| 119 Squadron | |
|---|---|
| טייסת העטלף | |
 Bat Squadron | |
| Active | 8 September 1956 – present |
| Country |  Israel |
| Branch |  Israeli Air Force |
| Role | Air Defence |
| Garrison/HQ | Ramon Airbase |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Fighter | F-16I Sufa |
119 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as the Bat Squadron, is an Lockheed Martin F-16I Sufa fighter squadron based at Ramon Airbase. [1]
The 119 Squadron was first formed on 8 September 1956 at Tel Nof Airbase, under the command of Yoash Tzidon. The squadron was equipped with the Gloster Meteor NF.13, seeing its first two jets delivered in October 1956. The squadron participated in the Suez Crisis, but its operations were limited due to lack of crew and aircraft. [2] However, 119 Squadron did shoot down an Egyptian Air Force Ilyushin Il-14 on the 28 October 1956, the day before the conflict started. [3] [2]
In May 1958, 119 Squadron began to receive the French-built Sud Aviation Vautour IIN. The squadron continued to operate both the Meteor NF.13 and Vautour IIN until 1963, when the Meteor NF.13 was retired from Israeli service and the Vautours were transferred to 110 Squadron at Ramat David Airbase. This was done ahead of 119 Squadron's conversion to the Dassault Mirage IIICJ in March 1964. [2]
119 Squadron fought in the Six-Day War, under the command of Ran Ronen-Pekker, [4] where it emerged as the top scoring unit in the Israeli Air Force, with 19 air combat kills to two losses. [2] Giora Romm became Israel's first ace during the conflict while serving the 119 Squadron. [5] [6] The squadron was also continually involved in the subsequent War of Attrition. [2]
In 1970, 119 Squadron relocated to Ramat David Airbase and began to convert to the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Kurnass. It also received a pair of RF-4E Orevs in 1971. The squadron fought in the Yom Kippur War in October 1973. [2] During the war, 119 Squadron participated in the Syrian General Staff Headquarters Raid on 9 October. [7] After the war, the squadron relocated back to Tel Nof Airbase. [2]
119 Squadron fought in the 1982 Lebanon War. [7]
In 1989, the squadron began to receive the upgraded F-4E Kurnass 2000, completing conversion by 1992. [2] 119 Squadron continued to operate the Kurnass 2000 and Orev until their retirement in 2004. [8]
In 2004, 119 Squadron relocated to Ramon Airbase, swapping places with 157 Squadron, which moved to Ramat David Airbase. On 28 December 2004, the squadron received its first Lockheed Martin F-16I Sufas. [8]
In March 2018, the IAF confirmed that 119 Squadron, together with Squadrons 69 and 253, took part in Operation Orchard. [9] During a briefing prior to the mission, the commander of 119 Squadron wrote in his notes that the operation “will change the face of the Middle East.” [9]
Aircraft operated include: [2] [8]
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' only jet aircraft to engage in combat operations during the Second World War. The Meteor's development was heavily reliant on its ground-breaking turbojet engines, pioneered by Frank Whittle and his company, Power Jets Ltd. Development of the aircraft began in 1940, although work on the engines had been under way since 1936.
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