This, was not enough and the IAF bought 60 Spitfire Mk.IX directly from Czechoslovakia in August 1948.
However, as both Britain and the USSR vetoed this sale, the whole operation was carried out in secrecy and plans were made to fly them to Israel via Yugoslavia, as Josif Broz Tito agreed to use the former Luftwaffe airfield of Niksic, in the Socialist Republic of Montenegro (that was the name of Montenegro back then). This whole operation was codenamed 'Velvetta' and on its first run, only 5 Spitfires were delivered.
All of them, joined the 101 Tajeset (Squadron) which also flew the Avia S-199. In October 1948 only four Spitfires and two P-51 were operational and they took part in the Operation Yoav, an offensive against Beersheba, escorting various B-17s and Beaufighters of the IAF and also attacking the El-Arish Air Base destroying various Egyptian Spitfires Fiat G.55 and Macchi C.205 fighters. They also took part in Operation Hiram, aimed to take control of Galilee region.
In November, 101 Tajeset was rebased to Hatzor Air Base to be closer to the frontline.
After this, Operation Velvetta II was launched which delivered a total of 27 additional Spitfires in mid-December 1948 this time with some more losses due to bad weather. However, this consolidated aerial superiority of the IAF in the area. In total ,during both Velvetta I & II thirty-nine Spitfires were delivered between September and December 1948 with the remaining machines being delivered disassembled by sea in February and November 1949.
On 7th January 1949 at 4 p.m. , a cease fire was agreed. On the morning of that day the Royal Air Force (RAF) sent out four Spitfires, from their bases at the Suez Canal, on patrol over the frontlines. The Israelis mistook them for Egyptians and one was shot down by ground fire while the remaining three were intercepted by Spitfires of the 101 Tajeset. Later, that same morning, four Spitfires engaged a formation of 19 RAF aircraft composed by four Spitfires and fifteen Hawker Tempests, which were sent to search for the four downed pilots. IAF's Spitfires of the 101 Tajeset engaged the formation shooting down one Tempest and damaging other one, but they decided to disengage, making it the last intervention of the Spitfire with the IAF during the 1948-1949 Israeli Independence War.
However, as both Britain and the USSR vetoed this sale, the whole operation was carried out in secrecy and plans were made to fly them to Israel via Yugoslavia, as Josif Broz Tito agreed to use the former Luftwaffe airfield of Niksic, in the Socialist Republic of Montenegro (that was the name of Montenegro back then). This whole operation was codenamed 'Velvetta' and on its first run, only 5 Spitfires were delivered.
All of them, joined the 101 Tajeset (Squadron) which also flew the Avia S-199. In October 1948 only four Spitfires and two P-51 were operational and they took part in the Operation Yoav, an offensive against Beersheba, escorting various B-17s and Beaufighters of the IAF and also attacking the El-Arish Air Base destroying various Egyptian Spitfires Fiat G.55 and Macchi C.205 fighters. They also took part in Operation Hiram, aimed to take control of Galilee region.
In November, 101 Tajeset was rebased to Hatzor Air Base to be closer to the frontline.
After this, Operation Velvetta II was launched which delivered a total of 27 additional Spitfires in mid-December 1948 this time with some more losses due to bad weather. However, this consolidated aerial superiority of the IAF in the area. In total ,during both Velvetta I & II thirty-nine Spitfires were delivered between September and December 1948 with the remaining machines being delivered disassembled by sea in February and November 1949.
On 7th January 1949 at 4 p.m. , a cease fire was agreed. On the morning of that day the Royal Air Force (RAF) sent out four Spitfires, from their bases at the Suez Canal, on patrol over the frontlines. The Israelis mistook them for Egyptians and one was shot down by ground fire while the remaining three were intercepted by Spitfires of the 101 Tajeset. Later, that same morning, four Spitfires engaged a formation of 19 RAF aircraft composed by four Spitfires and fifteen Hawker Tempests, which were sent to search for the four downed pilots. IAF's Spitfires of the 101 Tajeset engaged the formation shooting down one Tempest and damaging other one, but they decided to disengage, making it the last intervention of the Spitfire with the IAF during the 1948-1949 Israeli Independence War.
Later, in 1951 thirty (although, according to some sources it was thirty-five) additional Mk.IXe were bought from Italy and delivered during that same and the following year., making it a total of 90 Spitfires serving with the IAF. During this period the Spitfire was known in the IAF as 'Yorek' (Merlin) and served with 101, 105 and 107 Tajesets for interceptor, fighter-bomber and advanced training duties. In mid-1954 thirty were sold to Burma (of which we dedicated whole post about them -here- ) and some were kept flying with the 107 Tajeset as advanced trainers until February 1956, when they were withdrawn from active service.
Sources:
1st https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Supermarine_Spitfire_operators#Israel
2nd https://www.machal.org.il/1947-49/the-israel-air-force-spitfires-over-israel/
3rd https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Velvetta
4th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101_Squadron_(Israel)
5th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/105_Squadron_(Israel)
6th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/107_Squadron_(Israel)
7th https://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/aa-mideast/israel/af/types/spit.htm
8th https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Israeli_Air_Force
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