"Operation Musketeer" is perhaps better known in the West as "The Suez Crisis of 1956." It is also known in Israel as "The Sinai War." August 20th 1950 saw the creation of an operational training body within the First Fighter Squadron. Within a few months the unit had expanded and became a separate squadron. It began to operate their Spitfires from the Ramat David Air Base as the 105 Squadron Barak (Scorpion). In the summer of 1956 the squadron traded their Spitfires for approximately 20 P-51D Mustangs. Because of blockades of the Suez Canal and the Sea of Aqaba as well as repeated Fedayeen attacks and the statements being made by some Arab countries Israel felt it necessary to carry out a pre-emptive strike against Egypt. The first mission took place on October 29, 1956 when P-51d's from the 105th Squadron attacked Egyptian communication facilities. It was thought that if the telephone lines were destroyed this would force the Egyptians to use radios and their transmissions could be intercepted and the Israelis would know their intentions. Flying as low as 50 feet above the ground three flights of four Barak Mustangs headed out to sever the telephone lines. Approaching the target a 100 foot cable was lowered from the tail to snag the lines and break them. It is said one pilot used his propeller blades to do the job. It is reported that all but 1 aircraft returned and the loss was attributed to anti-aircraft fire. On October 31, 1956 the Mustangs entered the actual fighting. Because of their capability to fly long distances they were used on strike missions against enemy forces, outposts, fortified points, roads, shipping and other targets. The Mustangs flew 184 missions during the Suez Crisis campaign, losing 7 aircraft. With the advances in jets and anti-aircraft weapons the P-51 was retired from the Israeli Air Force on January 15th, 1961.