North American
P-51D Mustang
Hebrew Name: Bardales
116 Squadron
The first Mustangs were smuggled into Israel from the
U.S. in early 1948. They were packed in crates labeled "Combines
- manufactured by International". Only two P-51s saw action during
the War of Independence.
Israel's first Mustang kill came on 20 November 1948, when a volunteer
pilot shot down a British reconnaissance Mosquito that was spying on Israel.
