Here's my first finished entry for this GB, a Martin B-51B Panther operated by 110 Squadron, "Knights of the North" of the Israeli Defence Forces, Air Force. Click on the image to see it at 100%.
By the mid-1960s, the Israeli Defence Force/Air Force (IDF/AF) fleet of attack aircraft was in dire need of replacement. Ideally, Israel wanted to replace its light attack aircraft with a single type and the heavy attack aircraft (Vautour and Super Mystère) with another. While the IDF/AF eventually settled on the A-4 for its light attack requirement, the US proposed the Martin B-51 Panther for the heavy attack role.
Ironically, this was not the first time the IDF/AF looked at acquiring the B-51. Ten years earlier, Israel signed a deal to purchase 24 Canadair-manufactured Sabres and an equal number of Canadair-manufactured Panthers. The deal fell through as a result of the 1956 Suez Crisis, international pressure seeing the Canadians cancel both deals and accepting the aircraft into their own RCAF. As a result, the IDF/AF was forced to acquire the Super Mystère and Vautour instead. This both worked for and against the B-51B in the American proposal, many IDF officers relishing the idea of finally getting the aircraft they'd always wanted. However, they were also keenly aware of the fact that this was 10 years later and they would be receiving second-hand aircraft that had already seen their best days. The American proposal was quite reasonable, though, the cost per airframe for the large, refurbished B-51Bs being less than that of the new A-4s the IDF/AF also had its sights on.
The aircraft were reconditioned and delivered just too late for the 1967 Six Day War, some IDF pilots being in conversion courses when the war started. Following the war deliveries promptly began, the first aircraft arriving at the end of the year. Unlike the Skyhawks—which were sealed and shipped overseas—the Panthers were flown to Israel, refueling both in midair and at stops along the way. The first unit to receive the aircraft was the 110 Squadron, "The Knights of the North", trading in their Vautours and transitioning rather smoothly. The aircraft proved popular with the Israeli pilots, but many in Israel felt that the aircraft was a white elephant. Indeed, compared especially to its stablemate, the A-4, the B-51 consumed jet fuel, spare parts, runway, and ramp space at a staggering rate with little apparent advantage in range or payload over the A-4 to show for it. It wouldn't be long before the B-51 Panther would be called upon to justify the extra care it required.
The B-51 Panther would first see service with the IDF/AF during the War of Attrition. During this period, the aircraft saw significant action with 110 Squadron, numerous aircraft being hit by anti-aircraft fire, but none were lost. The vulnerability of the A-4 to both anti-aircraft fire and surface-to-air missiles was made apparent. The B-51, by comparison, had armor protecting the engines and crew, had the redundancy provided by three engines, and had the tail surfaces placed well away from the engine exhaust. Despite its size, the B-51 was considered to be easy to maintain, arm, and refuel. Perhaps most importantly the B-51 Panther was very fast in a bomb run. The enclosed, rotating bomb bay allowed the B-51 to take up to 8,500 lbs of bombs over a target at 550 kts drop it accurately at high speed, and get back safely.
The Panther saw its greatest combat with the Israeli Air Force during the Yom Kippur War. In the extensive combat that the aircraft saw, a number of aircraft were lost to SA-2 SAMs, but the B-51's ability to absorb punishment from both AAA and SA-7 shoulder-launched SAMs was considered a great asset in the close air support (CAS) role. Due to the mounting losses of all types during the Yom Kippur War, however, the United States authorized the immediate transfer of a number of F-4s, A-4s, and B-51s as emergency aid. These replacement aircraft plus some additional purchases following the war allowed Israel to replace the Super Mystères of 105 Squadron completely after the Yom Kippur War. These two units would continue to fly B-51s throughout the 1970s.
Cheers,
Logan
