Israeli Spitfire Pilot

[Bill Greenwood]

Zetex raised the issue that Hosni Mubarak may have been a Spitfire pilot. That was of interest, sorry the topic was locked so soon. If anyone wants to hear more about that look up on Google what Anderson Cooper just said about it today. Or if you only want to limit it to av, read on.

So I will add some of what know of the topic. I don't know anything about Mubark in that sense , but there used to a man who worked in the FAA in Albuquerque, in the GADO or gen av office. Can't quiet recall his name for certain, Sy Feldman perhaps? but he had flown for Israel against Egypt or others on the years after WWII, I think perhaps in Spits and Tempest or Typhoons. He was reluctant to talk much about it, still sort of secretive in the 80's. A nice guy and when he talked about some FAA rule or policy one felt that at least he had some real knowledge and was not just a desk pilot.

Last edited by Bill Greenwood on Fri Feb 11, 2011 2:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Rauhbatz]

Hi Bill...

I have a book about the Israeli War Of Independence in 1948 that goes into great detail about US & Canadian pilots that flew for the IAF..its in one of my packing boxes but I think its called My Brother's Keeper. Jack McIlroy, Rudy Augauten & Wayne Peak come to mind. Some very crazy stories about pilots flying three kinds of aircraft. I'll see if I can find it.

BTW Im sure you know that Ezer Weizamn former president of Israel was a IAF Spitfire pilot...wonder if he faced off against the former president of Egypt...

[Second Air Force]

The airworthy black Spitfire in the IAF museum was evidently flown by Weizman--I don't know if it was his combat mount or if he flew it post-conflict.

[Bill Greenwood]

Raubatz, that would be an interesting way to settle wars today, have a dog fight between our Pres and the other sides Pres., sort of like a modern version of Goliath and David with the slingshot. And all the young military folks don't have to risk anything.
Since our guy doesn't fly ,but he is a first class basketball player maybe it would have to be a game of one on one vs whoever.
I think he could handle that pint size nuts from N Korea or Iraq ok. Might give up a few inches to the 6' 7" turban guy, but he probably doesn't move too well.

[PeterA]

'Buck' Feldman.

[Wilson]

Mubarak was still in flight training in 1950, so he would have missed the 1948-49 Palestine War. By the end of the war, the REAF Spitfires were worn out and transferred to the advanced training role. Mubark probably got some Spitfire time there, but he most likely has more time in the Macchi C.205s and Fiat G.55s that were just coming on-line the last few months of the war. They made up the core of Egypt’s fighter force until 1951, when the British, fearful of losing their Egyptian customer to the Italians, delivered Gloster Meteors.

Former Syrian leader Hafiz al Asad also flew Fiat G.55s and G.59s.

[Stoney]

The military AF base at Cairo had at least one Fury or Seafury on it in 1974, couldn't get to close to it

[PeterA]

The military AF base at Cairo had at least one Fury or Seafury on it in 1974, couldn't get to close to it

Alamaza.

This aircraft was reported as a five blade prop Mk 22 Spitfire at the time although I thought a Fury more likely.

I gather the 'aircraft' could be spotted by visiting airline crew on approach or take off to/from the civil side of this very large complex.

PeterA

[Rauhbatz]

Hi Bill...I found my book last night about US volunteers in Israel...very interesting read from both an air and ground force standpoint. Its called "I Am My Brothers Keeper" by Jeff & Craig Weiss.

I think the person you mention in this post might have been Sid Antin. He seems to be right in the middle of things with both the Avias (Czech 109s) and some Spitfire work from what I can tell.

Here is a list of US pilots that are featured in this book that made it thru the conflict in 1948. Some pretty big names to start out with:

Slick Goodlin (of Bell X-1 fame)
Chris Magee (#2 in the Black Sheep Squadron)
Lou Lenart
Giddy Lichtman
Rudy Augarten
Bill Pomerantz
Leon Frankel
Wayne Peake

There were quite a few RCAF pilots as well; Denny Wilson, Jack Doyle, John McElroy.

Regrets George Buerling (Eagle Of Malta) didn't make it there due to a suspicious plane crash on the way. He might have been able to defeat the Egyptian forces by himself...

I have a model of a S-199 (Me-109) in IAF colors that Modi Alon and several US pilots flew. Always gets a lot of comments from my pilot friends when they see it.

[PeterA]

'Buck' Feldman.

http://101squadron.com/101real/people/feldman.html

PeterA

[PeterA]

Now, this is not a book you can sit down with and read straight through, but it is one you will return to time and again, not only for reference but simply to dip into the rich detail provided on these vibrant lives. Where else would you learn that a U.S citizen, Buck Feldman, would receive one-half credit for destroying a Ju-88 while flying a Typhoon, then shot down a slew of V-1s while flying a Tempest, only to round off his total by destroying an Egyptian Macchi M.C.205 while flying an Israeli Spitfire in 1949?

[Bill Greenwood]

As for the Black Spitfire that Israel has and has flown somewhat recently , I think it is a Mk XI, probably unarmed, not sure about that. So Wiezman mght have flown it, perhaps not in combat.
I'll write some more about this later,got to go skiing now; it looks like a perfect day.

[Jack Cook]

Leon Frankle I believe was awarded the Navy Cross while flying TBMs.

[Second Air Force]

As for the Black Spitfire that Israel has and has flown somewhat recently , I think it is a Mk XI, probably unarmed, not sure about that. So Wiezman mght have flown it, perhaps not in combat.
I'll write some more about this later,got to go skiing now; it looks like a perfect day.

The IAF Museum lists it as a LFIXe. Here are some nice pictures of both Spitfires and other great stuff taken by one of the frequent contributors to Mgawa's website:
http://www.letletlet-warplanes.com/foru ... v-21-2010/

It's beautiful here, also. I'm going to do some aviating if the ^)@*#_!#^% apron has been cleared around our hangar..........

[Jack Cook]

http://www.mnlegion.org/paper/html/frankel.html