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The Jewish Home | MAY 26, 2022
Forgotten Forgotten Her Her es es
Early Heroes of the IAF by Avi Heiligman by Avi Heiligman
From left - Giddy Lichtman, Modi Alon, From left - Ben Giddy Lichtman, Modi Alon, and David Gurion and David Ben Gurion
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OctOber OctOber 29,29, 2015 2015 | the | the Jewish Jewish Home Home
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s the Israeli War of Independence s the Israeli War of Independence began in 1948, the call went out began in 1948, the call went out for experienced pilots to fly for experienced pilots to fly planes for the newly formed Israeli Air planes for the newly formed Israeli Air Force (IAF). Some pilots had been flying Force (IAF). Some pilots had been flying with the Hagana’s air wing and others with the Hagana’s air wing and others had been trained in the Royal Air Force had been trained in the Royal Air Force during World War II, but it also included during World War II, but it also included the many volunteers that filled the ranks the many stvolunteers that filled the ranks of the 101st Squadron. It was the first Isof the 101 Squadron. It was the first Israel fighter unit, and they scored some inrael fighter unit, and they scored some incredible victories while flying World War credible victories while flying World War II relics, hand-me-downs and knockoff II relics, hand-me-downs and knockoff aircraft. aircraft. The IAF’s first mission was on May The IAF’s first mission was on May 29, 1948 to stop Egyptian forces from 29, 1948 to stop Egyptian forces from advancing on Tel Aviv. Four pilots – Lou advancing on Tel Aviv. Four pilots – Lou Lenart, Eddie Cohen, Modi Alon and Lenart, Eddie Cohen, Modi Alon and Ezer Weizman – flew in Avia S-199 fightEzer Weizman – flew in Avia S-199 fighter planes but experienced problems while er planes but experienced problems while attacking the enemy column. Their guns attacking the enemy column. Their guns jammed, the bomb bay doors weren’t jammed, the bomb bay doors weren’t functioning properly, and Eddie Cohen’s functioning properly, and Eddie Cohen’s plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Still, plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Still, the other three pressed on the attack and the other three pressed on the attack and inflicted minimal damage. However, the inflicted minimal damage. However, the damage to the Egyptian Army’s morale damage to the Egyptian Army’s morale was so high, as they thought many more was so high, as they thought many more Israeli planes were about to attack. The Israeli planes were about to attack. The Egyptian forces dispersed, and Tel Aviv Egyptian forces dispersed, and Tel Aviv was safe from this ground attack. was safe from this ground attack. The plane that the pilots flew in was The plane that the pilots flew in was the Avia- S-199. It was a Czech knockoff the Avia- S-199. It was a Czech knockoff of the Me-109 (Messerschmitt-109, the of the Me-109 (Messerschmitt-109, the
Modi Alon, right, with David Ben Gurion Modi Alon, right, with David Ben Gurion
main fighter of the German Air Force of main fighter of the German Air Force of World War II). The irony of the planes World War II). The irony of the planes was that Me-109 was one of the enemy’s was that Me-109 was one of the enemy’s main weapons, and Spitfires and Hurrimain weapons, and Spitfires and Hurricanes were the best British planes. The canes were the best British planes. The Egyptians were equipped with the BritEgyptians were equipped with the British planes, while the Israelis were barely ish planes, while the Israelis were barely able to patch a few S-199 with old Messable to patch a few S-199 with old Messerschmitt parts. Several crashed in trainerschmitt parts. Several crashed in training, and only four planes were serviceable ing, and only four planes were serviceable for that first fight. for that first fight. A few days later, on June 3, Modi Alon A few days later, on June 3, Modi Alon scored the first two aerial victories in IAF scored the first two aerial victories in IAF history. The Egyptians had been bombing history. The Egyptians had been bombing Tel Aviv, and up until that point, they had Tel Aviv, and up until that point, they had no interference from any Israeli fighter no interference from any Israeli fighter planes. Alon flew in his S-199 and surplanes. Alon flew in his S-199 and surprised the Egyptians’ C-47 bombers and prised the Egyptians’ C-47 bombers and their two fighter escorts flying in British their two fighter escorts flying in British Spitfires. In front of an astounded Israeli Spitfires. In front of an astounded Israeli populace that came out to watch this air populace that came out to watch this air battle, Alon downed both bombers. The battle, Alon downed both bombers. The public had been unaware of the Israeli public had been unaware of the Israeli fighters, and Alon became a hero of the fighters, and Alon became a hero of the local population. Alon scored his third local population. Alon scored his third victory against a Spitfire on July 3. In Ocvictory against a Spitfire on July 3. In October, he was killed when his Avia crashed tober, he was killed when his Avia crashed due to a malfunction. due to a malfunction. Gideon “Giddy” Lichtman was IsraGideon “Giddy” Lichtman was Israel’s second pilot to earn an aerial comel’s second pilot to earn an aerial combat victory. Lichtman had fought for the bat victory. Lichtman had fought for the U.S. during World War II in the Pacific U.S. during World War II in the Pacific and came to Israel as a Machal pilot. His and came to Israel as a Machal pilot. His score came on June 8 against an Egyptian score came on June 8 against an Egyptian
