IDF rotary wings and camouflage color scheme

  Israeli Rotary Wings

Synopsis:

This is a short research document to make information about Israeli rotary aircraft information easily accessible to modelers and wargamers. This is an early draft and the history portion only covers the period of Israeli rotary aircraft history till the 1967 Six Day War. I hope to expand this document at a later date to include later periods.

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Helicopter Types Used By the IAF:

Hiller 360 and UH-12 1951-1959

Missions: Evaluation, utility and training.

Sikorsky S-55 1956-1963

Missions: Air/sea rescue and coastal patrol.

Sud Aviation (Aerospatiale) Alouette II 1957-1975 & 1977-1982

Missions: Light utility helicopter.

Sikorsky S-58 1958-1969

Missions: Multi-role transport helicopter.

Bell 47 1965-1968

Missions: Helicopter trainer and liason.

Sud Aviation (Aerospatiale) Super Frelon 1966-1991

Missions: Heavy lift transport and assault helicopter.

Bell 205 (UH-1D and AB 205) 1967-1982

Missions: Utility transport helicopter.

Sikorsky (S-65) CH-53 / Yassur 2000 1969-Date

Missions: Heavy airlift helicopter.

Bell 206 Jet Ranger 1972-Date

Missions: Liaison helicopter.

Bell 212 (UH-1N) 1975-Date

Missions: VIP, liaison and rescue helicopter. 

Bell AH-1 Cobra 1975-Date

Missions: Close support and attack helicopter.

Hughes (McDonnell Douglas) 500 MD Defender 1980-1996

Missions: Anti-armor helicopter.

McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache 1990-Date

Missions: Close support and attack helicopter.

Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk 1994-Date

Missions: Heavy lift transport and assault helicopter.

Aerospatiale SA365N Dolphin 1986-1999

Missions: Air/sea rescue and coastal patrol.

Aerospatiale SA565 Panther 1996-Date

Missions: Air/sea rescue and coastal patrol.

Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk 1998-Date

Missions: Heavy lift transport and assault helicopter.

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Important Dates in Israeli Rotary Aircraft History:

1951, May:

The IAF acquires a Hiller 360 and a UH-12B to evaluate the desirability of forming helicopter squadrons. They are later used as utility and training helicopters. 

1956 THE SUEZ CRISIS

- No IAF helicopter squadrons are operational during this war.

- One of the lessons of the Suez War is that a dedicated helicopter squadron is needed.

- Ben Gurion would rather buy more rifles and tanks than untested flying “toys.”

- Ezer Weizmann calls the helicopter acquisition the “end of the IAF.”

- Nevertheless, some members of the IAF persist.

1956, November 10: 

The ‘Flying Elephant’ Transport Squadron Helicopter Flight is formed at Tel Nof with two Sikorsky S-55s and a Hiller 360. 

Israeli rotary wing aviation is born. Its’ task is to train helicopter crews for the IAF and to develop helicopter operations in support of all IDF activities. 

The S-55s are up-engined and painted in the standard IAF Blue/Brown camouflage of the time.

The S-55s have a hard time handling the extreme heat gradients of Israel and are later assigned to the calmer and lower altitude skies of air/sea rescue and coastal patrol duties.

1957, July 25:

An SA Alouette II acquired, donated by Madame de la Meurthe,a wealthy French patron. More Alouettes are purchased after the donated helicopter was evaluated. 

The Alouette IIs were painted Dark Green (FS 34079) overall. 

1958:

S-58s obtained (six helos) from the USA for newly formed “Rolling Swords” Squadron. They purchased as civilian machines and adapted to IAF service, including camouflage. 

The S-58s could carry much heavier loads than the S-55s and were much better suited to hot and high areas of Israel such as the inland mountains around Jerusalem and the Golan Heights.

1960:

Twenty-four more S-58s (AKA H-34s) acquired from West Germany in 1960. They were painted in RAL 6014 Olive Green. The IAF painted out the Luftwaffe stencils with their standard camouflage brown to produce a two-tone disruptive camouflage pattern.  

