| title (item) | field_cer_web | field_cer_navbox | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auster AOP.6 |
Originally assigned to the Royal Air Force’s No. 651 Squadron, which was disbanded at the end of 1947, this Taylorcraft Auster AOP.6 – serial VF502 – was left behind at Ramat David until the British withdrawal. Thereafter it was re-assigned to No. 1909 Flight, RAF, based in the Haifa enclave. When the latter was evacuated, it was flown – perhaps with two other Austers of the same unit – to Amman, placed at the disposal of the UN (without crews) and painted in white overall, with the black title UNITED NATIONS on the fuselage side. It is possible that the title was not repeated on the wings before the machine was badly damaged on the ground on 25 June 1948 by a pair of REAF Spitfires whose pilots thought it was an Israeli aircraft because its overall white livery looked similar to the overall silver dope on Israeli-operated Austers. Several of No. 651 Squadron’s other Austers had in fact been sold to Aviron which served as a front organisation for Sherut Avir which in turn became the Israeli Air Force. This aircraft was eventually returned to the RAF but was promptly struck off charge on 10 February 1949. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)