Auster J/1 Autocrat and A.O.P. 3/5
Five J/1 Autocrat (Blackburn Cirrus Minor 2 in-line engine) obtained from civil sources in early 1946. To Sherut Avir November 1947.

Eighteen A.O.P. 5 (Lycoming O-290-3/1 opposed engine) and 2 A.O.P. 3 purchased by Aviron from RAF scrapheap at Tel Nof 14 January 1947 and 13+ aircraft restored to flying condition. First delivered late Feb 1948. Used by Palmach Flying platoon, Tel Aviv, Galilee and Negev Squadrons for supply, recce. and light attack roles. At least one AOP.5 re-engined with Gipsy Major I engine.

Multiple re-use of civil registrations to disguise covert operations - 9 x VQ-PAI, 2 x VQ-PAJ, 2 x VQ-PAS. 9 in use on 9 September 1948 - 4 operational and 5 in repair. Last example withdrawn when? No Hebrew name given.

Serial	c/no.	Prev. Identity	Delivered	Fate/Notes
VQ-PAS/1				Auster 3, to A-1, damaged 16(17?) May 1948 in Egyptian AF attack on Sde Dov
VQ-PAI/2				Auster 5, to A-2, crashed ? date
VQ-PAL/3				Auster 5, w/o 15 May 1948 after Egyptian AF attack on Sde Dov
VQ-PAJ/3				Auster 5, to A-3, to 0101
VQ-PAI/4				Auster 5, to A-4 Negev Sqn, to 0102
VQ-PAS/5				Auster, damaged 26 Mar 1948 by AA fire - forced landed Ramat Rachel
VQ-PAI/5				Auster 5, to A-5, to 0105, crashed June/July 1948
VQ-PAI/6				Auster 5, to A-6, to 0104, crashed June/July 1949
VQ-PAS/7				Auster 3, to A-7, to 0105
VQ-PAJ/8				Auster 5, to A-8, crashed 8 May 1948
VQ-PAI/9				Auster 5, to A-9 Negev Sqn, shot down 7 July 1948 near Lydda
VQ-PAI/10				Auster 5, to A-10 Galilee Sqn July 48, to 0106 Negev Sqn, landing accident 13 Aug 1948 at Sde Dov, w/o in crash at Beersheba 5 Jan 1949
VQ-PAI/11				Auster 5, to A-11 Galilee Sqn July 48, to 0107
VQ-PAI/12				Auster 5, to A-12 Tel Aviv Sqn, crashed into house just after t/o 3 Aug 1948 near Jerusalem
?				Auster 3, to A-13 Tel Aviv Sqn, crashed 26 June 1948
VQ-PAI/14				Auster 5, to A-14, to 0108
A-15				Auster 5, Galilee Sqn July 48, to 0109
A-16				Auster 5, to 0110
A-17				Auster 5, to 0111
A-18				Auster 5, to 0112
A-19				Auster 5, to 0113
A-20				Auster 5, to 0114
A-31				Auster, damaged 16(17?) May 1948 in Egyptian AF attack on Sde Dov
VQ-PAS	2024	G-AHHV		J/1, UK register 2.7.46, to Palestine 7.46 with Aviron, to Sherut Avir Nov 1947, A-32, to 0115
VQ-?	1956	G-AHAY		J/1, first registered 15.4.1946.
VQ-?				J/1
VQ-?				J/1
VQ-?				J/1
		TJ365		A.O.P. 5
		TJ405		A.O.P. 5
		TJ407		A.O.P. 5
		TJ436		A.O.P. 5
		TJ437		A.O.P. 5
		TJ452		A.O.P. 5
		TJ454		A.O.P. 5
		TJ461		A.O.P. 5
		TJ463		A.O.P. 5
		TJ464		A.O.P. 5
		TJ477		A.O.P. 5
		TJ483		A.O.P. 5
		TJ484		A.O.P. 5
		TJ486		A.O.P. 5
		TJ505		A.O.P. 5
				A.O.P. 3
				A.O.P. 3

References:

• Spitfires Over Israel
• BIAF May 1995