Israel's
59th Independance Day |
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by Yoav
Efrati
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Israel Independance Day 2007 |
1.
S-199 Avia + Spitfire Mk.9e: 1/72 AML S-199 Avia in markings of the 101
squadron; D-121 credit with the downing of an REAF Spitfire. 1/72 Hasegawa
Spitfire Mk.9e in 101 squadron markings; Spitfire no.14 is credited with
downing an REAF Macci
205. |
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images below to see larger images |
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2.
P-51D Mustang + T-6 Texan: 1/72 Italeri P-51D is shown in late 1948 war
markings of the 101 squadron. Mustang no.41 is credited with downing two
enemy aircraft. 1/72 Academy T-6 Texan is shown in late 1948 war markings,
when it was used by the IAF as a dive bomber. |
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3. Meteor
FR.9 + Mosquito Mk.6: 1/72 Aeroclub Meteor Mk.9 is shown in First
Jet squadron markings. In 1955, Meteor no.36 was credited with
downing two Egyptian air force DH Vampires. 1/72 Tamiya Mosquito
Mk.6 is shown in Knights of the North squadron markings. Both the
Meteor and the Mosquito operated from Ramat David air base and both
had high speed silver finish. |
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4.
P-51D Mustang + T-6 Texan: 1/72 Italeri P-51D is shown in 1956 Suez war
markings of the Flying Wing reserve pilot squadron. Mustang no.19 was
amongst the first IAF planes to cross the Sinai in an effort to cut
Egyptian Army telephone lines. It was downed in the sands of Suez. 1/72
Academy T-6 Texan is shown in 1956 Suez war markings, when it was used by
the IAF as a flare dropper for B-17 bombers. |
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5.
Ouragan + Mystere IV: 1/72 Heller Ouragan is shown in IAF Suez war
markings along with 1/72 Matchbox Mystere IV. The Ouragan was the jet
supplied to the IAF by France. The Mystere IV was delivered to the IAF
only a short time prior to the October 1956 Suez War. IAF Mystere's
accounted for seven REAF jets downed during the Suez War. The Ouragan
carries kill markings acquired prior to the outbreak of the Suez War,
while the Mystere acquired it's kill markings during the Suez War. |
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6.
Ouragan + Super Mystere: 1/72 Airfix Super Mystere is shown in the
markings of the Scorpion squadron. The Super Mystere was the IAF's first
super sonic fighter plane with performance similar to that of the F-100
Super Saber. The Super Mystere was the IAF's primary interceptor from 1958
to April 1962 when it was replaced in the intercept roll by the Mirage
IIIC. 1/72 Heller Ouragan is shown in the gaudy post Suez War markings of
the Hornet squadron. The similarity in the shape of the Arab operated
MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19 and the opposing IAF Ouragan, Mystere IV and Super
Mystere led the IAF to add the gaudy markings shown on this pair. |
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7.
AT-16 Harvard + Sikorski S-58 helicopter: 1/72 Academy T-6 Texan is
shown converted to an AT-16 Harvard trainer shown in late 1950's
trainer markings. Alongside the Harvard is Italeri's 1/72 H-34
helicopter painted in air ambulance markings. |
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8.
Mirage IIIC + Mystere IV: 1/72 Matchbox Mystere IV is shown in high speed
gloss brown and blue over gray scheme applied to IAF jets just prior to
the outbreak of the June 5, 1967 Six Day war. Mystere IV no.52 of the
Flying Wing squadron is credited in downing a Jordanian Hunter during an
unplanned raid. 1/72 AML Mirage IIIC no.59 is the first airplane in the
world to be credited with downing a MiG-21. Mirage no.59 is one of two IAF
Mirage IIIC fighters to be credited in downing 13 enemy aircraft. |
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9.
Ouragan + Mystere IV: 1/72 Heller Ouragan is shown in post-67 war colors
alongside with 1/72 Matchbox Mystere IV. During the Suez War, Israel
doubled its territory with the acquisition of the Sinai desert. Only days
after the Six Day War, Egypt commenced with daily artillery bombardment of
IDF outposts along the Suez Canal. To answer Egyptian bombardment along
the cease fire lines, IAF attack planes were used as flying artillery. The
topography of the Sinai no longer lent itself to the brown & blue top
surface scheme used on IAF attack planes up to that date. |
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10.
F-4E Phantom + A-4H Skyhawk: 1/72 Fujimi A-4 Skyhawk is shown in War of
Attrition markings. In May 1970 A-4H no.03 of the Valley squadron was
credited in downing two Syrian MiG-17's; one with Zuni rockets and the
seconds using 30mm rounds of DEFA guns fitted to it at the time. 1/72
Revell F-4E is shown in Ahat squadron markings. Kornass no.08 was the
first IAF Phantom to down an enemy fighter – an Egyptian air force
MiG-21 using an AIM-9B version of the Sidewinder. |
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11.
