AviaB.33 in Yemen Airforce Service

[hanshauprich]

Hello,
how many of them get the Yemen Airforce in mid fifties? Did this planes ever saw regular duties? And what was their fate?
Thanks,
h.

[Leendert]

I gathered Yemen received 24 Avia B-33 'Kombajn' (Il-10) a/c from Czech AF surplus stock in 1957. Lack of spare parts etc. appears to have prohibited actual service.

Regards, Leendert

[GoranA]

According to Hot Skies over Yemen vol.1, (north) Yemeni ruler Imam Ahmed was involved in series of conflicts with different south Yemeni "states" that were part of British controlled Aden protectorate. He signed a defense agreement with Egypt and was looking for weapons. Nasser put them in contact with the USSR, but the Soviets didn't wanted to be directly involved, so they ordered their ally Czechoslovakia to provide the weapons. The deal included tanks, artillery, Zlin-126 trainers and 20 Avia B33 "attack fighters" and 4 CB33 two-seaters.


As Leendert said aircraft, were delivered in 1957, but the Czech technicians were able to assemble only 11 aircraft (9+2) and none of these was ever flown - these aircraft were just not suited for high altitude and high temperature environment. Few more teams were sent to Yemen to activate the aircraft, but after 1958 all activity was stopped and the assembled aircraft were left at Sana'a South airport. After 1962 coup in Yemen, every trace of these aircraft was lost.