Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

Yoske Pinchuk Almog served as Palyam Commander aboard Nachshon haKastel נחשון הקסטל Tadorne.

In Bandol, Michael Getzowitch asked Yoske Pinchuk Almog, Palyam Commander of Nachshon haKastel נחשון הקסטל Tadorne, if he could join the crew, and he accepted.

When all the Maapilim were aboard Nachshon haKastel נחשון הקסטל Tadorne, Yoske Pinchuk Almog gave Michael Getzowitch the key to the hold that held the food and water.

Michael Getzowitch Gal cites "Once repairs were completed we returned to Bandol, and once again loaded Olim onto the ship. I think we took some 550 of them."

On April 26, 1948, HMS Pelican intercepted Nachshon haKastel נחשון הקסטל near the shore of Palestine.
Michael Getzowitch Gal cites "Two days before we arrived at the shores of Palestine we were certain that the British had spotted us, and tensions rose. We soon saw that we were being accompanied by several destroyers but they did not try to take the ship until nightfall. They used a strong force, and it did not take them long to board the ship. We Palyamniks had prepared a hiding place and put it to good use. Although the British searched for us, our "slick" was so well camouflaged that they could not find it."

On April 27, 1948, HMS Pelican towed Nachshon haKastel נחשון הקסטל into Haifa חיפה.
HMS Newcastle arrived to conduct transshipment, and Nachshon haKastel נחשון הקסטלl was put alongside HMS Newcastle, and transports, SS Empire Comfort and HMT Empire Rival followed.

On April 28, 1948, Nachshon haKastel נחשון הקסטל arrived in Haifa.
The passengers were transferred to Cyprus.

Yosef Almog realized that the Af-Al-Pi-Chen, retired from the Israeli Navy, was scheduled to be sold for scrap, was nearly all that was left of a heroic episode in the history of the State of Israel.
In 1968, Af Al Pe Chen אף על פי כן was hauled up on shore, cut into sections and reassembled, and became the centerpiece of the David HaCohen Clandestine Immigration and Navy Museum museum מוזיאון ההעפלה וחיל הים, at Allenby Street 204 דרך אלנבי, near the National Maritime Museum המוזיאון הימי הלאומי and Elijah's Cave מערת אליהו, in Haifa חיפה.
ISRAEL Magazine cites: "Part of the ship has been refitted with 50 cm. wide berths squeezed into the cramped belly of the ship; other parts of the ship, and the adjacent pavilion, display memorabilia from the period - ship models, historic photos, newspaper accounts and mementos from other "illegal" immigrant ships."