Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter ('?')
Six unused ex-RAF war surplus Mk.X aircraft were serviced at Ringway in the UK by the Fairey Aviation Co. Ltd during April 1947, for private sale as G-AJMB to G-AJMG. All but 'MF were sold to R. Dickson and partners (a film company) and flown to Thame in July 1948. Delivery to Israel took place during July-August 1948. (These aircraft were built in the 'Shadow' factory at Weston-Super-Mare and not by Bristol, and so don't appear in the Bristol c/n list). First aircraft departed UK 29 July 1948. Armament fitted on delivery. Used by 'B' Flight of 103 sqn for the ground attack role. All withdrawn by November 1948. Serial range 2201+ reserved for any survivors. Hebrew name not known.

Serial	c/no.	Prev. Identity	Delivered	Fate/Notes
D-170		RD135/G-AJMB	July-Aug 1948	103 sqn, withdrawn Nov 1948
D-171		RD448/G-AJMC	July-Aug 1948	103 sqn, shot down near Iraq al Suweidan 20 Oct 1948
D-172		RD427/G-AJMD	July-Aug 1948	103 sqn, withdrawn Nov 1948
-		ND929/G-AJME	Not delivered	Crashed on approach to Thame UK 28.7.48, killing the pilot
-		NV306/G-AJMF	Not delivered	Scrapped at Ringway 1948? Used as spares source.
D-173		LZ185/G-AJMG	July-Aug 1948	103 sqn, landing accident after its first flight in Israel, reduced to spares and w/o by 9 Sept 1948

References:

• British Civil Aircraft 1919-1972 Vol. II (A. J. Jackson)
• Spitfires Over Israel (Brian Cull et al)

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina ('?')
Three PBY-5A obtained from the USA in 1951. Used by 103 sqn for maritime patrol duties, to counter any potential Arab naval threat. Based mainly at Hatzor, with some operations from Haifa. Withdrawn in 1956. Originally delivered unarmed, with non-standard domed nose-turrets, but later equipped with machine guns in the waist blisters. One aircraft sold to the USA in the mid 1950s. Hebrew name not known.

Serial	c/no.	Prev. Identity	Delivered	Fate/Notes
01?			1951
02			1951
03			1951

References:

• Wings Over Suez (Brian Cull et al)

Curtiss C-46 Commando ('?')
Five ex-USAAF C-46A models acquired from the US War Assets Administration in 1947. First refurbished aircraft flown 28 Feb 1948 for use under the cover name of 'Service Airways', with delivery stop-over in Italy for fitting of long range fuel tanks. Arrived 9 March 1948. Remainder delivered from USA (left USA 10 Apr 1948) via Panama and Zatec (Czechoslovakia) in May 1948. 5 more C-46 acquired early 1948 from War Assets Admin. Left USA 14 April 1948 via Mexico to Panama. 7 aircraft in use by 9 September 1948. Used by 106 sqn of LATA for cargo transport. Aircraft initially registered to Panamanian airline LAPSA. Withdrawn and passed to EL AL in 1953. Hebrew name not known.

Serial	c/no.	Prev. Identity	Delivered	Fate/Notes
			Sept 47	taken over by Haganah from Leo Wessenberg
RX-130			23 May 48	Interned on Rhodes 24 May 48, for 2 years, to 1701
RX-131				to 1702
RX-132		NX67923	3 May 48	Service Awys, delivered via Italy. Damaged 16 May 1948 by Egyptian AF attack on Tel Nof
RX-133			3 July 1948	w/o 4 July 1948 Tel Nof during refuelling for return flight to Zatec.
RX-?	30202			to 4X-ACT regd 24 Jan 1950, with EL AL
RX-135			16 May 48
RX-136				w/o 23 May 48 near Tel Nof
RX-137			May 48
RX-138			16 May 48
RX-139				w/o 14 Apr 48, Mexico City
1702	26805			to 4X-AEF regd 12 Mar 1952, with EL AL
1703	33271			to 4X-AQD regd 28 Jul 1950, with EL AL
1705	26809			to 4X-ALA regd 4 Apr 1952, with EL AL
1707	26532			to 4X-ACE regd 24 Jan 1950, with EL AL
1708	30575			to 4X-ACG regd 10 Nov 1948, with EL AL, w/o 26 June 1949 at Avraham on air force mission
1709	33452			to 4X-AQE regd 28 July 1950, with EL AL

References:

• Spitfires Over Israel (Brian Cull et al)
• Air International December 1999

Fairchild F-24R Argus ('?')
Three examples purchased in South Africa in 1948 by Boris Senior. One civil F-24R captured and impressed into the Sherut Avir in April 1948. Used by ? sqn for light bomber role. One aircraft in use and one in repair 9 Sept 1948. Survivors reserialled in the 0501+ range. Hebrew name not known.

