114 Squadron (Israel)

Last updated
114th Squadron IAF
טייסת 114
IAF 114th Squadron Insignia.svg
Logo of the Squadron
CountryFlag of Israel.svg  Israel
AllegianceFlag of the Israel Defense Forces.svg  Israel Defense Forces
BranchIsrael Air Force Flag.svg  Israeli Air Force
Type Helicopter Squadron
Role Transport
Garrison/HQ Tel Nof Airbase
Nickname(s)Night Leaders Squadron
Aircraft flown
Helicopter CH-53-2000 Sea Stallions
Israeli Air Force 114 Squadron CH-53 at the 2012 Independence Day Flypast. Tel Aviv shore, April 2012. IAF TLV 260412 CH-53 01.JPG
Israeli Air Force 114 Squadron CH-53 at the 2012 Independence Day Flypast. Tel Aviv shore, April 2012.
Flypast of Yassur Helicopter of the squadron IndFlypast 160413 Yasur.jpg
Flypast of Yassur Helicopter of the squadron

The 114 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as the Night Leaders Squadron, is a helicopter squadron of CH-53-2000 Sea Stallions based at Tel Nof Airbase. [1]

Contents

In July 2023 its helicopters and crews merged with the 118 Squadron. The 114 has been temporarily made inactive until new CH-53K King Stallions come from the US. [2]

History

The squadron was established in January 1966, against the background of the growing need for transport helicopters. It was the second helicopter squadron in the Air Force and the first heavy helicopter squadron. Haim Noveh and operations officer Nehemia Dagan, who returned from training in France on the Super Ferlon helicopters, were appointed to the headquarters. In April of that year, the first Super Farlon helicopters were received in the squadron. In February 1967, Neve and Dagan Khokht flew a military patrol deep into Egypt as part of an intelligence-gathering mission called "Operation Yirgazi". Both of them, as well as the airborne mechanic Asher Atrog, were awarded the exemplary decoration. [3]

In the Six Day War, the squadron operated four helicopters that carried out 41 sorties of landing troops, equipment and rescuing casualties. After the war, the squadron's helicopters rescued 24 drowning victims of the destroyer Eilat. [4]

In December 1968, three squadron helicopters landed forces from a patrol of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the paratrooper brigade that raided Beirut International Airport as part of Operation Tishura. During the War of Attrition, under the command of Neve and Perry, the squadron participated in many operations, including on the Egyptian front: Operation Shock, in which they raided three Targets deep in Egypt, one helicopter landed a force of paratroopers that hit a power plant and two helicopters landed bombs on a bridge and a dam in the Nile River in operations "Bustan 22" and "Bustan 37" they landed forces that sabotaged high voltage lines and in Operation Rhodes they led forces that raided the island of Shadoan. On the Syrian front: "Operation Marilyn" and Operation "Sheft 47" in which IDF forces led the way in blowing up bridges in Syria, Operation "Malka 30" and "Sheft 37" in which they led paratroopers who shelled military camps with mortars. On the Jordanian front, the squadron's helicopters participated in operations against terrorist bases, including Operation Karama, "Operation Assuta" and "Operation Iron".

In October 1969, the squadron received the first attack helicopters purchased by Israel, and two months later the helicopters, together with the veteran Super Ferlon helicopters, participated in Operation Rooster 53, in which paratroopers raided an Egyptian radar station and allowed the squadron's helicopters to bring it to Israel intact. After the war of attrition, on August 6, 1970, assault helicopters were transferred to a newly established squadron, Squadron 118. During the Yom Kippur War , the squadron operated Super Farlon helicopters, which carried out 331 sorties, at the end of the war they participated in the landing of troops for the recapture of Mount Hermon in Operation Dessert.

