Haapalah / Aliyah Bet

On March 23, 1947, Moledet מולדת sailed from Metaponto, carrying 1,568 passengers.
Fabi Gaver served as Palyam Commander aboard Moledet מולדת.
Menachem Ben-Yami served as Gidoni , Wireless Radio Operator, aboard Moledet מולדת.
Alex Dotan Schecht, Gad Heilbrun and Aharon Shechtman served as Palyam Escorts aboard Moledet מולדת.
Palyamniks Yisrael Rotem and Avraham Riklis helped the passengers board.

Abraham Izaak Witelson and Szejndl Sari Bracha Perl sailed to Palestine on Moledet מולדת San Phippo.
In 1945, Abraham Izaak Witelson was sent to a village near Bari, to prepare for his voyage to Palestine; each Zionist youth movement had its kibbutz, and he was a member of the Agudat Israel kibbutz.

Moledet מולדת heeled to one side at the start of the voyage at an angle of twelve degrees, and after taking on passengers, was at an angle of twenty degrees.

On March 29, 1947, RAF reconnaisance aircraft spotted Moledet מולדת San Philippo about 90 miles northwest of Haifa חיפה.
HMS Charity intercepted Moledet מולדת San Philippo, and HMS Haydon joined HMS Charity later that day.
When she was intercepted, Moledet מולדת San Philippo was listing close to 35 degrees, but refused help, so the Royal Navy vessels dropped back and watched.