I found this gem in Bill Norton’s excellent book on the history of the Israeli Air Force “Air War on the Edge” p. 150,
“According to Egyptian and British intelligence, a jet fighter of unknown type exploded in flight inside Israeli airspace during April 1950. The British thought that it might be a de Havilland Vampire of unknown origin, while the Egyptians stated that they had information revealing that the IAF had secretly taken delivery of eight crated Avia S.92 jets. The S.92 was the Messerschmitt Me 262A-1A built in Czechoslovakia following the World War. The Czechs’ Russian masters might have approved such a sale in the first half of 1950, and Israel may have felt an urgent need to answer the threat posed by the new Egyptian Meteors, which arrived in October 1949, to buy this, the only jet available to them. However, the Me 262 was hopelessly antiquated in 1950 and the late Second World War technology was of very limited service life. If the story is true, it is odd that the Israelis would not have admitted to operating the Me 262, no matter how briefly and unsuccessfully, in the time since 1950.”
Can anyone add to this fascinating story?
Regards,
Jan
By: Ray Jade - 23rd August 2005 at 20:38
A Google cache of LEMB from 2001 seems to suggest that the Czech S.92’s were accounted for (http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:MxBmaRBBrZEJ:pub157.ezboard.com/fluftwaffeexperten71774frm86.showMessage%3FtopicID%3D1.topic+Avia+S.92+israeli&hl=en)
For an alternative view http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal4/3101-3200/Gal3110_S-92_Peterson/gal3110.htm … perhaps 😉
By: Mark12 - 23rd August 2005 at 19:14
Copied on to Mod-Mil Forum
Can someone of the resident Mods link this thread to the ModMil forum, where there is a pretty well-informed Israeli presence (Skythe, where are you when you’re needed?)
Fascinating indeed!
Copied to Mod-Mil as requested, so those particularly interested in this topic should monitor there also.
Mark
By: Arthur - 23rd August 2005 at 16:46
Can someone of the resident Mods link this thread to the ModMil forum, where there is a pretty well-informed Israeli presence (Skythe, where are you when you’re needed?)
Fascinating indeed!
By: Swiss Mustangs - 22nd August 2005 at 13:59
hmmmmm – very interesting indeed !
the Meteor entered service with the IDFAF in 1953, the French Mistère II’s and IV’s arrived in 1954, the Ouragans shortly thereafter…..
What is interesting, however, ist this bit of information taken from the IDFAF site:
March – June 1950
Cpt. Mordechai (Moti) Hod (who would later become Commander in Chief of the IAF) undergoes retraining as a jet pilot, and becomes the IAF’s first jet pilot.
Question is: Where did he get his training and on what type ?
This topic definitely needs more research !
Martin
By: JDK - 22nd August 2005 at 12:35
What a fascinating idea.
It’s well known that the airframe and technology of the 262 was significantly more advanced than the Meteor or Vampire, while I presume the F-86 was the next generation again.
The problem with the 262 was the engines going bang in the wrong way, as might have happened over Israel. So I’d diagree with the ‘hopelessly antiquated’ statement, but agree with the ‘limited service life’!
By: Jan - 22nd August 2005 at 11:50
I believe that about 17 Avia S.92/CS.92s were produced, with the type entering service with the Czech air arm around 1949/1950. The Yugoslavian air arm ordered two in 1947, but both were cancelled before delivery.
I’ve never seen any other reference to the IAF receiving the Avia S.92, but it is a fascinating “What if…” that needs further research.
Regards,
Jan
By: Mark12 - 22nd August 2005 at 11:03
Logic
Certainly a logic there.
The Israelis purchased both Spitfires and the Avia/Me109 from Czechoslovakia, so why not the Avia/Me262?
Mark
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August 22, 2005 at 10:12 am