Israel Air Force Victories
Date Pilot Aircraft Kill Country
03-Jun-48 Modi Allon Avia S 199 C-47 Egypt
03-Jun-48 Modi Allon Avia S 199 C-47 Egypt
08-Jun-48 Gideon Lichtaman Avia S 199 Spitfire Egypt
10-Jul-48 Morris Mann Avia S 199 AT-6 Syria
18-Jul-48 Modi Allon Avia S 199 Spitfire Egypt
23-Sep-48 Gideon Lichtaman Avia S 199 Rapide Jordan
16-Oct-48 Rudi Augarten Avia S 199 Spitfire Egypt
19-Oct-48 Len Fitchett Beaufighter Fury Egypt
21-Oct-48 Rudy Augarten Spitfire IX Spitfire Egypt
21-Oct-48 John Doyle Spitfire IX Spitfire Egypt
04-Nov-48 Boris Senior Spitfire IX C-47 Egypt
04-Nov-48 Rudy Augarten Spitfire IX
17-Nov-48 Rudy Augarten Spitfire IX Spitfire Egypt
20-Nov-48 Wayne Peak P-51D Mosquito Britain
22-Dec-48 Rudy Augarten Spitfire IX MC.205V Egypt
28-Dec-48 John Doyle Spitfire IX MC.205V Egypt
28-Dec-48 Gordon Levett Spitfire IX MC.205V Egypt
28-Dec-48 Gordon Levett Spitfire IX Spitfire Egypt
30-Dec-48 John Doyle Spitfire IX MC.205V Egypt
30-Dec-48 John McElroy Spitfire IX MC.205V Egypt
31-Dec-48 Denny Wilson Spitfire IX MC.205V Egypt
31-Dec-48 Denny Wilson Spitfire IX Spitfire Egypt
05-Jan-49 Simon Feldman Spitfire IX MC.205V Egypt
05-Jan-49 Boris Senior P-51D MC.205V Egypt
07-Jan-49 Chalmers Goodlin Spitfire IX Spitfire Britain
07-Jan-49 John McElroy Spitfire IX Spitfire Britain
07-Jan-49 John McElroy Spitfire IX Spitfire Britain
07-Jan-49 John Doyle P-51D MC.205V Egypt
07-Jan-49 Boris Senior P-51D MC.205V Egypt
07-Jan-49 William Schroeder Spitfire IX Tempest Britain
Explination for RAF losses;
On 3rd February 1947, Operation 'Polly' began with Halifaxes of No.113 Squadron evacuating non-essential civilians from Aqir. It was another year before the British troops began their withdrawal. The RAF's role was now to cover the final withdrawal and to take no part in what was now to all intents and purposes a full-scale Arab/Jewish war. The Union Jack was finally lowered in Palestine on 14th May 1948. The next day the independent state of Israel was proclaimed. Within hours, Spitfire IXs of the Royal Egyptian Air Force attacked Tel Aviv and Sde Nov Airfield. One of their aircraft was lost to ground fire, salvaged and subsequently used by the newly created Israeli Air Force.
On the morning of 22nd May, REAF Spitfires attacked Ramat David Airfield where the RAF was still in occupation to cover the final withdrawal of the remaining British forces. Five Spitfires were destroyed on the ground and four airmen killed. Another Spitfire was written off when it crashed during takeoff. RAF Spitfires of a No.208 Squadron detachment shot two of the Egyptian attackers down and a third was lost to fire from Corporal Farent of 52 Rifle Squadron, RAF Regiment with a Bren gun. The Egyptians eventually apologized for the 'unfortunate incident' and explained the error by claiming that they thought the airfield had been taken over by the Israelis. A few days later the RAF left Palestine forever.
Then a full-scale Arab/Israeli war began in earnest with both sides using British aircraft of various types. Various UN negotiated truces punctuated the fighting and in the end the British Government sent the Israelis an ultimatum, backed by the United States, for them to withdraw from the Egyptian territory they had captured. On the 7th January 1949, British and Israeli relations took a turn for the worst when one of four Spitfires flying a border patrol looking for Israeli incursions was hit by anti-aircraft fire directed from Israel, damaging it enough to force the pilot to bale out. While his colleagues were circling to make sure he landed safely, Israeli Spitfires jumped them and shot them down. Two of the pilots were captured, one killed and another was picked up by Bedouins who returned him to his base. When the Spitfires were declared overdue a total of 17 Tempests were sent to look for them. A flight of four crossed into Israeli territory to search for them and was in turn attacked by Israeli Spitfires, which shot one down, killing the pilot, and damaged another. It transpired that many of the Tempests' guns had not been cocked. The ceasefire came into effect later that day.
