Palavir
Encyclopedia
The Palavir, an acronym for Plugat HaAvir was the air force for the Palmach
, based in Tel Aviv
. Little is known about the Palmach
's flying platoon due to its short life and its secrecy during the British Mandate. Like the rest of the Palmach
it was made up entirely of Jewish fighters.
and operated prior to the establishment of the State of Israel. The Palmach's naval branch, Palyam
, was also created in the same year. In 1943 the Palmach sent 3 of its fighters to be trained at the Jewish Agency owned flying school, Aviron flying school
, in kibbutz Afikim. Later, the Palavir sent six more fighters. However, in 1943 the British outlawed the Haganah
and Palmach
. In response, the both organizations went underground. The Palavir disguised itself as an aeroclub called Palestine Flying Club and continued to train until 1947. The Palavir pilots also operated out of Ramla
airport. In 1947, the Palavir and aeroclub were reorganized into the Sherut Avir
which benefited from the return of Jewish soldiers who had been fighting in the Jewish Brigade of the British Army. In 1948 the Sherut Avir
became the Heil HaAvir or Israeli Air Force
. Also with the independence in 1948 the Palestine Flying Club was renamed the Israel Aero Club.
in 1936 when the Yishuv
leader, David Ben-Gurion
, managed to purchase one from Britain. The plane's purchase was difficult due to resistance by the British government which feared that an independent Jewish force might encourage a similar Arab force. It was flown in by a British flight instructor named Grey and registered under the marks G-ACYN, with serial number 3314. Later, in 1947, two Tiger Moths from Canada were acquired as donations to a Jewish aeroclub. The same year, Aviron flying school
moved out of Afikim and Ramla
to Lod Airport. For the remainder of Palavirs existence, it began to operate out of Haifa further north, enabling the Tiger Moths to photograph Syrian army camps in the Golan. The fact that the Palavir was created together with the Palmach
and Palyam
meant that it was born from the same soldiers and structure. Palmachniks would often interchange leadership positions between these branches. This culture continues in the IDF
today, where the military's branches contrast the strict cultural divides that many militaries have developed (i.e. between the Navy and the Army). In Israel the IAF
and the rest of the IDF
are very much intertwined in history, culture, and operation.
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
, based in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
. Little is known about the Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
's flying platoon due to its short life and its secrecy during the British Mandate. Like the rest of the Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
it was made up entirely of Jewish fighters.
History
In 1945, the Palavir was developed as Palmach's air division. The Palavir fell under the command of the unofficial Jewish defense force HaganahHaganah
Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.- Origins :...
and operated prior to the establishment of the State of Israel. The Palmach's naval branch, Palyam
Palyam
Palyam was the sea force of the Palmach.-History:Palyam was set up in April 1945 as the Palmach's tenth company which originated from the Palmach's Naval Platoon. The Company's first commander was Abraham Zakai...
, was also created in the same year. In 1943 the Palmach sent 3 of its fighters to be trained at the Jewish Agency owned flying school, Aviron flying school
Aviron flying school
Aviron flying school was established in April, 1936 in Palestine under the British Mandate . The school was based in kibbutz Afikim, in Northern Israel.-History:...
, in kibbutz Afikim. Later, the Palavir sent six more fighters. However, in 1943 the British outlawed the Haganah
Haganah
Haganah was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948, which later became the core of the Israel Defense Forces.- Origins :...
and Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
. In response, the both organizations went underground. The Palavir disguised itself as an aeroclub called Palestine Flying Club and continued to train until 1947. The Palavir pilots also operated out of Ramla
Ramla
Ramla , is a city in central Israel. The city is predominantly Jewish with a significant Arab minority. Ramla was founded circa 705–715 AD by the Umayyad Caliph Suleiman ibn Abed al-Malik after the Arab conquest of the region...
airport. In 1947, the Palavir and aeroclub were reorganized into the Sherut Avir
Sherut Avir
The Sherut Avir was the air force of the Haganah and the forerunner of the Israeli Air Force.-Founding:The Sherut Avir was founded in November 1947, just two weeks prior to the passing of the 1947 UN Partition Plan which proposed the division of Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state.It was at...
which benefited from the return of Jewish soldiers who had been fighting in the Jewish Brigade of the British Army. In 1948 the Sherut Avir
Sherut Avir
The Sherut Avir was the air force of the Haganah and the forerunner of the Israeli Air Force.-Founding:The Sherut Avir was founded in November 1947, just two weeks prior to the passing of the 1947 UN Partition Plan which proposed the division of Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state.It was at...
became the Heil HaAvir or Israeli Air Force
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
. Also with the independence in 1948 the Palestine Flying Club was renamed the Israel Aero Club.
Contribution
The 'Palavir' acquired its first aircraft, the de Havilland D.H.82C Tiger MothTiger moth
Tiger moths are moths of the family Arctiidae.Tiger moth may also refer to:*de Havilland Tiger Moth, an aircraft; an aerobatic and trainer tailwheel biplane*de Havilland DH.71 Tiger Moth, an earlier monoplane produced by de Havilland...
in 1936 when the Yishuv
Yishuv
The Yishuv or Ha-Yishuv is the term referring to the body of Jewish residents in Palestine before the establishment of the State of Israel...
leader, David Ben-Gurion
David Ben-Gurion
' was the first Prime Minister of Israel.Ben-Gurion's passion for Zionism, which began early in life, led him to become a major Zionist leader and Executive Head of the World Zionist Organization in 1946...
, managed to purchase one from Britain. The plane's purchase was difficult due to resistance by the British government which feared that an independent Jewish force might encourage a similar Arab force. It was flown in by a British flight instructor named Grey and registered under the marks G-ACYN, with serial number 3314. Later, in 1947, two Tiger Moths from Canada were acquired as donations to a Jewish aeroclub. The same year, Aviron flying school
Aviron flying school
Aviron flying school was established in April, 1936 in Palestine under the British Mandate . The school was based in kibbutz Afikim, in Northern Israel.-History:...
moved out of Afikim and Ramla
Ramla
Ramla , is a city in central Israel. The city is predominantly Jewish with a significant Arab minority. Ramla was founded circa 705–715 AD by the Umayyad Caliph Suleiman ibn Abed al-Malik after the Arab conquest of the region...
to Lod Airport. For the remainder of Palavirs existence, it began to operate out of Haifa further north, enabling the Tiger Moths to photograph Syrian army camps in the Golan. The fact that the Palavir was created together with the Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
and Palyam
Palyam
Palyam was the sea force of the Palmach.-History:Palyam was set up in April 1945 as the Palmach's tenth company which originated from the Palmach's Naval Platoon. The Company's first commander was Abraham Zakai...
meant that it was born from the same soldiers and structure. Palmachniks would often interchange leadership positions between these branches. This culture continues in the IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
today, where the military's branches contrast the strict cultural divides that many militaries have developed (i.e. between the Navy and the Army). In Israel the IAF
IAF
IAF may refer to the following air forces:* Indian Air Force* Indonesian Air Force* Iraqi Air Force* Israeli Air Force* Italian Air ForceIAF may also refer to:* International of Anarchist Federations* Indian Armed Forces...
and the rest of the IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
are very much intertwined in history, culture, and operation.