The Galilee Squadron
The Israeli air force began to organize at the beginning of 1948 having at its disposal several light training planes. In February 1948, 20 light 'Auster' planes were acquired from the scrap storehouses of the British air force. They immediately began restoring the planes and preparing them for flight. Restoration and preparation of the planes for operational flights were begun immediately. The pilots were: Palmach members, the aviation unit and Jewish pilots who had served in the British and American air forces during the Second World War.
The Israeli Airforce began to organize at the beginning of 1948 having at its disposal several light training planes. In February 1948, 20 light 'Auster' planes were acquired from the scrap storehouses of the British air force. They immediately began restoring the planes and preparing them for flight. Restoration and preparation of the planes for operational flights were begun immediately.
The pilots were members of the Palmach, the flight unit and Jewish pilots who had served in the British and American air forces during the Second World War.
When the 'Golani' Brigade was established at the beginning of January 1948, the pilots' operations in the north were integrated into the framework of the brigade. Their first base was the abandoned British airport at Machnayim .but after a while it was decided to transfer it to Bik'at Yavniel because the 'Golani' headquarters was situated in that area and the site was suitable for an airstrip. On the 16.1.1948, the first Israeli Air Force plane landed there.
At the beginning, the squadron performed reconnaissance, observation and aerial photography flights only. They also transported supplies to isolated settlements. After one plane was transferred to the Negev, the pilots from the Galilee in the squadron decided to establish a new squadron that would serve the security requirements of the Galilee. In the middle of March 1948, pressure was brought to bear on the authorities until permission was granted by the acting commander of the air force, Aharon Remez.
Pesach (Poosy) Tolchinsky (from Kfar Giladi), Peretz Groser (from Ashdod Yaakov), Moshe Feldman-Peled and Daniel Bukstein (until he was killed on 10.5.1948), were active in acquiring the authorization and the equipment. After they received authorization for three planes (two 'Osters' and one 'Tylorcraft ') they also received two aircraft mechanics (Menachem Levi and Shmuel Brookes) and they began to acquire tools and spare parts.
The pilots were members of the Palmach, the flight unit and Jewish pilots who had served in the British and American air forces during the Second World War.
When the 'Golani' Brigade was established at the beginning of January 1948, the pilots' operations in the north were integrated into the framework of the brigade. Their first base was the abandoned British airport at Machnayim .but after a while it was decided to transfer it to Bik'at Yavniel because the 'Golani' headquarters was situated in that area and the site was suitable for an airstrip. On the 16.1.1948, the first Israeli Air Force plane landed there.
At the beginning, the squadron performed reconnaissance, observation and aerial photography flights only. They also transported supplies to isolated settlements. After one plane was transferred to the Negev, the pilots from the Galilee in the squadron decided to establish a new squadron that would serve the security requirements of the Galilee. In the middle of March 1948, pressure was brought to bear on the authorities until permission was granted by the acting commander of the air force, Aharon Remez.
Pesach (Poosy) Tolchinsky (from Kfar Giladi), Peretz Groser (from Ashdod Yaakov), Moshe Feldman-Peled and Daniel Bukstein (until he was killed on 10.5.1948), were active in acquiring the authorization and the equipment. After they received authorization for three planes (two 'Osters' and one 'Tylorcraft ') they also received two aircraft mechanics (Menachem Levi and Shmuel Brookes) and they began to acquire tools and spare parts.