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.
Sources:
Aeroflight, Real 101 Sqn website
machal.org.il El Siglo de Torreón 25 April 1948, p9
Location
Revision history:
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