One of the earliest jet fighters adopted by the IAF was the Gloster Meteor.
The Meteor was the Allies first jet fighter and the only allied jet to see combat in World War 2.
While Mezeks, Spitfires, and Mustangs got Israel through the War of Independence, the Israelis knew they needed to modernize and get jet technology.
Israel acquired the The Gloster Meteor in 1953, and had four squadrons flying the jet.
On 1 September 1955, in the first Jet-on-Jet Combat to take place in Middle East history, an Israeli Meteor shot down an Egyptian de Havilland Vampire.
A captured Vampire is on display at the Museum:
The Israeli Meteors took part in the Suez Campaign and remained in operational service until 1962, with some remaining until the early 70's as training aircraft.
2 comments:
That is a great museum!
Old NFO: It certainly is, you could spend hours going from aircraft to aircraft, and I did. Much more to follow.
Post a Comment