During the campaign on Mount Hermon, a helicopter of the squadron was launched on April 27, 1974, to the area of the 'Havitholim' outpost, to rescue seven paratroopers from the 202nd Battalion who were hit by a Syrian shell on the way to Mount Hermon. While attempting to land near the 'Havitholim' outpost, the helicopter crashed and caught fire. His six crew members, two pilots, two airborne mechanics, a doctor and a medic from the Hits 386 evacuation unit (later unit 669), perished.

After the Yom Kippur War, the Air Force received a large number of Yassur helicopters. On January 13, 1975, Gef Yas'or was established in the squadron and it continued to operate both types of helicopters until 1991, when the Super Farlon helicopters went out of service. In May 1977, a Yasir helicopter belonging to the squadron crashed with 10 crew members and another 44 paratrooper brigade fighters, in a disaster known as the aforementioned disaster.

In the mid-2000s, the squadron received its current name, "The Night Carrier Squadron".

In the Second Lebanon War, one of the squadron's helicopters was shot down and its five crew members were killed, after it was hit by anti-tank fire immediately after the landing of troops from the paratrooper brigade in Lebanon. One of the crew members was airborne mechanic Keren Tendler, the only IDF soldier killed in this war.

In total, the squadron has lost 32 fighters since its establishment, including two former squadron commanders (Hagai Kusht and Daniel Shippenbaur) who perished in Yassur accidents. The dead are commemorated at the squadron's memorial site on Mount Haruch near Jerusalem.

On July 7, 2022 , it was revealed that 114 Squadron would be the first unit to receive the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion ("Wild") helicopters. [5]

On July 4, 2023, the squadron was closed and merged with Squadron 118, until its re-opening as the "Pra" helicopter squadron. [2]

Sources

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yom Kippur War</span> 1973 war between Israel and a coalition of Arab states

The Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War, the October War, the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, or the Fourth Arab–Israeli War, was an armed conflict fought from 6 to 25 October 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. The majority of combat between the two sides took place in the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights—both of which had been occupied by Israel in 1967—with some fighting in African Egypt and northern Israel. Egypt's initial objective in the war was to seize a foothold on the eastern bank of the Suez Canal and subsequently leverage these gains to negotiate the return of the rest of the Israeli-occupied Sinai Peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israeli Air Force</span> Aerial service branch of the Israel Defense Forces

The Israeli Air Force operates as the aerial and space warfare branch of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence. As of April 2022, Aluf Tomer Bar has been serving as the Air Force commander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War of Attrition</span> 1967–70 war between Israel and Egypt

The War of Attrition involved fighting between Israel and Egypt, Jordan, the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and their allies from 1967 to 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">35th Paratroopers Brigade (Israel)</span> Elite Israel Defense Forces unit

The 35th "Paratroopers" Brigade is an Israeli military airborne infantry brigade. It forms a major part of the Israeli Ground Forces' Infantry Corps, and has a history of carrying out special operations from the 1950s onwards. Soldiers of the brigade wear maroon berets with the Infantry Corps pin and russet boots.

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion</span> Transport helicopter series by Sikorsky

The Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion is a heavy lift helicopter operated by the United States military. As the Sikorsky S-80, it was developed from the CH-53 Sea Stallion, mainly by adding a third engine, adding a seventh blade to the main rotor, and canting the tail rotor 20°. It was built by Sikorsky Aircraft for the United States Marine Corps. Developed in the 1970s, it entered service in 1981, and is planned to be in service into the 2030s. It is one of the largest helicopters, and military helicopters in service, and is operated from U.S. Navy ships or from land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion</span> 1964 transport helicopter family by Sikorsky

The CH-53 Sea Stallion is an American family of heavy-lift transport helicopters designed and built by the American manufacturer Sikorsky Aircraft. The Sea Stallion was originally developed in response to a request from the United States Navy's Bureau of Naval Weapons made in March 1962 for a replacement for the Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave helicopters flown by the United States Marine Corps (USMC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air assault</span> Military movement of ground forces by air into combat or unsecured areas

