The writing of this book, the first in-depth and fully detailed research
about the early years of the Chel Ha'avir - from the light-plane days to
the supersonic fighters received roughly ten years later - is the
culmination of a long research period by the author. Research that was
made harder by the tight - but understandable and respected - security
measures involving Israel's Forces. An exceptional source of information
has been the help provided by many Chel Ha'Avir veterans who fought in
the early days during 1948/1949, and those who helped establish a viable
air force in 1949-1956 in spite of tight budgets, obsolescent equipment
and lack of experience, and also those who fought in Sinai in late 1956,
establishing the seeds for its future role as the airborne shield of
Israel. As the reader will discover, the beginnings were extremely hard,
and the Chel Ha'Avir had to face unfriendly attitudes from both the
United States and the United Kingdom, which took place while many
people - civilian and military - were dying in the newborn Hebrew state.
But in observing that official policies do not always reflect the
citizenship's feelings, most of the colorful band of foreign volunteers
that helped the Chel Ha'avir - and the other defense forces - to resist,
fight back and win, came from those countries. These foreign volunteers,
mostly with combat experience in World War II, provided a core in which
many highly talented young Israelis learned fast. One thing was certain,
then and now; Israel exists because of the resolute people that live in
this small country, both civilian and military, but above all because of
the Chel Ha'avir which in the following years would be proclaimed the
most combat experienced air force in the world.
