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Ramat David Airbase

Coordinates:32°40′00″N035°11′00″E/ 32.66667°N 35.18333°E/32.66667; 35.18333
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Ramat David Israeli Air Force Base
Air Wing 1
בָּסִיס חֵיל-הַאֲוִויר רָמַת דָּוִד
Ramat David,Northern Districtin Israel
Ramat David Airbase is located in Northern Haifa region of Israel
Ramat David Airbase
Ramat David Airbase
Shown within Israel
Ramat David Airbase is located in Israel
Ramat David Airbase
Ramat David Airbase
Ramat David Airbase (Israel)
Coordinates32°40′00″N035°11′00″E/ 32.66667°N 35.18333°E/32.66667; 35.18333
TypeAirbase
Site information
OwnerIsrael Defense Forces
OperatorIsraeli Air Force
Site history
Built1942 RAF / 1948 IAF
In use1942 - present
Airfield information
IdentifiersICAO:LLRD
Elevation56 metres (184 ft)AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
09/27 2,606 metres (8,550 ft)Asphalt
11/29 2,431 metres (7,976 ft) Asphalt
15/33 2,406 metres (7,894 ft) Asphalt
Four Israeli fighter pilots walking in front of theirGloster MeteorF.8 jets of117 Squadron"First Jet" in 1953 or later at Ramat David Airbase

Ramat David Airbase(ICAO:LLRD,Hebrew:בָּסִיס חֵיל-הַאֲוִיר רָמַת דָּוִדBasis Kheil HaAvir Ramat David,English: David Heights) is anIsraeli Air Force (IAF)base located 20 km southeast ofHaifain theNorthern DistrictofIsrael,close tokibbutzRamat Davidin theJezreel Valley.It is the northernmost IAF base in Israel with fighter jets, UAVs and helicopters based on it.

History[edit]

RAF Ramat David[edit]

In 1942, theRAF Ramat Davidmilitary airfield was established by theRoyal Air Force (RAF)under theBritish Mandate for Palestine.During theSecond World WarJewish paratroopers trained here to serve in RAF special operations commandos and to drop behind enemy lines in German or German-occupied territory. They were supposed to help bring downed Allied airmen safely back and help Jews hide from the Nazis. Several of them died (see memorial stone in the gallery below).

After theIsraeli Declaration of Independenceon 14 May 1948 and the start of theFirst Arab–Israeli Warthe next day, the base was temporarily maintained by the RAF to cover the withdrawal of British forces from Palestine. On 22 May 1948, theRoyal Egyptian Air Forceattacked the base, mistakenly believing it was now an Israeli controlled airbase. In a series of three attacks, several aircraft were destroyed or damaged, a hangar was destroyed, and four British airmen were killed. Five Egyptian fighter planes were shot down.[1]A short time later the base was taken over by theIsrael Defense Forces (IDF).

  • An aircrew from the 98th Bombardment Group at RAF Ramat David in 1942
    An aircrew from the 98th Bombardment Group atRAF Ramat Davidin 1942
  • Memorial stone of the WWII paratrooper school for the training of Jewish special forces in the RAF
    Memorial stone of the WWII paratrooper school for the training of Jewish special forces in the RAF
  • Plaque in front of the former British head­quar­ters, which was then also used by the IAF
    Plaque in front of the former British head­quar­ters, which was then also used by the IAF

Ramat David IAF Base[edit]

Over time, it became the main base of IAF operations north of Israel inSyriaandLebanon.The futureIsraeli PresidentEzer Weizman(1924–2005) was a base commander here in the 1950s before he finally took over command of the IAF. In 2011 the base or Wing 1 there was named after him.

  • Aerial photo of the Israeli Ramat David Airbase in 1949, taken from a B-17 Flying Fortress
    Aerial photo of the Israeli Ramat David Airbase in 1949, taken from aB-17 Flying Fortress
  • IAF Base Wing 1 was named after Major General Ezer Weizman in 2011
    IAF Base Wing 1 was named after Major GeneralEzer Weizmanin 2011
  • Ezer Weizman (1924–2005), commander of Ramat David, the IAF and president of Israel
    Ezer Weizman(1924–2005), commander of Ramat David, the IAF and president ofIsrael
  • Ramat David Airbase seen from Mount Carmel, looking east-southeast, June 2019
    Ramat David Airbase seen fromMount Carmel,looking east-southeast, June 2019
  • Change of command ceremony at Ramat David Airbase in July 2022
    Change of command ceremony at Ramat David Airbase in July 2022
  • ATC Tower at Ramat David Airbase in August 2023 with an AS565 Panther Atalef flying by
    ATC Tower at Ramat David Airbase in August 2023 with anAS565 PantherAtalefflying by

