Galilee Squadron
This page is subject to the extended confirmed restriction related to the Arab-Israeli conflict.The Galilee Squadron (Hebrew: טייסת הגליל, Tayeset Ha-Galil) was an aerial unit established by the Yeshuv (Jewish residents of Palestine) during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War to assist the Jewish war effort in northern Palestine.
Initially a part of the Sherut Avir, the aerial arm of the Haganah, it was absorbed into the fledgling Israeli Air Force (IAF) upon the latter's formation on 28 May 1948.
On 10 November 1947, with the impending decision on the partition of Palestine and the increasing likelihood of violent confrontations with their Arab neighbours, the leadership of the Yeshuv announced the establishment of the Sherut Avir (SA, Air Service).
Operating a collection of light aircraft from Sde Dov outside Tel Aviv, the SA flew supply, communications, observation and medical evacuation flights, and occasionally even participated in combat.
Soon new detachments were deployed to the Negev and the Galilee,[2] where several aircraft begun operating from the former RAF landing ground at Mahanayim in support of the newly formed Golani Brigade.
[4] On 4 April, with Mishmar HaEmek under assault from Fawzi al-Qawuqji's Arab Liberation Army (ALA), the squadron flew its first sorties, with Golani observers on board.
The battle, in which the ALA was repulsed and neighbouring Palestinian villages taken, signaled a change of policy for Jewish forces in the north, and these now went on the offensive.
[5] On 27 April, an Auster Autocrat assisted a Haganah force take control of the evacuated British Tegart fort at Samakh.
Although not particularly powerful, the SAF fielded the North American Harvard and Avro Anson aircraft in the attack and bombing roles.
[14] Shortly before the first truce of the war went into effect on 11 June, the squadron helped repulse an ALA assault on the town of Sejera and bombed the nearby village of Lubya.
[13] When fighting resumed on 9 July, Israel's primary objectives were the expulsion of the Arab Liberation Army and Syrian forces from the Galilee.
[18] Two Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) operations were therefore put into motion, Dekel (Palm Tree) in the eastern Galilee and Brosh (Cypress) in the west, with the squadron supporting both.
[22][23][24] In late November 1948, the coming of winter and the poor state of the airfield at Yavne'el once again prompted the squadron to relocate to Ramat David.
