29th May 2023 – At a very moving and emotional ceremony today near Ashdod – the IAF and its Legacy Association marked exactly 75 years since the first sortie by four IAF fighter planes.
The battle took place just 20 kms south of Tel Aviv at place which became known as Ad Halom (Until Here).
Four modified Messerschmidts known as Avia S-199s from the first IAF Squadron 101 flown by Lou Lenart (USA Machalnik), Modi Alon (Israeli), Ezer Weizman (Israeli) and Eddie Cohen (South African Machalnik) came down with setting sun behind them onto the large Egyptian convoy and troops.
On the ground were Givati troops fighting bravely against the much larger and well armed Egyptians. Eddie Cohen did not survive the attack. The IAF attack took the Egyptians totally by surprise as they had no idea that the fledgling Jewish State (only two weeks old) had any fighter planes. The efforts of the four pilots is credited with stopping the advance of the Egyptians and creating disarray in their ranks. For full details see this Wikipedia link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_Halom
The ceremony included speeches from the Mayor of Ashdod Dr. Yehiel Lasry, the Commander of the IAF General Tomer Bar, former Commander of the 101 Squadron Oded Marom and at the exact moment of the attack in 1948 a fly-over of four fighter jets from the same squadron took place above the large crowd. One jet veered to the right to symbolise the loss of Eddie Cohen.
Emphasis was made in all the speeches about the key role of Machalnikim in the War of Independence and in helping to create the Israel Airforce. Video interviews with Ezer Weizman and Lou Lenart were shown to the audience.
World Machal is forever grateful to Jerry Klinger for initiating the creation of the Machal plaque which was was unveiled at the Ad Halom memorial site. Saul Simon was instrumental in preparations and production of the plaque which was designed by Sam Philipe.