Squadrons and their aircraft[edit]

The117 Squadron"First Jet" was inaugurated on 17 June 1953 as the IAF's first fighter jet squadron with BritishGloster Meteorat Ramat David. In 1962 these were replaced by FrenchDassault Mirage IIIShahak,which then took part in theSix-Day Warand theYom Kippur War.In 1980, together with the 110 Squadron, they received the firstF-16A/BNetzfighter jets from the USA. In June 1981, four jets from 117 Squadron took part inOperation Opera,the destruction of the Iraqi nuclear reactor Osirak nearBaghdad.From 1986/87 these were then replaced by the IAF's firstF-16C/DBarak,which remained until the squadron was closed in 2020.[2]

The109 Squadron“The Valley” was founded in 1951 under a different name atTel Nof Airbaseand moved to Ramat David in 1956, where it still exists today. It got its name “The Valley” after theJezreel Valleywhere the base is located. On Ramat David it flew theDassault Mystère IV,A-4 SkyhawkAyit,IAIKfir(Young Lion) and finally from 1991 to the present day the two-seatF-16DBarak.[3]

The110 Squadron“Knights Of The North” existed from 1953 to 2017 (from 1957 on Ramat David) and flew theDe Havilland Mosquito,S.O. 4050 Vautour II,Gloster Meteor,A-4 SkyhawkAyit,F-16A/BNetz,F-16C/DBarakand also took part in the destruction of the Iraqi reactor in 1981.[4]

Formerly stationed aircraft and types now in theIAF MuseumatHatzerim[edit]

Underground hangars[edit]

The fighter jets are housed in a large underground hangar system into which they disappear after each landing and which has several entrances and exits. This protects them from missiles and at the same time hides them from view and precise localization.SyriaandLebanonare only 50 to 60 km away, from where rockets are repeatedly fired at northern Israel. During theYom Kippur Warin 1973, this airbase was the only one where rockets hit and not only destroyed facilities but also caused casualties.[5]

Today[edit]

Fighter jets[edit]

At the beginning of October 2020, as part of an IAF efficiency program, the117 Squadron"First Jet" withF-16fighter jets on Ramat David was disbanded and most of the jets and pilots were assigned to other units. It was involved in all of the country's wars since 1953 and, among other things, also involved inOperation Opera,the destruction of an unfinishedIraqinuclear reactor in 1981.[6]In July 2021, the squadron reopened atNevatim Airbasewith newF-35IAdirjets.[7]

In March 2021, the two F-16Squadrons 101"First Fighter" and105"Scorpion" were relocated here fromHatzor Airbaseto bring all remaining F-16C/DBarakjets under one roof.[8]A few other F-16C/D jets are based atOvdain theAggressor Training Squadron"Flying Dragon". Three squadrons with the newerF-16ISufa,adapted to Israeli needs, are based atRamon Airbase,as well as a fourth squadron of them atHatzerim Airbase.

Helicopters[edit]

TheEurocopter AS565 PantherAtalefof the193 Squadron"Defenders Of The West" on Ramat David serve as maritime reconnaissance, surveillance and SAR helicopters and are used in close cooperation with theIsraeli Navyas on-board helicopters on ships of theSa'ar 5-class corvetteandSa'ar 6-class corvette.[9]These have their home port in theHaifa naval base,25 km away.

In early January 2022, an AS 565 PantherAtalefcrashed off the coast ofHaifa,killing two crew members and seriously injuring another.[10]

In the future, the Panthers will be replaced by eightSH-60 Seahawk,which were already purchased by the IAF and Navy in 2015 from stocks of theUS Navy.They will be extensively converted and equipped with Israeli systems and should be ready for use from 2024.[10]

International airport[edit]

Since 2014, there have been considerations to convert Ramat David into a third major international airport alongsideBen Gurion AirportnearTel AvivandRamon AirportnearEilat.[11]TheNevatim Airbasein the south of Israel is now also being discussed, which could be used for both military and civilian purposes, as was previously the case with theOvda Airbasefor over 30 years. TheIAFis strongly opposed to this latter proposal.[12]

