Strana 73
BUILT
101 Tayeset, Cheyl Ha´avir, Hatzor, Israel, October 1948
The aircraft coded D-123 was delivered to Israel on July
28 on board Balak Flight No. 79 and joined the action
on August 15, 1948. A month prior to entry into service,
ex-USAAF volunteer pilot Stan Andrews drew up the
101 Tayeset’s (Squadron) insignia of a winged skull of
death wearing a flight helmet and goggles. The skull
symbolizes the Jewish faith’s belief in the rising of the
dead to form a large army when the messiah comes to
earth. The insignia was printed on paper and applied
to the left side of the nose of 101 Tayeset’s planes.
In preparation for Operation Ten Plagues (October
15-22, 1948), later renamed Operation Yoav, 101 Tayeset
fighters obtained high visibility markings consisting
of red spinners and red and white stripes on the
rudders in order to distinguish them from Egyptian
aircraft. More to it, the Star of David roundels were
applied atop the wings for the first time. During
Operation Yoav, Rudi Augarten claimed a Royal
Egyptian Air Force Spitfire Mk.IXc flying D-123 on the
first day of the offensive, on October 16. The kill was
not confirmed by IAF intelligence. In November, D-123
was given the number 1905 as part of the introduction
of a new military aircraft marking system. There are
a few repairs to the fuselage that appear darker areas
on photos of D-123. This has led some researchers to
believe the aircraft received a two-tone camouflage.
However, it is merely a contrast of older and newer
paint of the same shade of green.
INFO Eduard
73
June 2026