Incident Overview
Date: Friday 23 April 1948
Aircraft Type: Curtiss C-46 Commando
Owner/operator: Heyl Ha’Avir (Israeli Air Force)
Registration Number: RX-…
Location: Mexico City –
ÿ Mexico
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: C-46 and L-049 Constellations aircraft.C-46 and L-049 Constellations aircraft.
Category: Accident
On November 1, 1948, a C-46 and three L-049 Constellations were seized by Israeli agents in the United States following an arms embargo imposed by the United States due to the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. The aircraft were transferred to Panama and then Mexico City, where one C-46 crashed, resulting in the death of the pilot and the death of the co-pilot.On November 1, 1948, a C-46 and three L-049 Constellations were seized by Israeli agents in the United States following an arms embargo imposed by the United States due to the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict. The aircraft were transferred to Panama and then Mexico City, where one C-46 crashed, resulting in the death of the pilot and the death of the co-pilot.
Description
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 Areas 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.
Source of Information
http://machal.org.il/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=363&Itemid=625&lang=enhttp://machal.org.il/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=363&Itemid=625&lang=enPrimary Cause
Arms embargo imposed by the United States due to the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict.Arms embargo imposed by the United States due to the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict.Share on:
