Flying Camels and Clandestine Pilots - The History of Israeli Aviation

Israeli civilian aviation had humble beginnings as the Flying Camel Club, to the respected El Al airline of today. Learn about the French daredevil who became the first person to land in Israel, the tragedy of moshav Atarot, and how an American Jewish WWII vet snuck airplanes into beleaguered Israel during the War of Independence.

Uri Braier with one of the members of the Flying Camel gliding club during training near Bat Yam, 1939. Credit: Zoltan Kluger, Israeli Government Press Office

Yossef Keren, graduate of the first Hagana pilots course of the Aviron company, 1938. Credit: Zoltan Kluger, GPO.

Jerusalem Airport in Atarot the former moshav that was destroyed by the Jordanians. Credit: Ilan Bruner, GPO, 1967.

A member of the Flying Camel gliding club being briefed by instructor Benjamin Kahane before take off on the beach of Bat Yam. Credit: Zoltyan Kluger, GPO, 1938.

NOTES:

• From Flying Camels to Flying Stars: Israel Reborn - Israel Airline Museum

• Shir El Al - music, Hanan Yovel, words, Zev Jabotinsky

• A Wing and a Prayer - Putting Nazi Weapons in Jewish Hands

• Civil Aviation in Mandate Palestine

• 100 years of civil aviation in Israel

• First Plane to Land in Israel - Ynet News

• The History Of Aviation In Pre-State Eretz Yisrael - by Saul Singer

• EL AL Israel Airline History - Official El Al website

• Jabotinsky Aviation School - Betarim in North America

• Spielberg Jewish Film Archive - Jabotinsky Aviation School

• Jabotinsky Flying School Enrolls 25 in Presence of Allied Diplomats - JTA 1941

• Al Schwimmer, father of Israel’s Air Force

• American Jewish Youths Return from Israel to Answer Charges of Sending Planes - JTA, 1949

• How a WWII hero sent planes to Israel - Business Insider