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The First Arab-Isreali War was primarily fought out on the ground, but there was an important air component. The Egyptians and to a lesser extent the Syrians had modern aircraft. And it looked like the Israelis would have to fight for indepndence without any air cover. And had the Israelis not acted quickly to bring in some pilots and fighters, it could have meant disaster on the ground. There were some Israeli pilots with World War II experience. Israeli agents also managed to recruit some expeienced foreign pilots (Jeish and non-Jewish). They were called Machal (the Hebrew acronym for Mitnadvei Chutz L'Aretz-- meaning 'volunteers from outside Israel'). While the Haganah could obtain and secrete infantry weapons before the British left, it could not do much to build an air force until the Israeli Government was founded. There were, however, some preliminary steps. The Irgun set up the Palestine Flying Service (1937). The Haganah founded the Sherut Avir. Immediately after indepenence, the new Isreali Government founded the Israeli Air Force (IAF) (May 28). The country was already underattack by invading Arab armies. It was not much of a force to face the already established Arab air forcesm, especially the Egyptians which the British had helped arm. The only significant Arab air force was the Royal Egyptian Air Force (REAF) which had mostly potent British aircraft, the most potent being Supermarine Spitfires Mk5's and LF9's. All the Isrelis had were a few civilian aircraft hastily converted for military purposes. The United States refused to provide arms to either the Israelis or the Arabs as part of an international arms embargo. Ignored was the fact that the Arab front-line states had armies whivh had already been armed with modern weapons, including aircraft and foreign advisers. The Isreali Government rushed to secure aircraft and fortuntely, surplus World War II aircraft which still were available in substantial numbers. One major success was securig 25 Czech Avia S-199s (Czech built ME-109s) which Isreali agents quickly purchased. Avia was a Czech aircraft and automotive company in the inter-War era. The company built aircraft for the Luftwaffe during the war. It was nationlied by the Czech Government and shifted to cars and trucks. In the initial phase of the War, all the Israelis had were the Czech Avias. They were not, however, effective aircraft because unlike real ME-109s, they did not have the potent Daimler Benz engine. The resulting fix according to the Israeli pilots made the Avia S-199 as dangerous to the pilots as to the Egyptians. The other major IAF component were 62 Czech Supermarine Spitfires provided after the World War II War as a nucleus for their air force. As Soviet influence grew, the Czechs were pressured to shift over to Soviet equipment leaving the Spitfires available for sale to the Israelis. Fortunately, Stalin saw an advantage in supporting the Jews. Zionism was not a purely religious movement. In fact, there was a strong socialist element in Zionism, including the Communists. Stalin saw Israel as a way of gaining influence in the region. As result, Czech arms sales to Israel were not only allowed, but encouraged by the Soviets. Israeli agents not only secured aircraft in Czechoslovakia, but other arms and equipment as well. And training facilties were set up. The Czech planes arrived just in the nick of time. Even with these planes, however, the IAF was at first outnumbered in the air by the REAF. Israeli pilots had to develop creative tactics to overcome their numerical disadvantages. Many of the pilots were already fully trained foreign volunteers, including both Jews and non-Jews. The first IAF engagement occurred (May 29). Just arrived Czech Avia S-199s (ME-109s) attacked Egyptian forces moving north out of Gaza near Isdud. They did not do much damage and two of the four planes were lost, but the Egyptians fearing more air attacks halted their advance. The first IAF aerial victory was achieved (June 3). An Avia D.112 shot down two Egyptian DC-3s which were being used to bomb Tel Aviv. The first dog fight occured 5 days later (June 8). A IAF fighter shot down an Egyptian Spitfire. As the war continued, the Isrealis managed to procure more aircraft, including Boeing B-17s, Bristol Beaufighters, de Havilland Mosquitoes, and P-51D Mustangs. It was the Spitfires. however, that gave the new IAF a real bite because 62 were available. The British not only provided planes to the Egyptians, but also pilots. And they flew reconisance misins, until an Israeli Mustang hot down one of the British planes. An IAF formation also shot down five British-piloted Egyptian Spitfires over the Sinai (January 7, 1949). As a result of the Czech planes, especially the Czechs Spitfires, the balance of forces in the air gradually shifted to the IAF which eventually gained air superiority, the command of the air that it has never since lost.
While the Haganah could obtain and secrete infantry weapons before the British left, it could not do much to build an air force until the Israeli Government was founded. There were, however, some preliminary steps. The Irgun set up the Palestine Flying Service (1937). The Haganah founded the Sherut Avir. Immediately after indepenence, the new Isreali Government founded the Israeli Air Force (IAF). Israel was already under attack by invading Arab armies. It was not much of a force to face the already established Arab air forcesm, especially the Egyptians which the British had helped arm. All the Isrelis had were a few civilian aircraft hastily converted for military purposes
The First Arab-Isreali War was primarily fought out on the ground, but there was an important air component. The Egyptians and to a lesser extent the Syrians had modern aircraft. And it looked like the Israelis would have to fight for indepndence without any air cover.
Had the Israelis not acted quickly to bring in some pilots and fighters, it could have meant disaster on the ground. There were some Israeli pilots with World War II experience. Israeli agents also managed to recruit some expeienced foreign pilots (Jeish and non-Jewish). They were called Machal (the Hebrew acronym for Mitnadvei Chutz L'Aretz-- meaning 'volunteers from outside Israel'). (May 28).
