Artists in the sky and on the ground...

Since the birth of the Heyl Ha'Avir (IAF, Israeli Air Force) in 1948, the development and the organisation of the air force was surrounded with a veil of secrecy for a long period.

Some units from the early days, like 69 Hammers Squadron (B-17 Flying Fortress), 101 First Fighter Squadron (Avia S-199) have become famous and even notorious during the first years of the Israeli existence.

Some aircraft wore squadron badges on their fuselage or tail. Even flashes were painted on the aircraft to mark their unit, but for a long time the IAF was very secretive with exposing the numbers of aircraft in active service. For that reason fake badges and paintings of non existing squadrons were used to draw a curtain of mystery for the outsiders.

Nowadays, the Israeli Air Force adorn the tails of active fighter aircraft with outstanding markings of their squadrons. There is no doubt on the squadron involved when one sees those markings.

The tailmarkings can be described as first class, high definition and very artistic how the camouflage colours of the aircraft are used to draw remarkable paintings of the squadron badges.

Please visit the Israeli Air Force Air Order of Battle to have an overview of all active flying units with their impressive squadron markings on their tail.

Photos: Bar Tzi and Avia World