Angels In The Sky: How A Band Of Volunteer Airmen Saved The New State Of Israel
by Robert Gandt /
2017 / English / EPUB
22.6 MB Download
The gripping story of how an all-volunteer air force
helped defeat five Arab nations and protect the fledgling Jewish
state.
The gripping story of how an all-volunteer air force
helped defeat five Arab nations and protect the fledgling Jewish
state.
In 1948, only three years after the Holocaust, the newly founded
nation of Israel came under siege from a coalition of Arab
states. The invaders vowed to annihilate the tiny country and its
600,000 settlers. A second Holocaust was in the making.
In 1948, only three years after the Holocaust, the newly founded
nation of Israel came under siege from a coalition of Arab
states. The invaders vowed to annihilate the tiny country and its
600,000 settlers. A second Holocaust was in the making.
Outnumbered sixty to one, the Israelis had no allies, no regular
army, no air force, no superpower to intercede on their behalf.
The United States, Great Britain, and most of Europe enforced a
strict embargo on the shipment of arms to the embattled country.
In the first few days, the Arab armies overran Israel. The
Egyptian air force owned the sky, making continuous air attacks
on Israeli cities and army positions. Israel’s extinction seemed
certain.
Outnumbered sixty to one, the Israelis had no allies, no regular
army, no air force, no superpower to intercede on their behalf.
The United States, Great Britain, and most of Europe enforced a
strict embargo on the shipment of arms to the embattled country.
In the first few days, the Arab armies overran Israel. The
Egyptian air force owned the sky, making continuous air attacks
on Israeli cities and army positions. Israel’s extinction seemed
certain.
And then came help. From the United States, Canada, Britain,
France, South Africa arrived a band of volunteer airmen. Most
were World War II veterans―young, idealistic, swaggering, noble,
eccentric, courageous beyond measure. Many were Jews, a third
were not. Most of them knowingly violated their nations’
embargoes on the shipment of arms and aircraft to Israel. They
smuggled in Messerschmitt fighters from Czechoslovakia, painting
over swastikas with Israeli stars. Defying their own countries’
strict laws, the airmen risked everything―their lives, careers,
citizenship―to fight for Israel.
And then came help. From the United States, Canada, Britain,
France, South Africa arrived a band of volunteer airmen. Most
were World War II veterans―young, idealistic, swaggering, noble,
eccentric, courageous beyond measure. Many were Jews, a third
were not. Most of them knowingly violated their nations’
embargoes on the shipment of arms and aircraft to Israel. They
smuggled in Messerschmitt fighters from Czechoslovakia, painting
over swastikas with Israeli stars. Defying their own countries’
strict laws, the airmen risked everything―their lives, careers,
citizenship―to fight for Israel.
They were a small group, fewer than 150. In the crucible of war
they became brothers in a righteous cause. They flew, fought,
died, and, against all odds, helped save a new nation. The saga
of the volunteer airmen in Israel’s war of independence stands as
one of the most stirring―and untold―war stories of the past
century.
They were a small group, fewer than 150. In the crucible of war
they became brothers in a righteous cause. They flew, fought,
died, and, against all odds, helped save a new nation. The saga
of the volunteer airmen in Israel’s war of independence stands as
one of the most stirring―and untold―war stories of the past
century.8 pages of illustrations
8 pages of illustrations