Auster

AUSTER AIRPLANE
STATE MEDAL 5761/2001
1st in the “Airplanes that Made History” Series

This series of medals commemorates the airplanes of the Israel Air Force. Each one made its mark on the history of the country and is associated with its specific period of operation. The planes have been reproduced in precise detail on the medals, designed by Eliezer Weishoff, in consultation with the Public Committee headed by the former Commander of the Air Force, Major General Eitan Ben Eliahu.
The first medal in the series is dedicated to the Auster.
About six months before the establishment of the State of Israel, in October 1947, the "Air Service" was established as one of the Hagana forces. The few aircraft that the service was able to recruit included aircraft belonging to the Aviron airline company, as well as a few private planes, including three "Taylorcraft" planes, two "Tiger Moth", bi-planed Polish R.W.D 13s and R.W.D 8s and the biggest aircraft of that period, the British "Dragon Rapid" and others.
At the beginning of the British Mandate forces' Evacuation, the British Royal Air Force sold 20 light "Auster"s for the purpose of having them dismantled for scrap metal. The Hagana activists were quick to buy these aircraft, which vanished into winery cellars, near Tel-Aviv, where the service's mechanics renovated no less than 15 of them, making them suitable for operational activity.
The "Auster"s were operational in the "Tel-Aviv Squadron" from Sde-Dov, north of the Yarkon, the "Negev Squadron" that operated from Nir-Am and "Galilee Squadron" operating from Yavniel.
The "Auster"s, together with the other light aircraft, which were generally called "Primus" were used for different Purposes' such as aerial reconnaissance photography, medevac, and sometimes even dropping bombs out of the aircraft's windows.
Their pilots escorted the convoys to Jerusalem, evacuated casualties from the landing ground in Kfar-Ezion, and attacked the enemy that put Kibbutz Revivim under siege in the Negev, as well as many other missions.

Obverse: The Auster A.O.P3 airplane in flight with a mainly symbolic view, emphasizing a number of characteristic Jerusalem buildings, with the distinctive wall decorating the city.

Reverse: A stylized design of a bird in flight with the hills of Jerusalem above it and the Israeli Air Force emblem below it; the verse “HIS WINGS SHALL FILL THE BREADTH OF THY LAND” (Isaiah 8) is inscribed in Hebrew along the upper border of the medal and in English along the lower border. The silver/925 proof medal is with gold-plated sterling silver insert and the bronze proof medal is with sterling silver insert.

Edge: State emblem with the words "STATE OF ISRAEL" inscribed in Hebrew on the right and in English on the left; the serial number and metal.

Designer: Eliezer Weishoff.

Engraving: Romania.

Mint:
Bronze and Silver medals: Romania.
Gold medal: The Government Mint, Israel.