The 101 Fighter Squadron The 101 Fighter Squadron
Spitfire whose pilot, Jamal Nasser, bailed Spitfire whose pilot, Jamal Nasser, bailed out and was captured by Israeli ground out and was captured by Israeli ground forces. forces. Lichtman later said about the aerial Lichtman later said about the aerial dogfight: “I’m trying to keep up with him, dogfight: “I’m trying to keep up with him, flying in close formation. I don’t know the flying in close formation. I don’t know the country. We have, at most, 40 minutes of country. We have, at most, 40 minutes of fuel. And instead of circling away from fuel. And instead of circling away from the sun, he’s circling into the sun. I’m at the sun, he’s circling into the sun. I’m at full throttle, and I can’t keep up with him. full throttle, and I can’t keep up with him. I’m at about 12,000 feet, and he’s way I’m at about 12,000 feet, and he’s way ahead of me and way above me …Through ahead of me and way above me …Through the dust and the haze, I see a shadow, and the dust and the haze, I see a shadow, and it’s an Egyptian Spit. He sees me. By this it’s an Egyptian Spit. He sees me. By this time, we’re heading south over the Meditime, we’re heading south over the Mediterranean. We got into a wild dogfight.… terranean. We got into a wild dogfight.… I follow him down, shooting after him. I follow him down, shooting after him. Then I check my fuel gauge, and it’s on Then I check my fuel gauge, and it’s on empty.” empty.” Many of the pilots that served with Many of the pilots that served with the 101 Squadron weren’t Jewish, and the 101 Squadron weren’t Jewish, and this was the case with Canadian Denny this was the case with Canadian Denny Wilson. He was a skilled pilot from HamWilson. He was a skilled pilot from Hamilton, Ontario, who had considerable exilton, Ontario, who had considerable experience during World War II, with two perience during World War II, with two kills during the global conflict. One of the kills during the global conflict. One of the reasons he chose to fly for Israel in 1948 reasons he chose to fly for Israel in 1948 was that he had seen the horrors of Berwas that he had seen the horrors of Bergen-Belsen during his war experience and gen-Belsen during his war experience and knew he could do something to help the knew he could do something to help the fledgling Jewish state. fledgling Jewish state. During the Israeli War of IndepenDuring the Israeli War of Independence, Wilson flew in newly acquired dence, Wilson flew in newly acquired Spitfires and downed two Egyptian Spitfires and downed two Egyptian
planes on December 31, 1948. One was planes on December 31, 1948. One was downed over a patrol over the Sinai, while downed over a patrol over the Sinai, while the other was on the return flight to base. the other was on the return flight to base. Another time he was flying in the Spitfire Another time he was flying in the Spitfire on a reconnaissance mission and picked on a reconnaissance mission and picked up radio communications that an enemy up radio communications that an enemy plane was in the vicinity. Although neiplane was in the vicinity. Although neither plane was carrying ammunition, ther plane was carrying ammunition, Wilson caused the Egyptian pilot to panic Wilson caused the Egyptian pilot to panic and bail out, causing the plane to crash. and bail out, causing the plane to crash. The pilots that joined the Israeli Air The pilots that joined the Israeli Air Force came to defend the new nation Force came to defend the new nation and help it survive against superior Arab and help it survive against superior Arab air forces. The planes they had were ruair forces. The planes they had were rudimentary, and oftentimes the ground dimentary, and oftentimes the ground crews had to hide the planes among orcrews had to hide the planes among orange trees. As the war progressed, the ange trees. As the war progressed, the IAF obtained more and better aircraft, IAF obtained more and better aircraft, which led to a better balance in air suwhich led to a better balance in air superiority. There were several other pilots periority. There were several other pilots who scored air-to-air kills in addition to who scored air-to-air kills in addition to the ones mentioned in this article, and the ones mentioned in this article, and many of them continued to help the IAF many of them continued to help the IAF after the war to help the air force evenafter the war to help the air force eventually become the formidable force it is tually become the formidable force it is today. today.
Avi Heiligman is a weekly contribuAvi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes tor to The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comments and suggestions for fuyour comments and suggestions for future columns and can be reached at ture columns and can be reached at aviheiligman@gmail.com. aviheiligman@gmail.com.
