Galilee Squadron
The Galilee Squadron (
History
Formation and initial operations
On 10 November 1947, with the impending decision on the
As fighting intensified throughout the region in early 1948, however, the SA's sole squadron in Tel Aviv could not meet all operational needs. Soon new detachments were deployed to the
The squadron went into action on the very day of its formation. Early 1948 had seen the Yeshuv on the defensive, with Arab forces dominating the roads and attacking Jewish transportation.[4] On 4 April, with Mishmar HaEmek under assault from Fawzi al-Qawuqji's Arab Liberation Army (ALA), the squadron flew its first sorties, with Golani observers on board. Three days later it dropped ammunition to the beleaguered kibbutz, and 9 April saw its first combat mission, dropping hand-held bombs on al-Qawuqji's Syrian artillery.[3] In all, about a dozen sorties were flown during the Battle of Mishmar HaEmek. The battle, in which the ALA was repulsed and neighbouring Palestinian villages taken, signaled a change of policy for Jewish forces in the north, and these now went on the offensive.[5]
On 27 April, an Auster Autocrat assisted a Haganah force take control of the evacuated British
Israeli independence and Arab invasion
Following Israel's declaration of independence on 14 May 1948, the territory of the former Mandate of Palestine was invaded by several Arab armies. While the Galilee Squadron had hitherto faced the Arab Liberation Army and Palestinian irregulars, it was now forced to contend with the Lebanese, Iraqi and Syrian armies as well. On 14 May, the squadron participated in the battle between the
The Arab invasion also introduced the prospect of encounters with the
The squadron returned to
Later activities
The first truce allowed both sides to regroup and recuperate. On the Israeli side, the pre-state institutions were transformed into the agencies of a state. The truce witnessed the transformation of the Israeli Air Force, formally established on May 28, into a comprehensive fighting force. The Sherut Avir was absorbed into this new organization, and it was reorganized, fighter aircraft were acquired and personnel recruited.[15][16] The Galilee Squadron received new equipment and personnel as well, and exploited the lull in the fighting to conduct reconnaissance all over the north.[17] On 19 June, it returned to Yavne'el.[13]
When fighting resumed on 9 July, Israel's primary objectives were the expulsion of the Arab Liberation Army and Syrian forces from the Galilee.
The second truce of the war lasted until October 1948. The squadron spent this time stepping up training and reconnaissance flights. The airfield at Yavne'el, still threatened by the Syrian Air Force, was also upgraded with the installation of its first
In late November 1948, the coming of winter and the poor state of the airfield at Yavne'el once again prompted the squadron to relocate to Ramat David. A month later, the IAF decided to disband both the Galilee and Negev Squadrons, their role having been taken over by squadrons flying more capable aircraft. The two moved to Tel Nof where they were amalgamated with the Tel Aviv Squadron to form the IAF's 100 "Flying Camel" Squadron. The Galilee Squadron was officially disbanded on 28 January 1949.[25]
Commemoration
A memorial to the Galilee Squadron and its men stands in Yavne'el's Goren Park.[26]
Commanders
- Pesach Tolchinky (6–21 April 1948)
- Daniel Bookstein (21 April – 10 May 1948)
- Moshe Feldman (10 May – 6 August 1948)
- Nahum Rapoport (6 August – 17 November 1948)
- Haim Goldman (17–30 November 1948)
- Yosef Steinman (30 November 1948 – 17 January 1949)
- Aharon Biran (17–30 January 1949)[27]
Aircraft flown
- Taylorcraft BL
- Auster AOP5
- Auster J1 Autocrat
- Fairchild F24R Argus
- Piper PA11-90 Super Cub
References
Notes
- ^ Norton 2004, p. 10
- ^ Aloni 2001, pp. 6–8
- ^ a b Hartoch 1999, pp. 50–51, 57
- ^ Karsh 2008, pp. 37–38
- ^ a b Hartoch 1999, pp. 59–60
- ^ Shapira and Abel, pp. 193–194
- ^ Hartoch 1999, pp. 62–69
- ^ a b Hartoch 1999, pp. 76–80
- ^ a b Hartoch 1999, pp. 71–74
- ^ Morris 2008, p. 259
- ^ a b Norton 2004, p. 74
- ^ Nicolle, David (2003). "Syria's Fighting Texans". acig.org. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
- ^ a b c Hartoch 1999, pp. 83–91
- ^ Hartoch 1999, p. 82
- ^ Morris 2008, p. 263
- ^ Norton 2004, p. 12
- ^ Hartoch 1999, pp. 99–104
- ^ Morris 2008, p. 278
- ^ Hartoch 1999, pp. 107–115
- ^ Hartoch 1999, pp. 116–119
- ^ Morris 2008, pp. 338–340
- ^ Karsh 2008, p. 66
- ^ Morris 2008, pp. 341–349
- ^ Hartoch 1999, pp. 126–132
- ^ Hartoch 1999, pp. 132–133
- ^ Myasnikov, Avinoam. אנדרטה לנופלי טייסת הגליל (in Hebrew). sky-high.co.il. Archived from the original on October 10, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
- ^ Hartoch 1999, p. 185
Bibliography
- Aloni, Shlomo (2001). Arab-Israeli Air Wars. Combat Aircraft. UK: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84176-294-4.
- Hartoch, Noam (1999). The Galilee Squadron during the War of Independence (in Hebrew). עמותת חיל-האויר. ISBN 965-90229-0-5.
- Karsh, Efraim (2008). The Arab-Israeli Conflict: The 1948 War. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-4042-1842-0.
- Morris, Benny (2008). 1948: a history of the first Arab-Israeli war. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300126969.
- Norton, Bill (2004). Air War on the Edge – A History of the Israel Air Force and its Aircraft since 1947. Surrey, UK: ISBN 1-85780-088-5.
- Shapira, Anita; Abel, Evelyn (2008). Yigal Allon, native son: a biography. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-4028-3.