing seven terrorists. One israeli Soldier was killed and three hostages died in the Cross fire. The remaining hostages were freed. The French Airliner at the heart of the raid is now nothing but a Shell with engines attached sitting about 200,to 300 Yards farther Down the Hill. A ugandan air Force member who led a walk through it said the plane was not gutted in the raid but rather in 1979, when a group of tanzanian soldiers were chasing Amin during an invasion by Tanzania and ugandan exiles that ousted the dictator. The gunfire scarred the terminal which is in shambles butter gains a part of the Entebbe International Airport the Airport executive said. It has not been torn Down because it and surrounding buildings might be used in the future. A handful of ugandan soldiers and some squatters Are currently using it for shelter. The Airfield official said plans for the site include turning it into an area for cargo handling and food services. The International Airport which is Home to 12 air carriers is accustomed to an average of four scheduled flights daily the official said. It s a Small  however business is booming since the world focused operations for rwandan refugee Relief flights at the Airport. We be been Able to accommodate the americans very Well the executive said. Contributing to this report the new York times. The gutted terminal building was the focus of the dramatic Rescue of israeli hostages in 1976. Three of the 103 captives were killed. Above a Texas National guard c-130 is one of the aircraft assigned to operation support Hope. Right the hijacked jetliner was trashed in a 1979 uprising. T is photos by Dave do of 16 the stars and stripes monday september 5, 1994 the stars and stripes 17