iv . ▁The ▁Isra eli ▁Air ▁Force ▁ret ali ates ▁by ▁striking ▁Arab ▁troops ▁near ▁Sam akh . ▁ ▁May ▁ 2 2 ▁– ▁Royal ▁Egypt ian ▁Air ▁Force ▁( RE AF ) ▁Super marine ▁Sp it fire ▁Mark ▁IX s ▁conduct ▁three ▁attacks ▁against ▁the ▁Royal ▁Air ▁Force ' s ▁( RA F ' s ) ▁Ram at ▁David ▁Air base ▁near ▁Ha ifa ▁in ▁the ▁newly ▁declared ▁State ▁of ▁Israel . ▁Their ▁first ▁attack ▁dest ro ys ▁two ▁British ▁Sp it f ires ▁on ▁the ▁ground ▁and ▁dam ages ▁eight ▁others , ▁and ▁in ▁their ▁second ▁attack ▁they ▁shoot ▁down ▁a ▁Douglas ▁Dak ota ▁while ▁it ▁is ▁landing , ▁killing ▁four ▁men ▁on ▁board . ▁Their ▁third ▁attack ▁is ▁in effect ive ▁and ▁los es ▁one ▁Sp it fire ▁to ▁ground ▁fire ▁and ▁four ▁others ▁to ▁Sp it f ires ▁of ▁the ▁R AF ' s ▁No . ▁ 2 0 8 ▁Squadron ▁flying ▁ ▁combat ▁air ▁pat rol ▁over ▁the ▁base . ▁The ▁RE AF ▁later ▁claims ▁that ▁its ▁pil ots ▁mist ook ▁the ▁air base ▁for ▁the ▁Isra eli ▁Air ▁Force ▁base ▁at ▁Meg id do ▁Airport , ▁although ▁the ▁Israel is ▁did ▁not ▁yet ▁operate ▁Sp it f ires . ▁ ▁May ▁ 2 8 ▁The ▁Isra eli ▁Air ▁Force ▁is ▁established . ▁The ▁Royal ▁Netherlands ▁Navy ▁comm issions ▁its ▁first ▁fleet ▁aircraft ▁car rier , ▁H NL MS ▁K arel ▁Do orm an ▁( R 8 1 ), ▁which ▁formerly ▁had ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁British ▁Royal ▁Navy