Herzliya Honors Modi Alon, First Commander of IAF 101st Squadron
A memorial was unveiled in Herzliya for Lt. Col. Modi Alon, the first commander of the IAF 101st Squadron, who died in a 1948 crash following a mission against Egyptian forces.
Memorial Unveiled for Modi Alon
A memorial has been unveiled at the Herzliya airfield to honor Lieutenant Colonel Modi Alon, the first commander of the Israeli Air Force's historic 101st Squadron. Alon died in a crash on October 16, 1948, upon returning from a combat mission against Egyptian forces.
The ceremony, sponsored by the Herzliya municipality and the Air Force Association, featured speeches by former IDF Chief of Staff and Air Force Association President Dan Halutz, Herzliya Mayor Yariv Fisher, and Alon Peleg, the grandson of the late Modi Alon.
Historical Legacy in the War of Independence
Modi Alon was a pioneering fighter pilot who served in the British RAF in Italy during World War II before joining the pre-state Jewish air service. In May 1948, he participated in a historic strike that halted the Egyptian military column advancing toward Tel Aviv near Ashdod. Shortly afterward, he intercepted and shot down two Egyptian bomber aircraft over Tel Aviv.
"Modi Alon remains a foundational figure in the history of our air power and the defense of the nation," speakers noted during the commemorative event.
Tragic Final Flight
In September 1948, Alon participated in Operation Velvet, landing in Rhodes under critical fuel shortages. On October 16, 1948, returning from a strike in the Ashkelon area with fellow pilot Ezer Weizman, Alon experienced a landing gear malfunction. His aircraft crashed at the Herzliya airfield as his pregnant wife watched from the ground.
