Hatzor Airbase

, also titled Kanaf 4 ("lit." Wing 4) is an Israeli Air Force military airbase, located in central Israel, near kibbutz Hatzor after which it is named.

The airbase was constructed by the Royal Air Force in 1945, during the British Mandate of Palestine, when it was called RAF Qastina after the nearby Palestinian village of the same name.

On the night of 25 February 1946, Irgun militants attacked the airbase and destroyed parked RAF Halifax transports. Two additional RAF airbases (Lydda and Kfar Sirkin) were attacked that night, in what became known as the "Night of Airplanes". Altogether, the attacks destroyed 20 RAF planes and damaged several others. Following these attacks, the RAF vacated some of its Palestine-based planes to Egypt. [ [http://www.iaf.org.il/Templates/FlightLog/FlightLog.aspx?lang=EN&lobbyID=40&folderID=48&subfolderID=319&docfolderID=340 1946] Israeli Air Force]

During the Israeli War of Independence, the airbase was evacuated by the British on 15 March 1948 and taken over by Hagana forces.

On the morning of August 16, 1966, a Soviet Mig-21 jet plane landed in Hatzor AFB. Munir Redfa, an Iraqi Air Force pilot, was convinced by the Mossad (The Blue Bird – Operation Diamond) to fly the flagship of the Soviet industry to Israel. It was the most advanced aircraft in use by the Arab armies at the time. [ [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3405913,00.html 1966] The blue bird legend]

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