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201 Squadron
Active1969–2004, 2008–Present
Country Israel
Branch Israeli Air Force
RoleStrike/Attack
Garrison/HQRamon Airbase
Nickname(s)The One (Hebrew: האחת, HaAhat)
EquipmentF-16I Sufa
EngagementsWar of Attrition
Yom Kippur War
1982 Lebanon War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Shmuel Hetz
Eitan Ben-Eliyahu
Aviem Sella[1]
Amir Eshel
Aircraft flown
AttackF-4 Phantom II

201 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force (IAF), also known as The One, is an F-16I squadron based at Ramon Airbase.[2] Formed at Hatzor in August 1969, 201 Squadron was the IAF's first F-4 Phantom II squadron. It flew the Kurnass (Sledgehammer) through several wars and numerous engagements, until the type's retirement in 2004.[citation needed]

Formation and War of Attrition

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201 Squadron was formed on August 17, 1969, at Hatzor, commanded by Major Shmuel Hetz.[3] A year earlier Israel had ordered 50 F-4 Phantoms, enough to equip two squadrons, and ten IAF airmen had spent March to August 1969 training with the 479th Tactical Training Wing at George Air Force Base. These included five 201 Squadron airmen: pilots Hetz, Yoram Agmon and Yitzhak Peer, and navigators David Yair and Menahem Eini.[4] Israel's first four Phantoms arrived at Hatzor on Friday, 5 September 1969, flown by USAF pilots and escorted by three 101 Squadron Mirage IIIs. Codenamed Peace Echo I, delivery flights of this first batch of Phantoms continued until July 1970 at the rate of four aircraft a month.[5] Two days later the Phantom carried out its first flight in Israeli skies, flown by Hetz with IAF Commander Mordechai Hod in the back seat.[1][6]

Formed in the midst of the War of Attrition, 201 Squadron was soon called upon to participate in ongoing IAF operations. The squadron flew its first operational mission a mere month after receiving its first aircraft, flying an armed patrol in the Sharm el-Sheikh region on October 9.[1][7] Until November 15, 1969, when the IAF's second Phantom squadron received its mounts, 69 Squadron airmen flew with 201 Squadron[8] and on October 16 two 201 Squadron aircraft manned by 69 Squadron crewmen participated in operation Gvir 29 against an Egyptian surface to air missile (SAM) battery on the Suez Canal. 201 pilots carried out a similar strike, codenamed Gvir 30, on October 22, and the Kurnass was soon a routine feature of the IAF's struggle with Egyptian air defences along the canal.[9] At dawn on November 4 two Phantoms, manned by a crew from each squadron, streaked across Cairo, creating sonic booms and shattering windows in the Egyptian capital.[10]

On November 11, 69 Squadron's Ehud Hankin and Achikar Eyal shot down an Egyptian MiG-21 to score the Phantom's first aerial victory with the IAF.[11] Six days later, on November 17, the squadron lost its first Phantom on a mission to bomb Egyptian radars stationed in Jordan. Hankin and navigator Shaul Levi were hit by ground fire and ejected in the vicinity of Ein Bokek, near the Dead Sea, where they were recovered.[1][12]

Inter-war period

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In March 1971 the IAF received its first RF-4Es, the reconnaissance version of the Phantom, several of which entered service with 201 Squadron at Hatzor.[13] Prior to their delivery, the squadron operated a pair of locally-converted 69 squadron F-4Es in the reconnaissance role. The two, which has a downward facing KS-87 camera installed and their gun removed, were operated between September 1970 and April 1971.[14]

Yom Kippur War

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201 Squadron F-4 Phantom II bearing three victory markings

Yiftach Zemer, who had led 201 Squadron since May 1971,[15] was abroad at the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War and command fell to his deputy, Major Ron Huldai.[6][16]

Zemmer returned on October 8, but was injured when he and navigator Yitzhak Amitay were forced to eject on October 13 while on the way to attack Damascus International Airport. Zemmer was replaced by Eitan Ben Eliyahu, who had served as the squadron's senior deputy CO until September 1973.[6][17]

201 Squadron flew 758 sorties durig the Yom Kippur War, losing 14 aircraft, the most of all IAF Phantom squadrons. Seven aircrew had been killed and 14 had become prisoners of war. It was credited 30 air-to-air kills, though unofficially claimed 32.[6]

Fighting in Lebanon

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The squadron flew 45 sorties during Operation Litani of March 1978, comprising of 39 strike sorties and 6 combat air patrols.[1] It was back in action during the 1982 Lebanon War, flying 207 sorties. Of these, 71 were SEAD sorties (including participation in Operation Mole Cricket 19), 108 were strikes and close air support, and 23 combat air patrols.[1]

