Pinchas Ben-Porat
Encyclopedia
Pinchas Ben-Porat (died July 27, 1955) was one of Israel's first aviators. He was involved in the Palavir
, Sherut Avir
, the IAF
's 101 Squadron
, and EL AL
.
Pinchas Ben-Porat earned his flying license at the Aviron flying school
, Israel's flying school before the establishment of the State of Israel. After acquiring 150 hours of flying time, he became the commander for Palmach
's air platoon, the Palavir
, in January 1944. The Palmach
later sent him for further training in England, where he earned a commercial flying license.
Ben-Porat returned to Palestine in 1947 and joined the Sherut Avir
. On December 17, 1947, Ben-Porat was assigned a support role to Nevatim
, a Jewish settlement in the Negev desert. When Nevatim came under attack by Arab irregulars, Ben-Porat flew an RWD 13 or Auster to Nevatim. Upon arriving, he removed the right door of the plane and set up a Bren gun and gunner with several hand grenades. Ben-Porat and his gunner flew a half-hour of close air support. The tactic was emulated by many Jewish pilots and crew in the Israeli War of Independence.
On May 9, 1948, Ben-Porat was one of ten pilots who left Israel to enroll in Avia S-199
training in Czechoslovakia. He broke his arm crash-landing an S-199 and flew transports during the first truce of the War of Independence. After the war he flew B-17s with 69 Squadron, which he eventually went on to command.
After the War of Independence, Ben-Porat was the first Israeli instructor in the Israeli Air Force flight academy
. After a further tour flying B-17s, he left the military in 1950 and joined the Israeli state-owned commercial airline, El Al
. On July 27, 1955, while co-pilot on El Al Flight 402
, he was mistakenly shot down by the Bulgarian Air Force
; all on board were killed.
Palavir
The Palavir, an acronym for Plugat HaAvir was the air force for the Palmach, based in Tel Aviv. Little is known about the Palmach's flying platoon due to its short life and its secrecy during the British Mandate. Like the rest of the Palmach it was made up entirely of Jewish fighters.-History:In...
, Sherut Avir
Sherut Avir
The Sherut Avir was the air force of the Haganah and the forerunner of the Israeli Air Force.-Founding:The Sherut Avir was founded in November 1947, just two weeks prior to the passing of the 1947 UN Partition Plan which proposed the division of Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state.It was at...
, the IAF
IAF
IAF may refer to the following air forces:* Indian Air Force* Indonesian Air Force* Iraqi Air Force* Israeli Air Force* Italian Air ForceIAF may also refer to:* International of Anarchist Federations* Indian Armed Forces...
's 101 Squadron
101 Squadron
101 Squadron or 101st Squadron may refer to:* No. 101 Squadron RAF, a unit of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force* 101 Squadron , a unit of the Israeli Air Force* 101 Squadron , a unit of the Portuguese Air Force...
, and EL AL
El Al
El Al Israel Airlines Ltd , trading as El Al , is the flag carrier of Israel. It operates scheduled domestic and international services and cargo flights to Europe, North America, Africa and the Far East from its main base in Ben Gurion International Airport...
.
History
Pinchas Ben-Porat was born in Krevoe Ozero, a small shtetl (Jewish village) in Ukraine. He was born Pinchas Anchipolovsky.Pinchas Ben-Porat earned his flying license at the Aviron flying school
Aviron flying school
Aviron flying school was established in April, 1936 in Palestine under the British Mandate . The school was based in kibbutz Afikim, in Northern Israel.-History:...
, Israel's flying school before the establishment of the State of Israel. After acquiring 150 hours of flying time, he became the commander for Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
's air platoon, the Palavir
Palavir
The Palavir, an acronym for Plugat HaAvir was the air force for the Palmach, based in Tel Aviv. Little is known about the Palmach's flying platoon due to its short life and its secrecy during the British Mandate. Like the rest of the Palmach it was made up entirely of Jewish fighters.-History:In...
, in January 1944. The Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
later sent him for further training in England, where he earned a commercial flying license.
Ben-Porat returned to Palestine in 1947 and joined the Sherut Avir
Sherut Avir
The Sherut Avir was the air force of the Haganah and the forerunner of the Israeli Air Force.-Founding:The Sherut Avir was founded in November 1947, just two weeks prior to the passing of the 1947 UN Partition Plan which proposed the division of Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state.It was at...
. On December 17, 1947, Ben-Porat was assigned a support role to Nevatim
Nevatim
Nevatim is a moshav in southern Israel. Located in the northern Negev desert around south-east of Beersheba, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bnei Shimon Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 629....
, a Jewish settlement in the Negev desert. When Nevatim came under attack by Arab irregulars, Ben-Porat flew an RWD 13 or Auster to Nevatim. Upon arriving, he removed the right door of the plane and set up a Bren gun and gunner with several hand grenades. Ben-Porat and his gunner flew a half-hour of close air support. The tactic was emulated by many Jewish pilots and crew in the Israeli War of Independence.
On May 9, 1948, Ben-Porat was one of ten pilots who left Israel to enroll in Avia S-199
Avia S-199
|-See also:-External links: *** with more pictures and further information...
training in Czechoslovakia. He broke his arm crash-landing an S-199 and flew transports during the first truce of the War of Independence. After the war he flew B-17s with 69 Squadron, which he eventually went on to command.
After the War of Independence, Ben-Porat was the first Israeli instructor in the Israeli Air Force flight academy
Israeli Air Force flight academy
The Israeli Air Force Flight Academy trains aircrew to operate Israeli Air Force aircraft, qualifying fighter, helicopter and transport pilots as well as combat and transport navigators....
. After a further tour flying B-17s, he left the military in 1950 and joined the Israeli state-owned commercial airline, El Al
El Al
El Al Israel Airlines Ltd , trading as El Al , is the flag carrier of Israel. It operates scheduled domestic and international services and cargo flights to Europe, North America, Africa and the Far East from its main base in Ben Gurion International Airport...
. On July 27, 1955, while co-pilot on El Al Flight 402
El Al Flight 402
El Al Flight 402, a Lockheed L-049 Constellation pressurized four-engine propliner, registered 4X-AKC, was an international passenger flight from Vienna, Austria to Tel Aviv, Israel via Istanbul, Turkey, on July 27, 1955, which strayed into Bulgarian airspace and was shot down by two Bulgarian...
, he was mistakenly shot down by the Bulgarian Air Force
Bulgarian Air Force
The Bulgarian Air Force is a branch of the Military of Bulgaria, the other two being the Bulgarian Navy and Bulgarian land forces. Its mission is to guard and protect the sovereignty of Bulgarian airspace, to provide aerial support and to assist the Land Forces in case of war. The Bulgarian Air...
; all on board were killed.