The Flight from China to Israel

Seventy years ago on February 10th 1949, my parents, Fritz and Ilse Abeles and my brother Gideon landed in Israel. This was the end of a long journey that began almost ten years earlier.

In the past year my brother and I gathered memories and documentation and created the blog The Abeles Story. Until now all entries were in Hebrew and were not really made public.

The following story that tells the journey from Shanghai to Israel is the first to be translated and published on the 70th anniversary of the Abeles family's arrival in Israel

The journey from Shanghai to Israel 8-10th February 1949

After almost ten years in Dairen (now Dalian) in Manchuria, My Parents and my brother were DPs in Japan. During the war from 1941 to 1945 they were totally cut off from the outside world, and now came the time to try and renew contacts and learn about the fate of other members of the family. This is a separate story.

From Japan they moved to Shanghai, hoping still to get a visa to the USA. As the chances for that seemed not reasonable, the decision was taken to go to Israel. There were two ways, by boat or by plane. At that time flights were not the usual way of traveling. Courage and determination were needed to go for the flight, taking into account that my mother was in her seventh month of pregnancy (with me).

The friends who remained in Shanghai were curious to learn about the "operation". Father as a devoted "documentarist", sent a detailed report five days after their arrival in Israel.

Following is the translation of the letter. I allowed myself to omit some names that were not really relevant to the story.

Tel Aviv 15th February 1949 Yad Eliahu, Block 26, House nr. 174

Dear Friends in Shanghai!

We didn't have to wait too long at the airport. The weighing and customs controls – that were very considerate – passed smoothly and were over by 08:30. Then we had to wait over an hour for Mr. Gottesmann, who was held up with our passports. Even after that was solved, we encountered another problem. Mr. and Mrs., Bauer's exit visas were not OK. We finally boarded the plane at 13:00hrs.

It bothered me that I had no information about the flight ahead of time. For future flyers who are interested, here are some details. The plane was a four engine DC4 Skymaster. The crew included the Captain, flight engineer, Radio officer etc, a total of six, all of them Jewish, and two (non Jewish) stewardesses. The plane belongs to Alaska Airlines a company that is 100% Jewish owned. The plane was built originally to take 50 passengers and was modified to take 60. Every two seats were transformed into three. This and a few other things affected the comfort, which at the beginning was quite disturbing.

We took off at 13:20 and after a short while were above the clouds. Now the ride was quieter than a ride on a bus or even a train with the best shock observers. We almost didn't feel shakes or moves and even the engines were not too noisy. As we reached the flight level, it was possible – with a few limitations – to move in the plane. When I looked through the open door of the cockpit, I saw the pilots playing cards. The plane was flying automatically. Shortly afterwards we got our first meal. Every passenger got a cardboard box with a sandwich, chicken's leg, fruit salad etc. In addition we got coffee and tea. A similar meal was served in the evening.

I fell asleep and was woken up and asked to fasten my seat belts. By the time that had passed, it couldn't yet be Bangkok. The reason became clear shortly afterwards. We entered a storm and were thrown up, down, left and right. Many of the passengers, except few, Ilse included, got air-sick. It seemed, however, that the pilots directed the plane with great talent out of the storm. We continued a smooth flight and landed in Bangkok (Siam) after 11 hours. Before landing we were advised to take off our warm clothes because of the high temperatures outside. We couldn't believe that we've really left cold Shanghai and were surprised by the heat.

We were lead to a restaurant and on the terrace were set tables. We got a wonderful meal, Soup, fish, meat, ice cream fruit and wonderful coffee. A wonderful midnight meal with the geckos (while catching mosquitoes) watching us from the ceiling. Slowly we started walking back to the terminal building. Gideon had already made friends with the Siamese radio operators who did not rest until they brought music directly to his ear phones. After an hour and ten minutes we proceeded on our way to Calcutta. It was a quiet and event less flight. The small seats caused an uncomfortable sleep from which we woke up quite often. We landed in Calcutta after seven hours flight. We had an opportunity to wash and even shave. We were served a warm breakfast on the ground by Indian waiters. They did not ask for VAZIEH like in Dairen or KAMSHAH in Shanghai but wanted BAKSHISH. We could stretch our legs and make some small shopping (Lipton tea etc.).

We proceeded to Bombay after four hours and 45 minutes on the ground. The flight to Bombay was the less pleasant throughout the journey. We flew over high mountains at day time. Because of strong sunlight and the great difference of temperature between the shade and light, the air density is not equal. This causes the plane to shake and kick. At higher altitudes, where the temperature differences did not shake the plane, we faced strong head wind. The pilots preferred speed and asked us to move as little as possible. Walking in the plane reduced its speed by 10 Miles per hour. We were not served a meal throughout the six hours and a quarter of the flight to avoid air-sickness.

