Photo of Israeli Air Force - IDF Boeing 377 Stratocruiser aircraft

Israeli Air Force - IDF
Boeing 377 Stratocruiser

Tel Aviv (-Jaffa) - Ben Gurion (Lod) (TLV)
Israel   Mar 1971

98 The original photographer has asked to remain incognito but he has provided this interesting story: The IAF used the C-97 for short trooping runs as well. The runs from the Sinai took some 45 minutes each direction and the young boys and girls were happy to save the gruesome 10 to 15 hours bus or hiking option home. Ground travel cut their home leave dramatically. They were very happy to fly but the mayor of Rishon Le Zion (the third largest city population size) was far from that. He called IAF ops complaining that citizens were miraculously not getting hit by paratroopers red boots and backpacks falling from the sky! It took some creative thinking and the riddle was cracked. When waiting for the troops at Bir Gafgafa, not far from the Suez canal, the brief called for the shortest stay on the ground. The reason was fear of being hit by the Egyptians who considered the big cargo plane an importent target, and we knew we were real sitting ducks. So we hurried the soldiers who ran to the plane (props turning on idle), and those entering from the back threw their back packs into the huge dark compartment which they met just before stepping in. What they took for cargo hold was actualy the wheel well! When we entered the circuit at Ben Gurion (down wind over Rishon Le Zion) and called "GEAR DOWN!"..Well objects started ti fall from the sky. Luckily we did not have any mechanical problems but I am always amazed at those unexpecteds! Proper briefings and apologies cleared the problem.