Our Goals And Vision:
1
To constitute an organization operating out of a vision to preserve the squadron’s heritage
2
To support and serve the community of the squadron graduates
3
A key component in maintaining unit pride among those who are no longer in service
4
Commemoration of the squadron fallen and strengthening the bond with their families
5
Support and assistance to all squadron graduates on their way in their civilian lives
6
Strengthening the connection between the reserves and the unit’s activities
7
Help and support for various communities and general contribution to society
8
Any other legal purpose decided by the Board of Directors
About the Squadron
A helicopter pilot school
Until 1963, the Israeli Air force helicopter pilots (with the exception of two) were trained abroad. These were “qualified” pilots, or liaison and reconnaissance pilots. Following the operational burden on the Rolling Sword Squadron, it was decided to establish a helicopter pilot school at the Tel Nof Flight School. In order to establish the school for helicopter pilots, the “Desert Birds” Squadron was established and began organizing on March 10, 1965, under the command of Amitai Hasson. The squadron trained flight cadets to become helicopter pilots. In April 1965, the first training course began with S-58 helicopters borrowed from the Rolling Sword Squadron. In April 1965, the Squadron received 13 Bell 2-G47 light helicopters, purchased as surplus from France. the course duration was 7 month, first flying in a light helicopter (Bell), and later flying in a SAR helicopter (S-58).
An independent squadron at Hatzerim Air Base:
In October 1966, the “Desert Birds” Squadron became an independent squadron under the command of the Tel Nof base commander , following the school’s transfer to the Hatzerim base. In December 1967, After the arrival of the first Bell 205 helicopters, the squadron began training new pilots and converting veteran pilots on the new helicopter. The “Desert Birds” Squadron was transferred to Hatzerim Air Force Base on August 12, 1969, four years after its establishment in Tel Nof.
In the 1960s, the Air Force purchased Bell 205 helicopters from the United States and Italy. The first helicopters of the Italian model arrived in 1967 and the Americans a year later. At the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, the Air Force had dozens of such helicopters and most of the missions were to fly commanders and VIP and evacuate casualties. A total of 890 casualties were evacuated during the war by the 205 Helicopters, including air crew members Who were shot down.
From the Bell 205 to the 212
After the war, The lessons learned after the war led to the conclusion that the Bell 205 helicopters should be replaced, following their age and low performance at high altitudes and high temperatures. To replace them, the Bell 212 helicopter was selected, which was received by the “Desert Birds” squadron in 1978. The squadron’s helicopters were operated on various missions, evacuating casualties, transporting forces and commanders and many others.
During the First Lebanon War, the squadron, along with other squadrons from the Hatzerim Base, participated in operational activities and engaged in rescue missions. In the 1990s, the squadron participated in Operations Accountability and Grapes of Wrath to attack Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon. In both operations, the squadron’s helicopters were used for transport missions and rescue patrols, as well as for landing, evacuating and transporting equipment to the ground forces.
The Blackhawk
In August 2002, the squadron received the Blackhawk helicopters (UH-60), after also being received into the sister squadron. During the Second Lebanon War, the squadron operated throughout the fighting, performing 65 operations, 16 Cargo transport missions and evacuated 199 wounded. Among others, the members of the squadron rescued members of a tank crew injured at Bint Jabal, performed under fire rescue from the a-Taibeh area and also participated in a special operations. For their activities during the war, the squadron was awarded the Chief of Staff’s Medal of Honor.
The squadron also participated very intensively in Operation Cast Lead. During the operation, its airmen embarked on 66 operational sorties, including 17 to evacuate casualties. During the operation, the squadron evacuated 41 wounded from the combat zone and two from GAZA Strip. Among the incidents is the evacuation of soldiers from the Golani Brigade, who were injured in a major explosion that occurred at a house on the outskirts of Gaza.
Today, the Desert Birds Squadron continues to operate non-stop in missions, rescue and Assault missions with ground forces of the IDF.