An underground terrorist organisation began taking reprisals against the RAF for its role in anti-
the RAF during January and February, which included immobilising the main radar station at Mount Carmel, a major coordinated and simultaneous attack was launched on the RAF stations at Petah Tiqva, Qastina and Lydda during the night of 25/26 February 1946.
On 25th February, RAF Petah Tiqva was attacked by armed raiders who placed bombs on eight Squadron 
Spitfires. The first intimation of the attack came at 2040 hrs when explosions were heard among the dispersed aircraft. RAF Regiment armoured cars rushed to the scene and came under heavy fire from the terrorists outside the perimeter of the airfield. Explosives placed in the aircraft radiators or cockpits destroyed seven Spitfires, the eighth being saved by Squadron Leader Sylvester, DFC, the Officer Commanding 32 Squadron, who removed the explosive from the aircraft and made it safe. The saboteurs escaped.
Petah Tiqvah -
208 Squadron at Petah Tiqvah in 1946