Primarily a medium transport unit, 103 sqn has also been responsible for a number of semi-autonomous flights during its history.

103 squadron was first established in May 1948, at Ekron, with one South African Dakota. A few days later, on 26 May, it moved to Ramat David with a strength of two DC-3s, were it was officially formed on 10 June. Its initial equipment included the famed DC-5 'Bagel Lancer', which hardly ever flew. In these early days, the transport component was designated 'A' Flight, while the Beaufighter unit (see below) was designated 'B' Flight.

During the summer of 1948 further DC-3s arrived to bring the total to six aircraft. One Dakota bombed Damascus in June, while others bombed the Egyptian airfield at El Arish. During the Operation Dustbowl airlift from Ekron to Ruchama in October 1948, one aircraft crashed on take-off and another was shot down. The C-47's were thus used in the night bomber, transport and cargo roles throughout the War of Independence.

In the early summer of 1949, the unit was transferred from Ramat David to Ekron (also known as Tel Nof). During 1950/51 several more Dakotas were recieved to boost the complement to more than a dozen. The unit moved from Ekron to Hatzor in 1951, but moved back again a year later. A trio of ex- US Navy PBY-5A Catalina amphibians were purchased in 1951, for coastal reconnaissance and ASR work. The midnight blue coloured aircraft were delivered unarmed and without radar. In late 1954 103 sqn amalgamated with 69 squadron, and so operated C-47, B-17 and Catalina aircraft.

For the Sinai Campaign ten C-47s were loaned by the French Air Force in October 1956, boosting total numbers to 22 C-47/DC-3, but only 16 were available on 29 October 1956. Three N-2501IS Noratlas were delivered in late 1955 (of 6 initially ordered), and were also available, both types being based at Ekron. The Sinai campaign was opened on 29th October with 16 C-47's of 103 sqn para-dropping a battalion of troops at the eastern end of the Mitla pass. Subsequently, the C-47's and Noratlases operated around the clock with supply drops and evacuation of casualties in support of the fast moving ground campaign. On 2nd November both types transported troops into A-Tor for the successful attack on Sharm el Sheikh.

A Helicopter Flight was formed in November 1956, and split off into a separate unit a year later. Additional Noratlases were received, including 6 from West Germany in 1962. As a consequence, in 1962 the C-47s were transferred to two other units. A handful went to 120 sqn, while the majority went to form 122 sqn. Figure 9 is the badge of this latter unit. 103 squadron thus became a purely Noratlas squadron.

During the June 1967 Six Day War, the unit reprised its air supply role, operating in support of the army on all fronts. One Noratlas was lost, on 5th June, during the initial Sinai operations. While, on 7th June, the Noratlases flew in the main force in the action to capture Sharm el Sheikh.

From the start of the Yom Kippur War, the Noratlases again operated non-stop supply missions. Civilian Arava 101 light transports were also utilised for the duration of the war - particularly for casualty evacuation. The Noratlases were sold to Greece in 1976, by which time 103 sqn had received a number of C-130H Hercules (2 aircraft in May 1974 and 6 more from March 1976), but shortly afterwards the unit amalgamated with 131 sqn. Consequently squadron aircraft carry both Figures 13 and 14, one on each side of the fin. The unit's C-130s were involved in 'Operation Solomon', the airlift of 15,000 Falasha Jews from Ethiopia to Israel on 24- 25 May 1991.

Note: One DC-3 was based at Ekron for VIP transport in 1948.