147 Squadron ( Israel ) 147 Squadron , often referred to as the Flying Ibex or Goring Ram squadron , is a former unit of the Israeli Air Force . Fielding IAF Flight Academy aircraft , it flew the Boeing - Stearman Kaydet during the 1956 Suez Crisis and the Fouga Magister during the 1967 Six Day War , in the course of which it suffered six fatalities . Between 1978 and 1986 it flew the A - 4 Skyhawk . Formation . In January 1953 the IAF formed the flight academy ' s fleet of Stearmans into a reserve liaison and surveillance unit , to be activated in times of emergency . Seconded to 100 Squadron , the unit was initially designated 1000 Squadron , but was redesignated 147 Squadron on January 1 , 1955 . It was activated on October 27 , 1956 , for the Suez Crisis . Commanded by Captain Meir Shefer , the unit had 25 servicable aircraft but only 12 pilots , consisting of both reserves and qualified students and including Rina Levinson , one of a handful of female pilots serving with the IAF . 147 Squadron flew 401 sorties during the war , clocking 233 hours . Flying from Ramla , next to IAF headquarters , the squadron flew communications , liaison , transport , patrol and reconnaissance missions , operating during both day and night . Once the fighting was over , the aircraft reverted to their original training role and the squadron was deactivated . Six Day War . The Fouga Magister entered service with the IAF Flight Academy in 1960 , and on November 1 , 1961 , 147 Squadron was reformed to operate the type in case of emergency . The squadron was reactivated at Hatzerim in May 1967 , on the eve of the Six Day War . Commanded by Major Arieh Ben - Or , there were 44 aircraft and 42 pilots on hand on the morning of June 5 , when Israel launched Operation Focus , the strike that started the war . While the Fougas were initially slated to participate in attacks on the Egyptian air bases at El Arish and Jabl Libni , their light armament and lack of effective combat range led to their reassignment to the deception , interdiction and close air support roles . Thus , while the majority of IAF combat aircraft were en route to their respective targets in Egypt and the Sinai , 147 Squadron Fougas took to the air flying seemingly routine training missions and generating seemingly routine radio traffic to give the impression that Israel was on a low state of alert . Other Fougas , however , were making their way to attack Egyptian troop concentrations along the front in support of the Israeli push into the Sinai . The first strikes targeted a pair of Egyptian radar stations near El - Arish , during which the squadron suffered its first fatality of the war , deputy squadron leader Arnon Livnat . With the IAF ' s combat squadrons occupied by " Focus " , 147 Squadron ' s Fougas were effectively the only attack aircraft available to provide support for IDF ground forces . They subsequently attacked Egyptian artillery in the northern Sinai , convoys , supply trains and troop concentrations . 147 Squadron was also active on other fronts , and late on June 5 the Fougas went into action against the Jordanians in the West Bank . Several aircraft struck Jordanian artillery that had been shelling various points in Israel , tanks operating in the Jenin region were attacked as well , while the squadron also managed to halt a Jordanian armored brigade attempting to intervene in the heavy fighting under way in Jerusalem . Three further aircraft and their pilots were lost . 147 Squadron returned to the West Bank on the morning of June 6 , flying 104 sorties and firing over 1200 rockets at Jordanian targets throughout the region . One aircraft was lost and its pilot killed by the time the squadron was ordered to stand down during the latter half of the day . Having flown an average of 5 sorties on June 5 , 147 pilots flew an average of 3 on June 6 . Operations on the Jordanian front resumed the following day , during which Iraqi reinforcements were attacked , but on June 8 the squadron was informed that its role in the fighting had come to an end . Fighting on the Golan Heights , however , prompted a change of heart , and on the morning of June 9 147 Squadron deployed to Ramat David . The first formation to head into action over the Golan , led by squadron leader Ben - Or , encountered heavy Syrian anti - aircraft fire . Ben - Or was killed and further Fouga missions were promptly canceled . The squadron claimed 128 tanks destroyed during the war , 43 other armored vehicles , 292 lorries , 2 trains , 47 artillery pieces , and 4 anti - aircraft guns . 419 sorties had been flown and 4 , 384 rockets expended , including Egyptian stocks captured at the air base at El Arish . Slow , lightly armed , lacking both defensive armor and ejection seats , six Magisters and their pilots had been lost , including both the squadron leader and his deputy . Virtually every single aircraft suffered battle damage . The end of the war led to the deactivation of the squadron and the Fouga Magisters were henceforth restricted to the training role . Flying the A - 4 Skyhawk . 147 Squadron was reactivated once again at Hatzerim on August 6 , 1978 , commanded by Hanoch Patishi . Operating a mix of A - 4Es , A - 4Fs and A - 4Ns , it was the IAF ' s eighth and last A - 4 Skyhawk squadron . Initially conceived as a unit manned by reservists with a skeleton crew of air force regulars , this arrangement was soon found unsatisfactory by both groups and the squadron reverted to the usual IAF combination of regulars , emergency postings and reserves . It adopted an emblem depicting a ram with wings against a yellow background , an all - yellow rudder and yellow - tipped external fuel tanks . The squadron flew its first operational mission on April 24 , 1979 , when four aircraft struck Palestinian artillery north of Tyre . In subsequent years the squadron routinely took part in IAF operations in Lebanon , as fighting intensified in that country . In 1981 it was transformed into a reserve squadron , maintained by a small cadre of air force regulars , and was finally disbanded in 1986 , its A - 4Ns passing to 102 Squadron .