Some S-58s are later painted in the standard IAF Blue (RAL 5008) / Brown (RAL 8000) with Light Grey (RAL 7044) undersides. 

During 1968, the S-58s begin to be repainted in the three-tone “café au lait” standard IAF desert camouflage pattern. The colors of the three-tone “café au lait” standard IAF desert camouflage pattern are: Tan (FS 30219), Green (FS 34227), over Sand (FS 33531) with Light Blue (FS 35662) undersides.   

1965: 

The IAF purchases thirteen more Bell 47 helicopters during 1965. Seven of the Bells were Agusta-Bell 47G-2s and six were Bell47Gs from France. These helicopters were to serve as trainers and convert fixed wing pilots to helicopters. 

Most were painted in FS 34079 Green (FS 34079), similar to the Alouettes, with red fuel tanks and tail boom stabilizers.   

1966:

The IAF purchases twelve Sud Aviation (Aerospatiale) SA-321K Super Frelons to form the new ‘Heavy Lift Super Frelon’ Squadron. Unlike other IAF rotary types, these helicopters were painted in a Dark Green (FS 34102) and Brown (FS 33448) upper surface camouflage with Light Blue (FS 35526 undersides.

The first four Super Frelons arrive in 1966 with the remainder arriving between late 1967 and early 1969.

Some Super Frelons are later painted in the standard IAF Blue (RAL 5008) / Brown (RAL 8000) with Light Grey (RAL 7044) undersides. 

The Super Frelons are used during the 1967 Six Day War.

During 1968, the Super Frelons are repainted in the three-tone “café au lait” standard IAF desert camouflage pattern. The colors of the three-tone “café au lait” standard IAF desert camouflage pattern are: Tan (FS 30219), Green (FS 34227), over Sand (FS 33531) with Light Blue (FS 35662) undersides.   

Following the 1982 Lebanon War, the Super Frelons are painted in Brown (FS 30145) overall.

1967: SIX DAY WAR

Helicopter Squadrons during the Six Day War:

The “Super Frelon” Squadron Super Frelon Tel Nof

- The Super Frelons flew many supply missions during the war including airlifting troops to   capture Mount Hermon.

The “Rolling Swords” Squadron Sikorsky S-58 Tel Nof 

- The S-58s perform numerous supply and CASEVAC missions during the War.

The  “Southern Bells” Squadron Bell 47/Alouette II Tel Nof

- The “Southern Bells: serve as liaison transports and in the CASEVAC role.

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Basic Camouflage Colors for IAF Helicopters:

- These are very basic generalizations for the camouflage patterns carried by IAF helos. There are exceptions for nearly every case.

1956-1967 (1950-60s)

Most IAF helos during this period received the standard IAF two-tone Blue /Brown camo scheme. 

1967-1982 (Post Six Day War)

IAF helos during this period begin to switch to the three-tone “cafe au lait” camo scheme.

1972-1982 (1970s)

Some IAF Helos (Mainly Jet Rangers and Alouette IIs) began to switch to all Brown schemes.

Some continue the transition to the three-tone “cafe au lait” camo scheme.

1982-Date (1980s)

The majority of IAF Helos switch to all Brown schemes. 

Some US helos arrive in Olive Drab such as the Hughes-500 MD Defenders.

Yellow “V”s are painted on the sides of tactical helicopters to aid in recognition. Several “friendly fire” incidents facilitate this decision.

Training helos from this era start switching to high visibility schemes with Whites and Yellows.

The first naval helicopters in use, the Dolphins, use the US Coast Guard White and Orange scheme that it came in from the USA. They are later repainted in the Grey and Blue pattern.

1990-Date (1990s)

Most US helos of this period use Olive Drab overall camo patterns.

Naval helicopters such as the Dolphins and Panthers use Grey and Blue patterns.