A transport purchased at the outset of the War of Independence from US Army surplus, by a fictitious company that the Hagana had set up for the purpose of smuggling arms into Israel (in order to circumvent the American arms embargo to the warring sides in the Mideast).
The plane was smuggled through Tucoman Airport in Panama to Europe, and upon its arrival in Israel joined the fleet of planes that took part in operation 'Black' - for flying supplies and ammunition into Israel from Czechoslovakia.
The Constellation was the biggest and fastest plane of its kind in the IAF. It was retired after a short term of service, during which it was in disrepair for a long stretch of time because of a technical malfunction. Two other Constellations had been held up in the US and did not make it to Israel until after the war. When the war ended, the Constellations were sold to El Al, Israel's national airline.