F-4E Phantom + Mirage V "Nesher": 1/72 Hasegawa F-4E is shown in
post-1973 war markings of the Ahat squadron. F-4E no.609 was the Phantom
with the highest number of kills in the world, seven. In 1974 this
airplane was lost in a training mission. Heller Mirage IIIe/V is shown in
Nesher no.18 markings of the First Fighter Squadron. IAF Mirage and SAAR
version of the Super Mystere were painted with large yellow and black
markings once Libyan Mirage V's were spotted attacking IDF forces crossing
the Suez Canal. Nesher no.18 was one of two IAF Neshers credited in
downing a Libyan Mirage V during the Yom Kippur war. The yellow and black
markings were retained until the advent of Compass Ghost Gray color scheme
introduced with the arrival of the F-15 Eagle. |
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12.
Mirage + Kfir: 1/72 AML Mirage IIIC recon is shown in mid-1970's colors
alongside 1/72 Hasegawa Kfir C2. The Kfir and recon versions of the Mirage
IIIC were operated by the First Fighter squadron during the Mid 1970's
until Kfir C2's replaced the Mirage in the tactical recon roll. |
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13.
F-4E + A-4F: 1/72 Hasegawa F-4E is shown in 1982 Hammer squadron markings.
All F-4E's received as attrition replacements during the 1973-War were
transferred to the Hammer squadron. The Phantoms of this squadron were
unique in being able to launch optically guided Maverick missiles; which
were put to use in destroying Syrian missile batteries advanced into the
Bekka Valley during the 1982 Lebanon War. 1/72 Fujimi A-4 is shown built
as an A-4F Skyhawk in Battering Ram squadron markings. The Battering Ram's
used the A-4F's capabilities to launch AGM-45 Shrike radar homing
missiles. |
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14.
Kfir C2 + F-15A: 1/72 Academy F-15A is shown built as a 1982 vintage
"Baz". On February 13, 1981 Baz no.672 became the first F-15
Eagle to down a MiG-25. Baz no.672 received the nickname
"Tornado" later that year. Prior to the arrival of the F-16A
Fighting Falcon in July 1980, the IAI manufactured Kfir filled the low end
of the high-low fighter concept. First Fighter squadron Kfir C2 no.874 was
the only IAF Kfir to be credited with an air to air kill; a kill which it
attained on June 27, 1979 in downing a Syrian MiG-21MF. |
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15.
A-4H + F-16A: 1/72 Hasegawa F-16A shown depicts "Netz" no.112 of
the First Jet squadron in 1982 Lebanon War markings. On April 28, 1981 the
IAF's youngest F-16 pilot became the first pilot to down an enemy aircraft
using the F-16, a Syrian MiL-8 assault helicopter using the aircraft's
20mm Vulcan canon. 1/72 Fujimi A-4 is shown depicted as A-4H no.272 of the
Flying Tiger squadron in 1982 Lebanon War markings. The ship kill dates
back to the war of attrition when it was credited in sinking an Egyptian
mine layer. The Flying Tigers are still using the A-4 Skyhawk in the
advanced pilot training role. |
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16.
Bell 212 "Anafa" + Sikorski UH-60A "Yanshuf": 1/72
Italeri UH-1N is shown in Southern Assault helicopter squadron f.s.30145
brown while 1/72 Hasegawa UH-60A is shown in the Northern Assault
helicopter squadron f.s.34031 green markings. Between August 1994 and May
1998, during the first Intifada, and April 1996 Grapes of Wrath the Anafa
and Yanshuf operated together in both squadrons in transporting troops
into the battle field and back, at times to the closest hospital. |
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17.
Hasegawa Kfir + Hasegawa F-16A: Kfir C7 is shown in Arava squadron F-16
colors and squadron markings used between 1983 and 1994. Between August
1994 and January 1995 the IAF received fifty surplus US National Guard
F-16A's. These F-16A/B Netz airframes retained their original US Gray
scheme during 1996 Grapes of Wrath operation and enabled the IAF to retire
their Kfir from service. |
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18.
Hasegawa 1/72 AH-1S + AMT 1/72 AH-64A: In October 12, 2000 the
Palestinians initiated Intifada Al Aqsa with the first two victims being
two reserve soldiers who were abducted to a Ramala jail and lynched by
their captures. Hours later Cobras of the first Cobra squadron destroyed
the jail using TOW missiles and Apache helicopters destroyed PLA MiL-8
helicopters. |
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19.
Revell 1/72 F-16C + Revell 1/72 F-16B / IsraCast F-16i conversion: On the
morning of July 12, 2006 Iranian backed Hezbollah troops infiltrated the
international border fence between Lebanon and Israel, ambushed an Israeli
Hummer patrol killing three reserve soldiers and abducting two others into
Lebanese territory. An IDF Merkava-2 tank in pursuit of the abductors ran
over an explosive charge that penetrated its belly armor, killing its four
crew members. What followed were 33 days that were to be known as the
Second Lebanon War. The Second Lebanon War was the F-16i Sufa's first
combat début and the F-16C Barak's first kill; where two hostile bomb
laden Ababil UAV's were downed. |
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Yoav
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Photos and text ©
by Yoav
Efrati
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