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By a tremendous effort, Israel assembled a motley group of combat aircraft
when Arab air forces attacked it after the declaration of independence in
1948. The first airplanes came from Czechoslovakia, which furnished
propeller-driven Messerschmitts and reconditioned Spitfires from World
War II. Czechoslovakia also trained the first Israeli pilots, although these few
were quickly supplemented by hundreds of experienced volunteers from a
number of countries. The prestige of the air force was enhanced after its
spectacular success during the June 1967 War, and the subsequent decade
saw an unprecedented increase in its manpower and equipment resources.
Since 1971 the air force has also assumed full responsibility for air defense.
The air force is not designated as a separate service. Officially known as the
Air Corps (Hel Avir), the air force, however, enjoy more autonomy within
the IDF structure than the official designation would suggest. The
commander has the status of senior adviser to the chief of staff. Along with
the ground force area commanders, the commander of the air force holds
two-star rank. In 1988, the air force consisted of about 28,000 men, of
whom approximately 9,000 were career professionals, and 19,000 were
conscripts assigned primarily to air defense units. An additional 50,000
reserve members were available for mobilization. As of 1999, the IAF
strength of 32,500 included some 22,000 conscripts who mostly served in
the air-defence brigades. Reservists numbered 54,000.
when Arab air forces attacked it after the declaration of independence in
1948. The first airplanes came from Czechoslovakia, which furnished
propeller-driven Messerschmitts and reconditioned Spitfires from World
War II. Czechoslovakia also trained the first Israeli pilots, although these few
were quickly supplemented by hundreds of experienced volunteers from a
number of countries. The prestige of the air force was enhanced after its
spectacular success during the June 1967 War, and the subsequent decade
saw an unprecedented increase in its manpower and equipment resources.
Since 1971 the air force has also assumed full responsibility for air defense.
The air force is not designated as a separate service. Officially known as the
Air Corps (Hel Avir), the air force, however, enjoy more autonomy within
the IDF structure than the official designation would suggest. The
commander has the status of senior adviser to the chief of staff. Along with
the ground force area commanders, the commander of the air force holds
two-star rank. In 1988, the air force consisted of about 28,000 men, of
whom approximately 9,000 were career professionals, and 19,000 were
conscripts assigned primarily to air defense units. An additional 50,000
reserve members were available for mobilization. As of 1999, the IAF
strength of 32,500 included some 22,000 conscripts who mostly served in
the air-defence brigades. Reservists numbered 54,000.
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