We stayed in Bombay only two hours with no food. Dinner on the plane (they saved lunch) and a quiet night flight. After 11 hours we landed in Aden. We were only allowed to stay on the tarmac, next to the plane because there were no customs control, border police etc. By now there was already a 5 hours difference from our starting point. In Aden it was 04:30 am. At sunrise we were served breakfast on the tarmac.

The last part of the journey began at 08:00. We flew again above the clouds. After six hours we saw the Red Sea beneath us. We headed for the eastern part of the sea. To our left were the Sinai Peninsula and Egypt with Saudi Arabia to our right. When there was no sea beneath us but land, we were over Israel.

We were lucky to see our new homeland all the way until our landing. First the Negev, then the first settlements, watered fields, ways, roads, larger towns and then we arrived in Lod.

My brother in law got a permit to pick us up. My sister joined him and we could exchange short greetings. Then the absorption procedures began. Police and Customs controls paused by refreshing tea and cookies. I was asked to hand the letters I brought with me to the censor but was promised they will be forwarded immediately to their destinations. All other procedures passed smoothly and I could have a short chat with my sister, answering some questions. Shortly afterwards I boarded a bus. Gideon and Ilse joined my brother in law and went with him to Tel Aviv. The government supplied a taxi for that purpose, as in general they make a great effort to be generous towards the new immigrants. The country needs many people and wants everyone to feel immediately at home, so that soon he'll do his best for himself and for everybody else.

By now it was dark and it rained (we arrived at the rainy season that is called "winter"). I still could see through the bus's windows and mainly smell the air, earth and plants. As a veteran Non-Zionist I was fascinated by the country.

After a long ride through Petah-Tikva and Netanya we reached the absorption camp. This was a former recreation home for soldiers, next to the shore. After we disposed our hand luggage we were served food. We got blankets and sheets and were sent to the dormitories. We got field beds with straw mattresses. I fell asleep as soon as I lay down.

We woke up early in the morning. I was amused by the sparrows that entered the hall through the ventilation openings. The "veterans" in the hall were amazed by the mixture of German, English and Russian we've brought with us. Two from our group extended the amazement when they started chatting in Chinese.

After breakfast and a reunion with the passengers of the second flight, there were still some issues with the luggage. It was Friday and the Weekend and no official matters could be settled, so I took leave and went to Tel Aviv.

On the way, I enjoyed the country. It's a pleasure to the eyes and to the nose, especially when coming from China. I met Ilse, Gideon and my sister and we succeeded to do some arrangements in town. After some time Gideon asked why there's not even one Chinese to be seen. The city (Tel Aviv) is beautiful and interesting. I couldn't avoid feeling immediately at home. I was surprised to meet my nieces and nephews even though I knew about them. As it took some time for me to get used to the idea that I'm a real father, it now seemed strange to me to be an uncle. The Shabbat became a real family reunion. My brother got a day off from the army because of our arrival (that's how important this is here!) and brought with him his wife, kids and mother in-law. In the long years that have passed, I forgot how lovely and good our relations were. I allowed myself to enjoy being welcomed in the family. Naturally, Ilse and Gideon enjoyed the same welcome and became part of the family.

On Sunday I went back to Netanya with my brother who helped me finalize the formalities. As a "veteran" and even more as a Sergeant Major of the Israeli Army he succeeded to release me on that day, took me to his home in Herzliah and insisted that I stay overnight. On the morning after we went to Tel Aviv.

My brothers planned for us a trip through the country immediately after we've finished all formalities. They wanted us to meet all friends and relatives and see everything. As they said, from the moment you begin work you won't find the time to do this. That's the way things are done here. After that I must sit down and study Hebrew and three months later find a job. Knowing Hebrew will enable me to get a well paid job. Even now I can find a job but not well paid and with less good chances in the future.

Takeoffs and Landings on the way from Shanghai to Israel

Shanghai time Bangkok time India time Aden time Israel time

Shanghai takeoff (8.2) 13:20

Bangkok landing (9.2) 00:20 23:20

Bangkok takeoff 02:30 01:30

Calcutta landing 09:30 08:30 07:00

Calcutta takeoff 14:15 11:45

Bombay landing 20:30 18:00

Bombay takeoff 22:30 20:00

Aden landing (10.2) 09:30 07:00 04:30

Aden takeoff 13:00 08:00

Lod landing 22:00 17:00 16:00

Flight and layoff times

Flight time layoff Total

Shanghai

Bangkok 11:00 2:10 13:10

Calcutta 7:00 4:45 24:55

Bombay 6:15 2:00 33:10

Aden 11:00 3:30 47:40

Lod 9:00

Total 44:15 12:25 56:40