Serial	c/no.	Prev. Identity	Delivered	Fate/Notes
VQ-PAM/1		SU-ADR	Apr 48	originally Egypt Air Transport Company, B-30, to Galilee Sqn, later 0501? rolled on t/o 10 June 48 at Yavneel
		ZS-BBB	15 May 48	was 44-93192, KK535
		ZS-BBC	15 May 48	was 44-83131, KK474
		ZS-BBD	16 May 48	was 44-83152, KK495
B-31			ZS-BB?	w/o 6 June 48 at Sde Dov when bomb accidently exploded
B-32			ZS-BB?	Tel Aviv Sqn as /E, shot down 4 June 48 off Tel Aviv coast.
/G				with Tel Aviv Sqn 28 May 1948
B-33				Tel Aviv Sqn, w/o 14 Aug 1948 - forced down by Egyptian fighters near Gaza
B-34				to 0502, but not serviceable?

References:

• Spitfires Over Israel (Brian Cull et al)
• BIAF May 1995

GAC Gulfstream V/550 ('Nachshon')
Three G-1159D Gulfstream V ('Nachshon Shavit' = Pioneer Comet) ordered April 2003. Delivered from June 2005. Used by 122 sqn as SIGINT and ELINT platforms. Four Gulfstream 550 ('Nachshon Etam' = Pioneer Fish Eagle) ordered April 2003. Delivered from 2006. Used by 122 sqn as AEW&C platforms.

Serial	c/no.	Prev. Identity	Delivered	Fate/Notes
	676	N676GA		noted Savannah Apr 2006
	679	N679GA	June 2005
	684	N684GA	Feb 2006
	5014	N914GA		noted Savannah Feb 2006
	5037	N637GA		noted Savannah Feb 2006
	5044	N944GA		noted Savannah Feb 2006
	5069	N969GA		noted Savannah Feb 2006

References:

• World Air Forces Directory 2006/07 (Mach III)

Miles M.57 Aerovan ('?')
Two Aerovan 4 obtained from UK or South Africa in 1948. Used by ? sqn for Air Ambulance/Utility Transport duties. Last aircraft withdrawn when? Hebrew name not known.

Serial	c/no.	Prev. Identity	Delivered	Fate/Notes
B-71		G-AJWI	June 1948	Tel Aviv Sqn, w/o 17 July 1948 in forced landing near Nabi Rubin

References:

• Spitfires Over Israel (Brian Cull et al)
• BIAF May 1995

Miles M.65 Gemini ('?')
One Gemini 1A aircraft delivered May 1948. Used by ? sqn for ? duties. Withdrawn when? Hebrew name not known. One aircraft donated to civil industry and one aircraft operated abroad for purchase missions.

Serial	c/no.	Prev. Identity	Delivered	Fate/Notes
		G-AKEP	10 June 1948

References:

• Spitfires Over Israel (Brian Cull et al)
• BIAF May 1995

Noorduyn C-64A Norseman ('?')
Twenty ex-USAF C-64A models obtained early 1948 from USAAF surplus stocks in Germany. Only seventeen refurbished by KLM, as remainder interned and not delivered. Delivered between the first week in May 1948 and late summer 1948. Used by Tel Aviv Sqn & 35 Flight for utility transport. 5 aircraft in use by 9 Sept 1948. Survivors reserialled to 0801+. Withdrawn 1949-50. Hebrew name not known.

Serial	c/no.	Prev. Identity	Delivered	Fate/Notes
				Tel Aviv Sqn, w/o in crash 10 May 48 near Bet Machsir
NC79822				w/o in crash 20 May 48 at Urbe, Rome, Italy.
B-52				35 Flight, w/o Sept 1948 Tel Nof after landing accident & bulldozer damage
B-53				later 0802, 35 Flight, damaged in landing accident at Tel Nof 28 Dec 1948
B-54				35 Flight, okay 14 Oct 1948
B-55				35 Flight, okay 14 Oct 1948
B-56				35 Flight, okay 14 Oct 1948
				w/o Sept 1948 - near Mostar, Yugoslavia

References:

• Spitfires Over Israel (Brian Cull et al)
• BIAF May 1995