Operation Balak was a smuggling operation, during the founding of Israel in 1948, that purchased arms in Europe to avoid various embargoes and boycotts transferring them to the Yishuv.[1] Of particular note was the delivery of 23 Czechoslovakia-made Avia S-199 fighters, the post-war version of the German LuftwaffeMesserschmitt Bf 109.[2]
A former Royal Air Force pilot and gentile named Gordon Levett, who served in World War II, volunteered for the Israel Machal (the overseas volunteer unit) early in 1948 along with a few Jewish pilots (among others the future president Ezer Weizman) from Britain. Brought up in poverty in Sussex, England, Levett had an affinity for the underdog.[3] "Looking back, I have neither failed nor succeeded, the fate of most of us," Levett reflected later, "but I shall leave the world a better place than when I entered it because I helped found the State of Israel."
Initially, Levett was regarded with deep suspicion. "Not only was he not a Jew, but Mr. Levett was particularly notable because he was British," said The New York Times. "To most Israelis at that time, the recently lapsed British mandate in Palestine had been decidedly pro-Arab, and British Government policy was seen as anti-Zionist."[4]
"Recruited in March 1948 by emissaries in Europe of the Haganah, the Jewish fighting force in Palestine, Mr. Levett was viewed with a healthy dose of suspicion," noted the Times. "'In my last interview I was told, 'We're quite convinced that you are a British spy, but we're going to take you to see what you're up to,'" he recalled.[4]
In June Levett was given the task of flying Avia S-199 fighters, supplied by Czechoslovakia from the Czechoslovak Air Force airfield (code-named Etzion or Zebra by Israelis) near Žatec (seventy-five kilometers west of Prague) to Ekron airfield (formerly RAF Aqir) close to Rehovot now Tel Nof Israeli Air Force Base. The airfield near Žatec had been put at disposal of the Haganah by a new Czechoslovak foreign minister Vladimír Clementis (a prominent Slovak member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia) and was under the command of Yehuda Ben Chorin. Operation Balak lasted three months, during which time Levett managed to airlift tons of arms, ammunition and personnel.[5] During the first ferry flight of 15 aircraft, three were forced to land in Greece due to poor navigation, and were interned.[6] After a defector revealed the existence of the base code-named "Zebra" in USA, and the US made a representation to the UN to have the base shut down, the operation shifted to the air base close to the Yugoslav town of Nikšić.[7]
The name is a reference to the Balak, king of the Moabites, son of Zippor, whose name is mentioned in Numbers 22:2. By extension, the name came to mean 'Destroyer.'
^Luttrell, Robert J., I flew for Israel, Flying Magazine, May 1949, p.59
^Luttrell, Robert J., I flew for Israel, Flying Magazine, May 1949, p.60
Rothkirchen, Livia (2006). The Jews of Bohemia and Moravia: Facing the Holocaust. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN0-8032-3952-1
Cohen, Eliezer (Cheetah), The sky is not the limit, Ma'riv Books, 1990
Levett, Gordon (1994). Flying under two flags : an ex-RAF pilot in Israel’s War of Independence. London: Frank Cass. ISBN0-7146-4102-2
Livingston, Harold (1994). "Destination: Israel - how a handful of rag-tag flyers helped to save a newborn nation." Gates & Bridges. ISBN0-8038-9421-X
January 01, 1970
operation, balak, other, uses, balak, disambiguation, smuggling, operation, during, founding, israel, 1948, that, purchased, arms, europe, avoid, various, embargoes, boycotts, transferring, them, yishuv, particular, note, delivery, czechoslovakia, made, avia, . For other uses see Balak disambiguation Operation Balak was a smuggling operation during the founding of Israel in 1948 that purchased arms in Europe to avoid various embargoes and boycotts transferring them to the Yishuv 1 Of particular note was the delivery of 23 Czechoslovakia made Avia S 199 fighters the post war version of the German Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109 2 A Douglas C 54 Skymaster one of the airplane types used for Operation Balak A former Royal Air Force pilot and gentile named Gordon Levett who served in World War II volunteered for the Israel Machal the overseas volunteer unit early in 1948 along with a few Jewish pilots among others the future president Ezer Weizman from Britain Brought up in poverty in Sussex England Levett had an affinity for the underdog 3 Looking back I have neither failed nor succeeded the fate of most of us Levett reflected later but I shall leave the world a better place than when I entered it because I helped found the State of Israel Initially Levett was regarded with deep suspicion Not only was he not a Jew but Mr Levett was particularly notable because he was British said The New York Times To most Israelis at that time the recently lapsed British mandate in Palestine had been decidedly pro Arab and British Government policy was seen as anti Zionist 4 Recruited in March 1948 by emissaries in Europe of the Haganah the Jewish fighting force in Palestine Mr Levett was viewed with a healthy dose of suspicion noted the Times In my last interview I was told We re quite convinced that you are a British spy but we re going to take you to see what you re up to he recalled 4 In June Levett was given the task of flying Avia S 199 fighters supplied by Czechoslovakia from the Czechoslovak Air Force airfield code named Etzion or Zebra by Israelis near Zatec seventy five kilometers west of Prague to Ekron airfield formerly RAF Aqir close to Rehovot now Tel Nof Israeli Air Force Base The airfield near Zatec had been put at disposal of the Haganah by a new Czechoslovak foreign minister Vladimir Clementis a prominent Slovak member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia and was under the command of Yehuda Ben Chorin Operation Balak lasted three months during which time Levett managed to airlift tons of arms ammunition and personnel 5 During the first ferry flight of 15 aircraft three were forced to land in Greece due to poor navigation and were interned 6 After a defector revealed the existence of the base code named Zebra in USA and the US made a representation to the UN to have the base shut down the operation shifted to the air base close to the Yugoslav town of Niksic 7 The name is a reference to the Balak king of the Moabites son of Zippor whose name is mentioned in Numbers 22 2 By extension the name came to mean Destroyer See also editArms shipments from Czechoslovakia to Israel 1947 49References edit Security Council Resolution 46 1948 of 17 April 1948 Calling for an Arms Embargo UN Doc S 723 Archived 25 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine Cohen Eliezer 1993 Israel s Best Defense New York Orion Books pp 504 ISBN 0 517 58790 4 Gordon Levett 101squadron com a b Greenberg Joel May 10 1998 Fun Stuff in 48 British Gentile in Israel Air Force The New York Times Rothkirchen 2006 p 287 Luttrell Robert J I flew for Israel Flying Magazine May 1949 p 59 Luttrell Robert J I flew for Israel Flying Magazine May 1949 p 60 Rothkirchen Livia 2006 The Jews of Bohemia and Moravia Facing the Holocaust University of Nebraska Press ISBN 0 8032 3952 1 Cohen Eliezer Cheetah The sky is not the limit Ma riv Books 1990 Levett Gordon 1994 Flying under two flags an ex RAF pilot in Israel s War of Independence London Frank Cass ISBN 0 7146 4102 2 Livingston Harold 1994 Destination Israel how a handful of rag tag flyers helped to save a newborn nation Gates amp Bridges ISBN 0 8038 9421 X Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Operation Balak amp oldid 1194998840, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