Air assault is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft, such as helicopters, to seize and hold key terrain that has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces behind enemy lines. In addition to regular infantry training, air-assault units usually receive training in rappelling, fast-roping techniques, and air transportation. Their equipment is sometimes designed or field-modified to allow better transportation and/or carrying within aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tel Nof Airbase</span> Main base of the Israeli Air Force

Tel Nof Airbase, also known as Air Force Base 8, is the oldest and main base of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) located 5 km south of Rehovot, Israel. Tel Nof houses two strike fighter, two helicopter and a UAV squadron. Also located on the base are the Flight Test Center and several special units of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), among others Unit 669 and the Paratroopers Brigade training center and its headquarters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion</span> Heavy transport helicopter

The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion is a heavy transport helicopter designed and produced by Sikorsky Aircraft. The King Stallion is an evolution of the long running CH-53 series of helicopters which has been in continuous service since 1966, and features three up-rated 7,500 shp (5,590 kW) engines, new composite rotor blades, and a wider aircraft cabin than its predecessors. It is the largest and heaviest helicopter in the U.S. military.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">113 Squadron (Israel)</span> Military unit

The 113 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as the Tayeset Ha'Tsira'a. The squadron operates AH-64D Apache Longbows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avraham Lanir</span> Israeli Air Force officer

Avraham "Avi" Lanir was a lieutenant colonel in the Israel Air Force. He was the highest-ranking Israeli fighter pilot to fall into enemy hands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Battle of Mount Hermon</span> 1973 battle of the Yom Kippur War

The First Battle of Mount Hermon was fought at the outset of the Yom Kippur War between the Syrian Army and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). On Yom Kippur, October 6, 1973, Syrian commandos attacked and captured the IDF outpost on Mount Hermon. Two days later, the Syrians repelled an Israeli counterattack in the Second Battle of Mount Hermon. It was eventually recaptured by Israel on October 21 in the Third battle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Third Battle of Mount Hermon</span> 1973 battle of the Yom Kippur War

The Third Battle of Mount Hermon was fought on the night of October 21–22, 1973, between the Israeli Army and the Syrian Army over Mount Hermon, during the last days of the Yom Kippur War. Syrian troops had captured the IDF outpost on the mountain on October 6, and held it for two weeks. In the third battle, codenamed Operation Dessert, Israeli troops captured the Israeli outpost and the Syrian one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">118 Squadron (Israel)</span> Military unit

The 118 Squadron is an active helicopter squadron of the Israeli Air Force and is part of the Participation & Helicopter Group, based at Tel Nof Airbase. Established on October 1970 and nicknamed the "Night Birds", also known as the "Night Riders" and the "Nocturnal Birds of Pray", the squadron is operating the Sikorsky CH-53-2025 Yas'ur.

Events in the year 1973 in Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Rhodes</span> Israeli raid on Shadwan Island as part of War of Attrition

Operation Rhodes was an Israeli heliborne raid against the Egyptian island of Shadwan on 22 January 1970, during the War of Attrition. It was carried out by Israeli paratroopers and Shayetet 13 naval commandos, who took control of the island for over a day before leaving with 62 captured Egyptian soldiers and radar equipment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ran Goren</span> Israeli fighter pilot and Major General

Ran Goren is a retired fighter pilot and Major General of the IDF, former Deputy Commander of the Air Force and Head of the Manpower Directorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amos Yaron</span> Israel Defence Forces Major General (born 1940)

Amos Yaron was Israel Defense Forces Major General and former head of the Manpower Directorate. He served as the Director General of the Ministry of Defense from 1999 until 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War of Attrition in the Bashan Salient</span> Armed conflict between Israel and Syria, 1974

The War of Attrition in the Bashan Salient was an armed conflict between Israel and Syria in the Bashan Salient from March through May of 1974. The region was conquered by the Israeli army (IDF) at the end of the Yom Kippur War in October of 1973, and held by Israeli forces until the signing of the disengagement agreement on May 31, 1974.

References