zblang
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2013
- Messages
- 4,479
I just got this in the mail today from a lovely little hamlet in England.
This originally was the K&C Spitfire (RAF 042). AS was true in real life, I purchased this and had a friend of ours convert it for IDF use. I had him paint it to match the Spitfire used by Ezer Weizman. If you are unfamiliar (and care), here's a little history:
Weizman was a nephew of Israel's first president, Chaim Weizmann. In 1943, he joined the RAF and attended aviation school in Rhodesia. He served with the RAF in India in early 1944. Weizman ended his service in the RAF as a sergeant pilot.
Weizman was a pilot for the Haganah in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. After the establishment of the State of Israel, Weizman joined the Israel Defense Forces and served as the Chief of Operations on the General Staff. In 1951 he attended the RAF Staff College, Andover in England. Upon his return he became commander of Ramat David.
He served as the commander of the Israeli Air Force between 1958 to 1966, and later served as deputy Chief of the General Staff. He retired from military service in 1969. In 1977, he became Defense Minister under Menachem Begin. In 1993, he was elected president. He died in 2005 at the age of 80.
And now, the real plane:
This originally was the K&C Spitfire (RAF 042). AS was true in real life, I purchased this and had a friend of ours convert it for IDF use. I had him paint it to match the Spitfire used by Ezer Weizman. If you are unfamiliar (and care), here's a little history:
Weizman was a nephew of Israel's first president, Chaim Weizmann. In 1943, he joined the RAF and attended aviation school in Rhodesia. He served with the RAF in India in early 1944. Weizman ended his service in the RAF as a sergeant pilot.
Weizman was a pilot for the Haganah in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. After the establishment of the State of Israel, Weizman joined the Israel Defense Forces and served as the Chief of Operations on the General Staff. In 1951 he attended the RAF Staff College, Andover in England. Upon his return he became commander of Ramat David.
He served as the commander of the Israeli Air Force between 1958 to 1966, and later served as deputy Chief of the General Staff. He retired from military service in 1969. In 1977, he became Defense Minister under Menachem Begin. In 1993, he was elected president. He died in 2005 at the age of 80.
And now, the real plane:
