4 decal markings for British Palestine, Yemen, Brasilia and Estonia
1. RWD-13ST, VQ-PAL, Ramlah in Palestine 1946
2. RWD-13ST, PP-TCV, ex-SP-ATE, San Pedro Airfield, Brasilia, 1937
3. RWD-13ST, Sanaa, Yemen, 1939
4. RWD-13S, (ex-SP-BMW, evacuated 18.9.1939 to Estonia), Jägala Airfield, Estonia early 1940
Two R.W.D 13s were purchased by airline "Aviron", in 1938 and were operated out of Lod Airport under registrations VQ-PAL & VQ-PAM were employed by the airline until January 1947 when they were sold to two private owners. On November 2nd 1947 the Jewish leadership in Palestine was form the "Shirut Avir", the IAF's predecessor, and operate the two aircraft. On December 17, 1947, the R.W.D became the first Israeli aircraft to fly combat action. Piloted by Pinhas Ben-Porat the aircraft left for a Jewish settlement in the Negev with a doctor. During return to Tel Aviv when they were informed of an ongoing attack against the nearby settlement of Nevatim . The pilot then removed the two doors and installed a machine gun. The pilot and a gun operator then left for Nevatim. The R.W.D overflew the attacking Arabs, straffing and dropping hand grenades. Ben-Porat then landed at Nevatim and evacuated one of the wounded.
In 1937-1938, eight RWD 13 were sold to Brazil and used there until the 1960s.
Three RWD-13 powered by the 130 hp Gipsy Major engine were sold to the Imam by Andrea Papadopoulos in Athens. One of them was flown to Sanaa in July 1939 by a Polish pilot and was demonstrated to the Imam. In the end Imam Yahya did not accept delivery of these aircraft. Probably as a consequence of the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, they could not be returned either to Poland or to Greece. By May 1942 both YEMEN-2 and the two crated aircraft were still at Sanaa.
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