Hobby Master HA8313 Israeli Air Force, "Ezer Weisman", 105 Sqn, 1955

[ACpilot]

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series
HA8313
Spitfire IXe "Ezer Weisman"
205/57, 105 Sqn., Ramat David AB, June 1955

August 2016 Release as announced on Hawkone's website.

Hobby Master 1/48 scale Air Power Series HA8313 Spitfire IXe "Ezer Weisman" 205/57, 105 Sqn., Ramat David AB, June 1955

Dan

[ACpilot]

Photo of the Warbird version.

Dan

[ACpilot]

The only photo I have found so far of an Israeli Spitfire in this scheme (not sure if this is the exact aircraft).



Intersting history on Ezer Weizman on the IAF Museum website:

http://www.iaf.org.il/2564-30171-en/IAF.aspx

Dan




Lieutenant General (retired), Ezer Weizman, the sixth Commander in Chief of the Israeli Air Force, was born in Tel Aviv in 1924. His uncle was Chaim Weizmann, Israel's first president. After completing the Haganah's Squad Commander Course in 1941, he joined the Aviation Club and earned a pilot's license. A year later Weizman joined the British Army. His request to participate in the Pilots Course was turned down, and instead he served as a truck driver in Libya and Egypt.

As a driver, he did not give up his dream of becoming a fighter pilot and continued to request a transfer to Pilots Course from his commanders. In 1943, after a year of service in the British Army, Central Headquarters sent him for medical screening and finally to Flight School in Rhodesia. After earning his wings, Weizman served as a combat pilot in Britain's Royal Air Force, flying in North Africa and the Far East. In 1946 he was discharged, and travelled to London to study aviation. In London he joined Etzel, where he participated in an explosives course and acted as a messenger. Weizman only served in Etzel briefly, and without the knowledge of the Haganah leadership. He returned to Israel in 1947, after Scotland Yard grew suspicious of his activities. On returning to Israel he took part in the establishment of the Air Service. During the War of Independence he took part in air combat, and in supply missions for the besieged communities in the south. In May 1948 he retrained on Messerschmitt aircraft, and took part in bringing them to Israel. Later, he would be one of four Messerschmitt pilots to attack the Egyptian column near Ashdod. On 7th January 1949 Weizman participated in aerial combat against eight British Spitfires which penetrated Israel in an attempt to attack southern Israel. Four Israeli Spitfires were scrambled from Hatzor Airbase, with Weizman in command. They identified the British craft above Nirim (near Gaza), and the four Israeli craft succeeded in bringing down five of the eight British craft. One of the British Spitfires was brought down by Weizman himself.

After the War of Independence, Weizman was placed in charge of the "1st Combat" Squadron, in whose establishment he had participated during the war. In February 1951, he was sent to Britain to take a course at the Royal Air Force's Command and Staff College.

When he returned to Israel, Major General Haim Laskov, then Commander in Chief of the IAF, tasked him with organising an advanced training course for officers. He also helped establish a Command and Staff for use by all of the IDF's forces.

In October 1954 Weizman was appointed commander of the Ramat David Airbase and in February 1956 he became commander of Hatzor Airbase. In this role, he was sent to France to coordinate the acquisition of Israel's first Mystère aircraft.

In December 1956, he transferred to Air Force Headquarters, serving as head of the Air Department and deputy to the then Commander in Chief of the IAF, Dan Tolkovsky. In July 1958, he was promoted to Major General replacing Tolkovsky in Command of the Air Force. During his tenure, the IAF received the Mirage, and all the combat squadrons were equipped with jets. The Air Force developed its routine security measures and improved its attack methodologies

Weizman completed his time as Commander in Chief of the IAF in April 1966, passing command of the Air Force to Mordechai ("Mottie") Hod. A month later he was appointed head of the General Staff Branch in the IDF headquarters, the role in which he served during the Six Day War and the War of Attrition.

In December 1969 he was discharged from the IDF, and joined the Likud Party. He was appointed Minister of Transport in the national unity government. In 1970, he resigned alongside Begin and other Gahal ministers. He continued to engage in politics, as well as private business, and in 1977, with the Likud's ascension to power, he was appointed Defence Minister.

Weizman took an active part in the peace process with Egypt, as a member of the negotiating team at Camp David. This led to differences of opinion between him and Begin, and he eventually resigned from the government. In 1984 Weizman stood as an independent candidate for the Knesset, as part of the Yachad movement. After the elections he joined the Labour Party, and served as Minister for the Arab Sector. During 1988-1990 he was Minister for Science and Technology. In February 1992 he resigned from the Knesset. In May 1993 he was sworn in as the seventh President of the State of Israel, and in 1998 he was sworn in for a second term. Weizman also wrote two books: "The Battle for Peace" and "On Eagles' Wings".

On 24th April 2005, Lieutenant General (retired) Weizman passed away at the age of 81.

[ACpilot]

Pre Production Photos are up on Hawkone's website.

Hobby Master 1/48 scale Air Power Series HA8313 Spitfire IXe "Ezer Weizman" 205/57, 105 Sqn., Ramat David AB, June 1955

Dan