HISTORY

Pilots and mechanics of 101 squadron in the summer of 1948 at Herzliya improvised airfield.

trated on bombing the Egyptian forward

airbase of El Ahrish and the Egyptian army

headquarters set up at the Iraq Al Sudan

fortress overlooking the Faluga pocket

along the Gaza – Hebron road leading to

Jerusalem.

First coloring changes

On October 16, 1948, IAF headquarters

notified all ground units that Israeli fighter planes belonging to its only fighter

squadron had their spinners painted in

red and the rudders decorated with red

and white stripes in order to distinguish

them from Egyptian Spitfires operating in

the same area. To further differentiate the

Israeli fighter planes from those of Egypt,

especially Egyptian Spitfires, Star of David

roundels were applied atop of the wings

for the first time. The aircraft available to

the 101 squadron at the start of Operation

Yoav included Avia S-199s numbers D-113,

114, 117, 118, 120, 121 and 123; Spitfires D-130,

131, 132, 133 and 134; and P-51D Mustangs

numbered D-190 and 191 which joined the

fighting on October 21, 1948 in their natural

Messer D-115 with Al Freeman and Syd Cohen standing besides the airplane at Herzelia airfield. D-115 arrived on July 13, 1948, flew for the first time on July 20 and was damaged during

landing by Sandy Jacobs on September 8. The aircraft was written off.

18

INFO Eduard

metal finish, conducting reconnaissance

missions over Lebanon and Syria just a

day prior to a cease fire that was agreed

upon a day later. On the first day of combat

operations, Messer number D-121 was involved in air combat against a Royal Egyptian Air Force Spitfire Mk.IXc. Although

Rudi Augarten claimed downing the Egyptian opponent, the downed airplane was

not found and no credit was given for a kill.

With the end of Operation Yoav on October

22, 1948, and winter weather softening the

dirt runway in Hertzelia orange grove im-

Messer D-117 arrived on July 15, 1948 and was flown for first time on July 21. Here

it is photographed in July 1948 at Hertzelia field with lead mechanic Eli Reuveni

who chalked his girlfriend’s name “Nechama” on the Star of David. This aircraft was

converted for photo reconnaissance between October 17–20, 1948.

May 2022