Eleven Photograph Albums – The Israeli Air Force – 1948-1951 – The Israeli War of Independence and the Early Years ...

Eleven Photograph Albums – The Israeli Air Force – 1948-1951 – The Israeli War of Independence and the Early Years of the State of Israel
About 1500 photographs arranged in eleven albums, which had belonged to IDF officer Yosef Ra'anan, of the founders of the Israeli Air Force and of its commanders during the War of Independence. Various places in Israel (some from Europe), [ca. 1948-1951].
The albums comprise an extraordinarily wide-scope documentation of the early days of military aviation in Israel, collected and preserved by one of the outstanding commanders of the Israeli Air Force during the period of the establishment of the state – Yosef (Joe) Ra'anan. The albums include: photographs documenting the first Israeli pilots (including Ezer Weizmann), training and parachuting, aerial photographs of cities, bases and sites in Israel, photographs of military operations during the War of Independence (including photographs from operation "Uvda", in which Ra'anan commanded the air forces), numerous photographs depicting visits of foreign officers and pilots, Independence Day aerial demonstrations, sports competitions, official parades and ceremonies, mechanics, engines and plane models, and more. Many of the photographs document visits of Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and the two Chiefs of the General Staff during the War of Independence – Yaakov Dori and Yigael Yadin, to Air Force bases and in official ceremonies.
Inked stamps to verso of some photographs. Some of the photographs document additional IDF corps and units (the navy, the Palmach and more); several of the photographs document Ra'anan's personal life.
Size and condition vary. Good overall condition. Albums in good-fair condition. Some photographs captioned by hand on the leaves.
Provenance: The Estate of Yosef Joe Ra'anan (Reisman).