Date:	Friday 23 April 1948
Time:
Type:	Curtiss C-46 Commando
Owner/operator:	Heyl Ha'Avir (Israeli Air Force)
Registration:	RX-...
MSN:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	Mexico City -   Mexico
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Mexico City International Airport (MEX/MMMX)
Destination airport:

Narrative:
Because of the 1948-1949 Arab-Israeli conflict the USA had enforced an arms embargo on a.o. Israel. Thus, the Panamanian airline LAPSA (Lineas Aéreas de Panama) was used as a cover for the acquisition of ten C-46 and three L-049 Constellations, by Israeli agents in the USA during late 1947/early 1948. Five C-46's left the U.S. for Panama, making an intermediate stop at Mexico City. On takeoff from Mexico City, one of the C-46's failed to lift off the runway and crashed.
Co-pilot Ernest Glen King (30) killed. Pilot William Gerson (34) survived, but died of injuries following night.

Aeroflight, Real 101 Sqn website
machal.org.il
El Siglo de Torreón 25 April 1948, p9

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