In June 1988 the squadron relocated to Tel Nof. It was the first F-4 squadron to re-equip with the Israeli-upgraded version of the Phantom, the Kurnass 2000, beginning on April 9, 1989. The new aircraft went into action for the first time on February 5, 1991, striking four structures in the vicinity of Sidon. In July 1993 the squadron participated in Operation Accountability, led by future IAF commander Amir Eshel,[1][18] and in April 1996 participated in Operation Grapes of Wrath.[19]

Squadron 201 resumed operating reconnaissance aircraft in early 1994 when 69 Squadron dropped the reconnaissance role in favor of PGM missions. The squadron received the Hammers' RF-4Es and had to re-familiarize with the role, requiring several months for the unit to reach operational readiness. In April 2003 it also received 119 Squadron's three F-4E(S) aircraft. It operated both types until its disbandment in 2004.[20]

In the year prior to Israel's 2000 withdrawal from Lebanon, 201 Squadron was at the forefront of IAF squadrons operating in the theatre, flying more sorties than any other squadron. On 18 May 2000, several days before the actual withdrawal, 201 Squadron was tasked with the destruction of 9 T-55s belonging to Ahmed Jibril's PFLP-GC in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, close to the Syrian border. The mission was carried out by six Phantoms using precision guided munitions.[19] The squadron was active also throughout the withdrawal itself, supporting IDF activity on the ground.[21] On October 7, 2000, after Hizbullah attacked an IDF patrol on the Lebanese border and captured three Israeli soldiers, two 201 Squadron Phantoms were scrambled to the scene and attacked targets on the Lebanese side of the border. The Second Intifada, which begun at that same time, witnessed the squadron provide reconnaissance and illumination assistance to Israeli ground forces.[19]

@@@ disbandment

Reformation

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201 Squadron F-16I Sufa '882' arriving at the 2010 Kecskemét Air Show

201 Squdron was reactivated at Ramon on 9 July 2008, the IAF's fourth and last F-16I Sufa squadron.[22]

@@@ Gaza operations

201 Squadron F-16Is have also been a regular staple of IAF cooperation with foreign air forces, including several deployments to Greece for joint training with the Hellenic Air Force and Hellenic air defenses.[23][24] It has also participated in the several Red Flag exercises.[25]

See also

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References

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201 Squadron F-16I at Kecskemét
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Tal, Shay (June 26, 2008). "לא סתם "אחת"". Israeli Air Force Magazine (in Hebrew) (181). Israei Air Force. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  2. ^ "Israeli Air Force". www.middleeastexplorer.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-29.
  3. ^ "The One". Israeli Air Force Official Website. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  4. ^ Aloni and Avidror 2010, p. 100
  5. ^ Shalom 2007, p. 395
  6. ^ a b c d Klein and Aloni 2009, pp. 102-113
  7. ^ Shalom 2007, p. 461
  8. ^ Aloni and Avidror 2010, p. 106
  9. ^ Shalom 2007, pp. 467 - 472
  10. ^ Shalom 2007, p. 482
  11. ^ Aloni Israeli Phantom II Aces 2004, pp. 9-10, 86
  12. ^ Shalom 2007, p. 408
  13. ^ Shalom 2007, p. 296
  14. ^ Klein and Aloni 2009, p. 17
  15. ^ Aloni Israeli Phantom II Aces 2004, p. 35
  16. ^ Assa, Lizka (September 20, 2013). "כאבי פאנטום". Israel Hayom (in Hebrew). Retrieved September 23, 2017.
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference Phanton35 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  18. ^ "מפקד חיל-האוויר, אלוף אמיר אשל" (in Hebrew). Israeli Air Force Official Website. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  19. ^ a b c Rosen, Yoav (December 1, 2000). "שתיקת הסירנה". Israeli Air Force Magazine (in Hebrew) (136). Israei Air Force. Retrieved April 2, 2014.
  20. ^ Klein and Aloni 2009, pp. 27-30, 65-69,
  21. ^ "טייסת "האחת"" (in Hebrew). Israeli Air Force Official Website. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  22. ^ Newdick and Zidon 2013, p. 176
  23. ^ "After deterioration of relations with Turkey, Israeli and Greek combat planes take part in a military exercise in Greece". The Aviationist. November 1, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  24. ^ "Israeli F-16I Pilots use Greece's S-300 SAMs to prepare for potential Iran air strikes". The Aviationist. May 6, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  25. ^ Pickering, Moray (August 13, 2016). "Israeli F-16Is head to Red Flag". Military Aviation Review. Retrieved September 15, 2017.

Bibliography

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Squadron 201 (Israeli Air Force).


Category:Israeli Air Force squadrons

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