The only significant Arab air force was the Royal Egyptian Air Force (REAF) which had mostly potent British aircraft, the most important being Supermarine Spitfires Mk5's and LF9's. At first the REAF dominated the skies over Israel. Only the small number of planes involved and the limited skills of the Egyptian pilots and tactical doctrine prevented this from becoming a decisice fctor in the war. .
The United States refused to provide arms to either the Israelis or the Arabs as part of an international arms embargo. This was designed to prevent fighting. In fact, it only encouraged the Egytiansto attack Israel. Ignored was the fact that the Arab front-line states had armies whivh had already been armed with modern weapons, including aircraft and foreign advisers. Thus the Royal Egyptian Air Force (REAF). The Eyptians already had aircraft and the Israelis essentially had none. The arms embargo apparently did not affect advisory groups. British advisrs contind to assist the REAF and even actually fly missions.
The Isreali Government rushed to secure aircraft and fortuntely for them, surplus World War II aircraft were still available in substantial numbers. This reflected the huge numbers of planes built during the War and that major countries had began moderizing their air forces with jets. The problem was that an international arms embargo was in place. One major success was securig 25 Czech Avia S-199s (Czech built Me-109s) which Isreali agents quickly purchased. Avia was a Czech aircraft and automotive company in the inter-War era. The company built aircraft for the Luftwaffe during the war. It was nationalized by the Czech Government and shifted to cars and trucks. In the initial phase of the Arab-Israeli War, all the Israelis had were the Czech Avias. They were not, however, effective aircraft because unlike real Me-109s, they did not have the potent Daimler Benz engine. The resulting fix according to the Israeli pilots made the Avia S-199 as dangerous to the pilots as to the Egyptians. Despite their shortcomings, they were the first fighters Israel pilots got their hands on and just in the nick of time as it proved. The other major IAF component were 62 Czech Supermarine Spitfires Britain had provided the Czechs after World War II War as a nucleus for their air force. As Soviet influence grew, the Czechs were pressured to shift over to Soviet equipment leaving the Spitfires available for sale to the Israelis. Fortunately, Stalin saw an advantage in supporting the Jews. Zionism was not a purely religious movement. In fact, there was a strong socialist element in Zionism, including the Communists. Stalin for a brief period saw Israel as a way of gaining influence in the region. As result, Czech arms sales to Israel were not only allowed, but encouraged by the Soviets. Israeli agents not only secured aircraft in Czechoslovakia, but other arms and equipment as well. And training facilties were set up. Soviet policy soon chnged, but by tht time the Czech Spitfires were in Israeli hands.
The famed British Spitfire from World war II was the dominant plane during the First Arab-Isreali War. When the War began the British who had not yet fully exited had them and they had equipped the REAF with them. As the war progressed the Israels shot diwn sme REAF Spitfires and the RAEF by mistake attacked an RAF base. The result was that quite a number REAF and RAF Spitfires were shot up. Futher junk Spitfires were obtained by the Israels when they overan an Egyptian airfield in Gaza. With all these junk Spitfires lying round, the ever-resourceful Israelis began to piece them together. So the Israelis put up a few Spitfires even before the Czech Spitfires arrived. As the war continued, the Isreali agents managed to procure more aircraft in various countries. By the end of the war the IAF sported a small number of Boeing B-17s, Bristol Beaufighters, de Havilland Mosquitoes, and P-51D Mustangs. Thee is a story behind each of the aircraft and how the Isralis managed to spirit them to Israel through the arms emnbargo. The Mustags were purchased in America, packed in crates laveld 'agricultural machinery' and illegally shipped to Israel. It was the Czech Spitfires. however, that gave the new IAF a real bite because 62 were available. And thanks to all the junk Spitfires acquired, there were plentu of spare parts. The four American Mustangs, however, were the most advanced aircraft acquired by the IAF and were reserved for special missions.
The Czech planes arrived just in the nick of time. Even with the Czech planes, however, the IAF was at first outnumbered in the air by the REAF. Israeli pilots had to develop creative tactics to overcome their numerical disadvantages. Fortunately many of the pilots were already fully trained foreign volunteers, including both Jews and non-Jews. his proved to be a critical factor as the FEgyptian pilots did not have combat experience.
The first IAF engagement occurred (May 29). Just arrived Czech Avia S-199s (ME-109s) attacked Egyptian forces moving north out of Gaza near Isdud. They did not do much damage and two of the four planes were lost, but a large Egyptian column only a few miles from Tel Aviv, fearing more air attacks halted their advance. The first IAF aerial victory was achieved (June 3). An Avia D.112 shot down two Egyptian DC-3s which were being used to bomb Tel Aviv. The first dog fight occured 5 days later (June 8). A IAF fighter shot down an Egyptian Spitfire. The British not only provided planes to the Egyptians, but also pilots. And they flew reconisance missions, until an Israeli Mustang shot down one of the British planes. An Israeli Mustang with its heigher ceiling was able to shoot down a Britsh Mosquito that was being used for reonissance (November 20, 1948). We are not positive, but the British were apparently hlping the Egyptias with reconissance date. Perhaps readers will know more here. An IAF formation also shot down five British-piloted Egyptian Spitfires over the Sinai (January 7, 1949). As a result of the Czech planes, especially the Czechs Spitfires, the balance of forces in the air gradually shifted to the IAF which eventually gained air superiority, the command of the air that it has never since lost.
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