In the meantime, the civilian conversion of Ramat David seemed to be off the table, because the local resistance to it is too strong.[13][circular reference]In 2021, the government's policy was to build two medium-sized international airports at both Haifa in the north and Be'er Sheva in the south.[14]However, after the presentation of an extensive study and audit in 2023, Ramat David is again the top priority for a major airport.[15][16]

Units[edit]

Note: IAF aircraft can usually be assigned to their squadron by the symbols on the tail

Former RAF units[edit]

Roald Dahl,in his World War II autobiography 'Going Solo', mentions landing his RAFHawker Hurricaneat Ramat David[dubious–discuss]in 1941. At the time it was a hastily prepared grass airstrip rolled out in a cornfield by the residents of the nearbykibbutz.

FormerRoyal Air Forceoperational units atRAF Ramat David:

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Israel v the RAF".spyflight.co.uk.2018-01-01.Retrieved2023-10-26.
  2. ^"The First Jet Squadron".WayBack-Machine: IAF-Website.2019-03-14. Archived from the original on 2019-03-14.Retrieved2024-02-29.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  3. ^"The Valley Squadron".WayBack-Machine: IAF-Website.2019-03-14. Archived from the original on 2019-03-14.Retrieved2024-02-29.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  4. ^"The Knights of the North".WayBack-Machine: IAF-Website.2019-04-26. Archived from the original on 2019-04-26.Retrieved2024-02-29.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^"1st Wing Under Attack".IAF-Website(in Hebrew). 2023-09-24.Retrieved2023-09-26.
  6. ^"Israel löst die First-Jet-Staffel auf".Flugrevue(in German). 2020-10-02.Retrieved2023-09-25.
  7. ^"The 117th Squadron has Reopened".IAF-Website.2021-07-04.Retrieved2023-09-25.
  8. ^"Israel Set To Move Two F-16 Units To Ramat David".key.aero.2021-03-19.Retrieved2023-09-25.
  9. ^ab"Between Sea and Sky".WayBack-Machine: IAF-Website.2018-09-20. Archived from the original on 2019-06-13.Retrieved2024-03-11.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  10. ^ab"The helicopter that crashed off Haifa".mako.co.il(in Hebrew). 2022-01-03.Retrieved2023-10-26.
  11. ^"Air force base slated to become second major airport".The Times Of Israel.2014-09-18.Retrieved2023-09-25.
  12. ^"Two air force bases under consideration as Israel's third international airport".The Times Of Israel.2018-05-02.Retrieved2023-09-25.
  13. ^"The fight against the establishment of an international airport in the Jezreel Valley".he-Wikipedia(in Hebrew).Retrieved2024-03-10.
  14. ^"Transport Minister cancels Ramat David airport".calcalist.co.il(in Hebrew). 2021-10-06.Retrieved2023-09-28.
  15. ^"The professional committee recommends the establishment of an airport in Ramat David".calcalist.co.il(in Hebrew). 2023-01-22.Retrieved2023-11-18.
  16. ^"Netanyahu instructed Simhon to examine the establishment of a new international airport in Ramat David".globes.co.il(in Hebrew). 2023-05-02.Retrieved2023-11-18.
  17. ^"The First Fighter Squadron".IAF-Website.Retrieved2023-09-25.
  18. ^"Flying with JDAMs".IAF-Website.2019-05-20.Retrieved2023-09-26.
  19. ^"From Gesher to Halom to Today: 101st Squadron celebrates 75 years".IAF-Website(in Hebrew). 2023-09-28.Retrieved2023-09-28.
  20. ^"The Scorpion Squadron".IAF-Website.Retrieved2023-09-25.
  21. ^"The Valley Squadron Celebrates 65".IAF-Website.2016-07-05.Retrieved2023-09-25.
  22. ^"Old jet with new logo of 160 Squadron on Ramat David".John Malony on flickr.2019-09-29.Retrieved2023-11-09.
  23. ^"Medal and information about 160 Squadron".israel-insignia.com(in Hebrew). 2022-01-01.Retrieved2023-11-09.
  24. ^Jefford 1988,p. 26.
  25. ^Sturtivant & Hamlin 2007,p. 191.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Jefford, C. G. (1988).RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912.Shrewsbury:Airlife.ISBN1-85310-053-6.
  • Sturtivant, R.; Hamlin, J. (2007).Royal Air Force flying training and support units since 1912.UK: Air-Britain (Historians).ISBN978-0851-3036-59.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toRamat David IAF base.
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