Operation Velvetta
Encyclopedia
Operation Velvetta was the name of an Israel
i mission in 1948. This operation was instituted to provide fighter planes, specifically Supermarine Spitfire
s, for protecting Israel's borders, after Israel bought all of the remaining Avia S-199
s in their inventory.
The fighter planes were purchased from Czechoslovakia
at $23,000 per plane. Arrangements were also made with the Yugoslavia
n leader Josip Broz Tito
to use the city of Nikšić
(an abandoned Luftwaffe
airbase) as a waystation for 60 purchased Spitfires (codenamed ("Yoram"). The first of the two legs of the journey was from Kunovice
, Czechoslovakia to Nikšić (codenamed "Alabama"). The second leg was more difficult, and it crossed 2,250 km of open water from Nikšić to Israel.
and the Soviets. The Israelis were not allowed to talk with the Yugoslavian soldiers or citizens to preserve secrecy. The Israelis were given permission to use the base at Nikšić and repaint their aircraft roundels with the Yugoslavian roundel
s for the ride to Israel so the shipment would not arouse any suspicions. After landing in Israel, the roundels were removed to uncover hidden Israeli roundels.
failed to deploy, and although he was fine, the aircraft was severely damaged.
s were used to talk during the flight. If forced to land in Greece
or Albania
on the way to Czechoslovakia, the pilots decided to say that they were flying to Israel.
The mission was successful and helped support the Israelis during the War of Independence.
On September 27th, 5 planes left for Israel. Alon and Senior ran out of fuel and had to make an emergency landing in Rhodes
. They were arrested and interrogated, but did not reveal the flight path. The rest of the Spitfires successfully landed in Ramat David
. On October 3rd, Israel sent an envoy to Greece and they were returned.
Bill and Sam Pomerance were lost in flight, and it was later found out that Bill made an emergency landing 160 miles north of the Yoram airfield and Sam was killed when his plane crashed into the mountains.
On December 19, 12 more Spitfires were flown to Israel. One plane was disabled due to technical issues. On December 22, the first 5-formation of planes flew to Israel; one plane turned back due to an engine failure. On December 26, the second 6-plane formation successfully arrived in Israel. A Skymaster was sent to Czechoslovakia to retrieve the guns and other parts that were stripped from the aircraft.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i mission in 1948. This operation was instituted to provide fighter planes, specifically Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
s, for protecting Israel's borders, after Israel bought all of the remaining Avia S-199
Avia S-199
|-See also:-External links: *** with more pictures and further information...
s in their inventory.
The fighter planes were purchased from Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
at $23,000 per plane. Arrangements were also made with the Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
n leader Josip Broz Tito
Josip Broz Tito
Marshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
to use the city of Nikšić
Nikšić
Nikšić is a city in Montenegro . In 2003 the city had a total population about 75,000.Nikšić is located in Nikšić plain, at the foot of Mount Trebjesa. It is the center of the municipality , which is the largest in Montenegro by area...
(an abandoned Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
airbase) as a waystation for 60 purchased Spitfires (codenamed ("Yoram"). The first of the two legs of the journey was from Kunovice
Kunovice
Kunovice is a town in the Uherské Hradiště District, Zlín Region, Czech Republic.-History:The first written records of Kunovice date back to 1196...
, Czechoslovakia to Nikšić (codenamed "Alabama"). The second leg was more difficult, and it crossed 2,250 km of open water from Nikšić to Israel.
Secrecy
This operation was of high secrecy, as this opposed the EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the Soviets. The Israelis were not allowed to talk with the Yugoslavian soldiers or citizens to preserve secrecy. The Israelis were given permission to use the base at Nikšić and repaint their aircraft roundels with the Yugoslavian roundel
Roundel
A roundel in heraldry is a disc; the term is also commonly used to refer to a type of national insignia used on military aircraft, generally circular in shape and usually comprising concentric rings of different colours.-Heraldry:...
s for the ride to Israel so the shipment would not arouse any suspicions. After landing in Israel, the roundels were removed to uncover hidden Israeli roundels.
