Israeli Aircraft

Gallery Article by Yoav Efrati on May 6 2003

  Israel Independence Day 

Mosquito K-2127 of the Knight of the North squadron with a Bat nose art and silver dope finish. Prior to the Suez war, the IAF wanted to remove the Mosquito from service due to their high maintenance requirements and wood rot that caused several fatalities. Circumstances lead to its use during the 956 war for the close support mission. It's replacement - the P-51D was also used in this roll during the war. The P-51's took a beating from Egyptian AAA where as the Mosquito flew trouble free with no loss of aircraft. After the war the reason was low Mosquito attrition was its wooden structure. The AAA shells exploded on impact with the P-51's aluminum structure where as the shells passed through the Mosquito's wooden structure without exploding. 

Model: Tamiya 1/72 kit with IsraDecals Mosquito sheet.

 

This year (2003) Israel celebrates it's 55th year of rebirth, attached are photos of my models and some pretty airplanes photographed at the IAF museum located just outside of Beer Sheva. I'm pleased to represent Israel and the IAF on their 55th anniversary.

 

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Photo 3: 
T-6 Texan shown in 1956 Suez war colors and identification stripes. During the Suez war, the Texan was pressed into service as a FAC aircraft for B-17's bombing Egyptian troops stationed in the Gaza strip. Heavy losses resulted in the Texan being withdrawn from this roll very quickly. 
Model: 1/72 scale Academy kit with IsraDecal numbers and roundels.

Photo 4:
S-58D served with the IAF between 1958 and 1968 as the primary assault helicopter of the IAF later to be replaced by the Bell 205. 
Model: Italeri 1/72 S-58D with IsraDecals helicopter sheet.

Photo 5:
UH-60A currently serving as the IAF's primary assault helicopter transport replacing the Bell UH-1N. The UH-60 is currently being repainted in new desert colors. 
Model: Hasegawa UH-60A with Italeri UH-60A parts. Decals: Isradecal helicopter sheet.

Photo 6:
A-4H no.03 of the Valley squadron has the distinction of being the only A-4 in IAF service to down enemy aircraft. During the War of Attrition, Squadron commander Ezra Dotan downed two Syrian MiG-17, one with Zuni rockets and another with 30mm Defa guns. 
Model: Fujimi A-4E and markings from Isradecal A-4 sheet.
A-4H no.272 of the Flying Tigers sq has the distinction of sinking an Egyptian mine trawler also during the War of Attrition. The aircraft is seen  after being fitted with nav attack suit installed in a spine mounted hump and extended tail pipe after the 1973 war. 

Model: Fujimi A-4E with Eagle Design extended pipe and markings from Isradecal A-4 sheet.

Photo 7
A-4N no.364 of the Flying Wing squadron in a current symmetrical scheme. This squadron received the A-4N after the 1973 war and has been operating it ever since. It is fitted with a nose mounted laser seeker and Mk.82 Paveway II LGB's. 
Model: 1/72 Fujimi A-4M with Eagle Design extended pipe and markings from Isradecal A-4 sheet.

Photo 8
A 1966 pair showing Mirage IIIc no.59 and MiG-21 F-13 no.007 of the First Fighter sq. Mirage no.59 is the first Mirage in the world to score a kill. MiG no.007 was a gift provided by an Iraqi defector in 1966 seen in its 1967 war base defender colors. 
Models: AML 1/72 Mirage IIIc, Belik MiG-21F-13.
Decals from various sources.

Photo 9
Mirage IIIc no.766 is one of the first IAF Mirages to be painted in a desert scheme. Introduction of SAM-3 into the mid east forced the IAF to fly nap of the earth and thus the IAF's primary interceptor was painted with desert colors. 
Model: Heller 1/72 Mirage IIIe converted to a IIIc. Decals IsraDecal Kfir decal sheet.

Photo 10
IAI Nesher was a Mirage V built by IAI and introduced into IAF service prior to the 1973 war. Introduction of Libyan Mirage V's over the Sinai forced the IAF to apply large yellow and black ID triangles to the Mirage and Nesher airplanes. Nesher no.18 of the Hornet squadron was used to down a Libyan Mirage V.

Photo 11
F-16A introduce into IAF service in 1980 quickly replaced the IAF's delta fighters from in the fighter interceptor roll. The first world kill for the F-16 was scored in F-16A no.112 of the First Jet squadron. The model shown depicts the aircraft as it appeared during the 1982 Lebanon war with 4 air to air kills and fitted with Mavric missiles. 
Model: Hasegawa 1/72 F-16a, Hasegawa stores and IsraDecal F-16A sheet.

Photo 12
UH-60A upgraded to UH-60L standards as seen on 26 April 2003 in new desert colors.

Photo 13
F-16A no.243 in current Golden Eagle sq markings - This aircraft was flown by Israel's Astronaut Ilan Ramon during its mission to bomb the Iraqi Nuclear powerplant in 1981. 
Markings are available in 1/72 by IsraDecal.

Photo 14
A-4F no.611 of the Battering Ram squadron. 
Decals are available in the IsraDecal A-4 sheet both in 1/72 and 1/48 scales.

Photo 15
RF-4E in low vis colors belonging to the Orange Tail sq.

Yoav Efrati

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Photos and text © by Yoav Efrati