Operation "Avak" (Dust)
As the siege on the Negev continued it became clear that the existing provision flights were not sufficient. During operation "Avak" cargo planes landed thousands of tones of provisions in the airfield near Ruhama.
The Negev Brigade - 2
On the 18th of August Ben –Gurion held a meeting with general staff and air force command concerning the failure to reopen the road leading to the Negev, during which they decided to fly the provisions to the Negev instead. The Air Force intended to fly 60-80 tons every night. It took The 'Negev' Brigade 5 days to prepare a 1,180 m long and 35m wide landing strip between Ruhama and Shoval and air force confirmed that it was suitable for the landing of DC-4 planes capable of carrying up to 30 tons. A flattened strip of Negev loess land served as the landing strip which was covered with dust each time a plane landed, hence the operation's name 'Avak' ( dust) and the airfield was named 'Avak 1'.
The landing strip that was located at the edge of the area occupied by the 'Negev' Brigade was under the constant threat of Abu-Jaber. The 9th battalion, who guarded the landing strip and its surrounding areas both day and night, was replaced by The 'Yiftah' Brigade who occupied the army posts east and south of the airfield. The Egyptians attacked the posts during the Hirbet Ma'ahaz battle in September.
'Avak' strip no.2 was prepared in the Emara airfield. On th,e 10th 0f October, 1948, the airfield started operating and was shut down after the road to the Negev was reopened
10 days later.
General Staff\ Quartermaster branch appointed a special officer in charge of the provisions flown to the Negev. On the 17th of August, Ekron (Tel-Nof) airfield started functioning as the main cargo airfield. The operation included 10 aircraft: 2 'Skymaster' planes, 7 'Commando' planes (DC-4), one 'Dakota' plane (DC-3) and 15 air crews comprised of 15 pilots, 12 co-pilots, 6 navigators, 13 radio technicians and 2 engineers.
The operation lasted from the 23rd of August till the 21st of October, during which approximately 834 cargo flights were made back and forth from Ekron to the Negev. 2,495 tons of cargo and 5,098 passengers were transferred during the operation including: 520 tons of food supplies, 500 tons of oils and fuel and 200 tons of munitions and animal supplies.
The landing strip that was located at the edge of the area occupied by the 'Negev' Brigade was under the constant threat of Abu-Jaber. The 9th battalion, who guarded the landing strip and its surrounding areas both day and night, was replaced by The 'Yiftah' Brigade who occupied the army posts east and south of the airfield. The Egyptians attacked the posts during the Hirbet Ma'ahaz battle in September.
'Avak' strip no.2 was prepared in the Emara airfield. On th,e 10th 0f October, 1948, the airfield started operating and was shut down after the road to the Negev was reopened
10 days later.
General Staff\ Quartermaster branch appointed a special officer in charge of the provisions flown to the Negev. On the 17th of August, Ekron (Tel-Nof) airfield started functioning as the main cargo airfield. The operation included 10 aircraft: 2 'Skymaster' planes, 7 'Commando' planes (DC-4), one 'Dakota' plane (DC-3) and 15 air crews comprised of 15 pilots, 12 co-pilots, 6 navigators, 13 radio technicians and 2 engineers.
The operation lasted from the 23rd of August till the 21st of October, during which approximately 834 cargo flights were made back and forth from Ekron to the Negev. 2,495 tons of cargo and 5,098 passengers were transferred during the operation including: 520 tons of food supplies, 500 tons of oils and fuel and 200 tons of munitions and animal supplies.