The Palmach's Air Platoon
The Palmach's Air Platoon, essentially an infantry force, was set up in 1943 and was intended to combine with the Brigade's forces and military functions. This was the situation until October 1947, when the Platoon combined with the Air Service which later became the Air force.
The Palmach's Air Platoon, essentially an infantry force, was set up in 1943 and was intended to combine with the Brigade's forces and military functions. This was the situation until October 1947, when the platoon combined with the Air Service which later became the Air force. The platoon was equipped with gliders and small old air crafts called 'Primuses’. The setting up of the platoon expressed the Palmach's organizational perception which viewed the Brigade as a whole military framework that allocated forces to all military occupations (such as the marines, the air force and the scouts). The initiative of a group of friends, who hoped to realize their own aspirations by setting up an air force, served as the main catalyst which urged the Palmach headquarters to invest in the air force.
In the beginning of 1945 the platoon completed its first forming phase and was combined with Company G. Later it was subordinated to the Fourth Battalion. The platoon’s first pilots received their basic training in 'Aviron' company. They and other pilots who later joined the platoon, amounted to a few dozens.
In the course of its activity the platoon trained thirty four pilots, twenty four of whom remained eventually in the I.D.F's air force. The rest resigned for different reasons. The platoon's first commander was Pinchas (Pinile) Ben- Porat, who was followed by Shlomo Miler, Ya'akov Ben Haim, and Isa'ac Bodnik (Yavne). The platoon was situated in Kibbutz Na'an near Lod Airport, except for a short time during which it was situated in Kibbutz Mishmar Hae'mek, in the beginning of 1945.
The Air Platoon had to function under very difficult conditions; the limited budget, the few, old- fashioned aircrafts, the lack of authorized flight instructors in addition to the heavy British supervision on all the flight installations in Israel, which restricted the training as well as the actual access to the aircrafts and the required accessories, all limited its operations. The underground Palmach activity disguised itself with the pilots’ civil activity. This was the reality that dictated the platoon's operational character and prevented it from executing military missions such as air combat and attacking targets beyond the border.
The limited objective options made it difficult for the Palmach to define the platoon's goals, despite the wish to develop the combat flight. The platoon represented a pioneering attempt which aimed also to develop the Hagana's awareness of the necessity of setting up a combat fighting force. In time, the platoon’s limited but vital goals were defined. In the framework of gliding – the platoon was to ready train its men in flying motors, landing and remaining in air, to sort out the candidates for motor flying and the usage of towed gliders as a means of transportation. In the framework of motor flying, the platoon prepared flight teams so that they would be able to fly smarter aircrafts when the time comes, and to be able to operate them within the limits of their technical abilities; to patrol, shoot air photos and primitively bomb an enemy which is not equipped with modern technology.
Towards the end of 1946 the Palmach pilots began their actual operational activity and engaged in air photos and escorting the Brigade’s men on operations. These were to be their main functions. The platoon's pilots were very active in the War, especially until the combat planes and the 'flying fortresses' arrived on the scene. Then the platoon was already a part of the Air service.
In fact, the Air Platoon was the first of the Palmach's units to be detached from the Brigade's framework. On October 1947, following the Hagana headquarters’ order, the Palmach was forced to give up the platoon, admitting that the flight department was a complex field which required its own independent system. During the War of Independence the platoon's men operated in a twofold framework; in the Galilee squadron and in the Negev squadron.
In the beginning of 1945 the platoon completed its first forming phase and was combined with Company G. Later it was subordinated to the Fourth Battalion. The platoon’s first pilots received their basic training in 'Aviron' company. They and other pilots who later joined the platoon, amounted to a few dozens.
In the course of its activity the platoon trained thirty four pilots, twenty four of whom remained eventually in the I.D.F's air force. The rest resigned for different reasons. The platoon's first commander was Pinchas (Pinile) Ben- Porat, who was followed by Shlomo Miler, Ya'akov Ben Haim, and Isa'ac Bodnik (Yavne). The platoon was situated in Kibbutz Na'an near Lod Airport, except for a short time during which it was situated in Kibbutz Mishmar Hae'mek, in the beginning of 1945.
The Air Platoon had to function under very difficult conditions; the limited budget, the few, old- fashioned aircrafts, the lack of authorized flight instructors in addition to the heavy British supervision on all the flight installations in Israel, which restricted the training as well as the actual access to the aircrafts and the required accessories, all limited its operations. The underground Palmach activity disguised itself with the pilots’ civil activity. This was the reality that dictated the platoon's operational character and prevented it from executing military missions such as air combat and attacking targets beyond the border.
The limited objective options made it difficult for the Palmach to define the platoon's goals, despite the wish to develop the combat flight. The platoon represented a pioneering attempt which aimed also to develop the Hagana's awareness of the necessity of setting up a combat fighting force. In time, the platoon’s limited but vital goals were defined. In the framework of gliding – the platoon was to ready train its men in flying motors, landing and remaining in air, to sort out the candidates for motor flying and the usage of towed gliders as a means of transportation. In the framework of motor flying, the platoon prepared flight teams so that they would be able to fly smarter aircrafts when the time comes, and to be able to operate them within the limits of their technical abilities; to patrol, shoot air photos and primitively bomb an enemy which is not equipped with modern technology.
Towards the end of 1946 the Palmach pilots began their actual operational activity and engaged in air photos and escorting the Brigade’s men on operations. These were to be their main functions. The platoon's pilots were very active in the War, especially until the combat planes and the 'flying fortresses' arrived on the scene. Then the platoon was already a part of the Air service.
In fact, the Air Platoon was the first of the Palmach's units to be detached from the Brigade's framework. On October 1947, following the Hagana headquarters’ order, the Palmach was forced to give up the platoon, admitting that the flight department was a complex field which required its own independent system. During the War of Independence the platoon's men operated in a twofold framework; in the Galilee squadron and in the Negev squadron.