From Yugoslavia to Czechoslovakia
The first leg of the journey took place on September 24. This section, which took an hour and a half, went well for the most part. Blau's landing gearLanding Gear
Landing Gear is Devin the Dude's fifth studio album. It was released on October 7, 2008. It was his first studio album since signing with the label Razor & Tie. It features a high-profile guest appearance from Snoop Dogg. As of October 30, 2008, the album has sold 18,906 copies.-Track...
failed to deploy, and although he was fine, the aircraft was severely damaged.
From Czechoslovakia to Israel
The second part of the mission was much more difficult. This was a non-stop, five hour long flight over 2,500 miles of open water - quite a feat for the Spitfire. Sam Pomerance, the mechanic-in-chief at Czechoslovakia suggested to make the planes as light and efficient as possible, the places should be fitted with extra fuel tanks and the nonessential, such as radios and guns, should be removed. Walkie-talkieWalkie-talkie
A walkie-talkie is a hand-held, portable, two-way radio transceiver. Its development during the Second World War has been variously credited to Donald L. Hings, radio engineer Alfred J. Gross, and engineering teams at Motorola...
s were used to talk during the flight. If forced to land in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
or Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
on the way to Czechoslovakia, the pilots decided to say that they were flying to Israel.
The mission was successful and helped support the Israelis during the War of Independence.
On September 27th, 5 planes left for Israel. Alon and Senior ran out of fuel and had to make an emergency landing in Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
. They were arrested and interrogated, but did not reveal the flight path. The rest of the Spitfires successfully landed in Ramat David
Ramat David
Ramat David is a kibbutz in northern Israel. Located in the Galilee near Ramat David Airbase, it falls under the jurisdiction of Jezreel Valley Regional Council...
. On October 3rd, Israel sent an envoy to Greece and they were returned.
Velvetta 2
Pomerance returned to Czechoslovakia and made 15 more flights to Israel and divided the pilots into two formations. The planes left on December 15 and yet again on the December 18, but both times were forced to return due to rain and other weather conditions.Bill and Sam Pomerance were lost in flight, and it was later found out that Bill made an emergency landing 160 miles north of the Yoram airfield and Sam was killed when his plane crashed into the mountains.
On December 19, 12 more Spitfires were flown to Israel. One plane was disabled due to technical issues. On December 22, the first 5-formation of planes flew to Israel; one plane turned back due to an engine failure. On December 26, the second 6-plane formation successfully arrived in Israel. A Skymaster was sent to Czechoslovakia to retrieve the guns and other parts that were stripped from the aircraft.
Members
The following is a list of people known who participated in the operation:- Modi AlonModi AlonMordechai "Modi" Alon was an Israeli fighter pilot who with the formation of the Israeli Air Force in May 1948, assumed command of its first fighter squadron...
- Rudy Augarten
- Tuxie Blau
- Jack Cohen
- Syd Cohen
- Geoff Cooper
- Bob Dawn
- Jack Doyle
- Red Finkel
- Sandy Jacobs
- Mordechai HodMordechai HodAluf Mordechai "Mottie" Hod was the Commander of the Israeli Air Force during the 1967 Six-Day War.- Biography :Hod was born in the British Mandated of Palestine in Kibbutz Degania in 1926...
- Tim McElhaw
- John McElroy
- Leo Nomis
- William (Bill) Pomerance
- Sam Pomerance
- Bill Schroeder
- Boris Senior
- Gideon (Geda) Shochat
- Lee Sinclair
- Albert Solsberg
- Ted Stern
External links
- http://www.haaretz.com/news/montenegro-air-base-that-played-role-in-israel-s-birth-under-threat-1.236959
- http://www.iaf.org.il/3203-7607-he/IAF.aspx