IAF (Israeli Air Force)

  May 1948 to present

  Israel

TYPE: Air force

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Tel Aviv, Israel

OTHER NAMES: IAF (Israeli Air Force), Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal, Kheil HaAvir

FATE: Active

The Israeli Air Force formed on 28 May 1948, shortly after Israel declared statehood and found itself under attack. The force consisted of a hodge-podge of commandeered or donated civilian aircraft converted to military use. A variety of obsolete and surplus ex-World War II combat-aircraft were quickly sourced by various means to supplement this fleet. The backbone of the IAF consisted of 25 Avia S-199s (purchased from Czechoslovakia, essentially Czechoslovak-built Messerschmitt Bf109s), and 60 Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXs. Creativity and resourcefulness were the foundations of early Israeli military success in the air, rather than technology which, at the inception of the IAF, was generally inferior to that used by Israel's adversaries. The majority of IAF's first military-grade pilots in 1948 were foreign volunteers, both Jewish and non-Jewish, mainly World War II veterans who wanted to collaborate with Israel's struggle for independence.

Israel's new fighter-arm first went into action on 29 May 1948, assisting efforts to halt the Egyptian advance from Gaza northwards. Four newly arrived Avia S-199s, flown by Lou Lenart, Modi Alon, Ezer Weizman and Eddie Cohen, struck Egyptian forces near Ashdod. Although damage to the enemy was minimal, two aircraft were lost and Cohen killed, nevertheless the attack achieved its goal and stopped the Egyptians.

After unassembled planes were strafed on the ground on 30 May at Ekron airfield, the fighters were moved to makeshift strip located around the current Herzliya Airport. The airfield was used as it was a bit back from the front lines, and was clandestine since it was a purpose built strip, that was constructed after the beginning of hostilities, and did not appear on published maps. There, the airplanes were parked dispersed between the orange trees. The Israeli Air Force scored its first aerial victories on 3 June when Modi Alon, flying an S-199, shot down two Egyptian DC-3s which had just bombed Tel Aviv. The first dogfight against enemy fighters took place a few days later on 8 June, when Gideon Lichtaman shot down an Egyptian Spitfire. During these initial operations, the squadron operated with a few planes versus almost complete Arab theater air supremacy. The fighters were moved in October 1948 to Hatzor Airbase from the Herzliya strip due to its unsuitability in rainy conditions, probable loss of clandestine status, moving front lines which made former British bases safe for use, and a shift in the balance of air superiority towards the Israelis.

As the war progressed Israel procured more and more aircraft, including Boeing B-17s, Bristol Beaufighters, de Havilland Mosquitoes and P-51D Mustangs, leading to a shift in the balance of power.

May 1948 to 1956*

The IAF operated 15 Commandos, which were purchased from the USA via Al Schwimmer's Panamanian "paper airline" LAPSA. A bit of confusion exists between all these airplanes, below is a tentative summary:

These aircraft were initially operated by the ATG (Air Transport Group). This was disbanded and became Squadron 106 on 17 December 1948, at which time the aircraft received their IAF callsign. Later, Squadron 106 merged into Squadron 103, which originally used only Douglas DC3s.

The Commandos proved key in keeping Israel Defense Forces supplied during the 1948-1949 conflict with all neighboring Arab countries. They carried out most of the 95 arms supply missions to Zatec, Czechoslovakia as part of Operation Balak, transporting Avia S-199 fighter parts, ammunition, supplies and flying personnel. In September 1948, they took part in Operation Velveta, providing navigation and SAR escort to 60 Spitfires purchased by the IAF during their ferry to Israel over the Mediterranean. From August 1948, they provided support to the IDF invasion of the Negev Desert, flying 2,224 tons of cargo and 1,900 personnel to Avraham landing strip in 417 flights, in conjunction with ATG's DC3s. In October 1948, they compensated the absence of bombers in IAF by dropping 872 bombs for a total of 34,826 kg of bombs through their cargo doors over Egyptian positions in the Negev Desert.

It seems most of IAF's Commandos were withdrawn from use in 1949, after the war came to an end. In the early 1950's, most of IAF's remaining Commandos were transferred to El Al or Arkia Inland Airlines, while some others seem to have been returned to Al Schwimmer who sold them back to other airlines.

• Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando: RX-137 / 1707
• Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando: RX-125 (TBC), RX-131 / 1702, RX-133 (I)
• Curtiss C-46A-36-CU Commando: RX-134 (II) / 1705
• Curtiss C-46A-41-CU Commando: RX-132 (I) / RX-133 (II), RX-136 (I)
• Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando: RX-138 (II) / 1711
• Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando: RX-138 (I) / 1708
• Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando: RX-130 / 1701
• Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando: RX-132 (II) / 1703
• Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando: RX-136 (II) / 1709
• Unknown airframes: RX-135