Ramat David Airbase

At the start of the Second World War, Ramat David was a makeshift strip carved into a cornfield near Mount Carmel. It operated as backup to RAF Haifa. In June 1941, Roald Dahl landed his RAF Hurricane here.

In 1942 it became a formal RAF base under the British Mandate. During WWII, Ramat David hosted numerous RAF squadrons, including fighters, bombers, and transport aircraft. Jewish paratroopers trained here for covert missions behind enemy lines, aiding Allied airmen and helping Jews evade Nazi capture.

The base was used by Special Operations Executive (SOE) to train agents for clandestine missions such as the abduction of German general Kreipe.

RAF Squadrons Stationed at Ramat David:
- No. 6, 32, 74, 127, 208, 213, 232, 243, 249 Squadrons – operated Spitfires, Mustangs, and Hurricanes
- No. 46, 216, 459 Squadrons – operated Beaufighters and Hudsons
- No. 294 Squadron – operated Wellingtons
- No. 1909 Flight, No. 651 Squadron – operated Auster aircraft
- No. 4 Middle East Training School – active 1943–1944

On 22 May 1948, during the British withdrawal from Palestine, the Egyptian Air Force mistakenly bombed the base, killing four British airmen. Five Egyptian planes were shot down in retaliation. Soon after, the base was handed over to the newly formed Israel Defense Forces.

Post-independence, Ramat David became a key IAF base. The 69 Squadron “Hammers” flew smuggled B-17 bombers from the U.S., aided by Charles Winters, later pardoned by President George W. Bush. The 103 Squadron “Elephants” operated Dakota and DC-5 transports.

Future Israeli president Ezer Weizman commanded the base in the 1950s. In 2011, Wing 1 was named in his honor.

In August and September 2024, Hezbollah launched rockets at the base. Most were intercepted by Iron Dome.

Current IAF Units
- 101 Squadron “First Fighter” – F-16C Barak
- 105 Squadron “Scorpion” – F-16D Barak
- 109 Squadron “The Valley” – F-16D Barak
- 157 Squadron “In The Valley” – classified UAVs (Electronic Warfare)
- 160 Squadron “Shadow Hunter” – classified UAVs
- 193 Squadron “Defenders of the West” – AS565 Panther helicopters

At the base stands a British war-time command building, which also saw services under IAF control. There are also memorial dedicated to the WW2 paratrooper school were Jewish agents were trained.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Sdo216