Syd Cohen, legendary co-founder of IAF, dies
Dr. Syd Cohen, dubbed 'Flying Rabbi' of WWII passes away at the age of 90. 'His name will forever remain in the air force pantheon,' say colleagues
Dr. Sydney (Syd) Cohen who received the nickname the "Flying Rabbi of World War II" and who later became one of the founders of the Israeli Air Force's first combat squadron, passed away on Sunday. He was 90-years-old. Cohen dies at his home in Ramat HaSharon.
"His name will forever remain in the air force pantheon," his former air force colleagues said.
One of Syd's close friends was Harold (Smokey) Simon who, like Syd, came from South Africa to the newly founded Israel through the "Machal" (Volunteers from Abroad) program. "Syd was a great man and a great pilot," said Simon, 92.
Speaking to Ynet Simon added: "For nearly siz years he served in the South African Air Force. He wasn't religious but he had a long beard so they called him the Flying Rabbi. The famous call to the damn Nazis was made on the communications network on the way to a dog fight with two Messerschmitt 109."
Like Syd, Simon also volunteered for the Israeli Air Force when the State of Israel was founded. "Through his unique personality, Syd managed to unite all the veteran pilots that arrived from the Diaspora for the new 101 Squadron," Simon recalls. "Everybody admired him and respected him as a pilot, a leader and a fearless man with a sense of humor."
"Syd and the squadron took part in every major battle of the War of Independence and after the war, he bequeathed the spirit that still reigns today in the force: The importance of responsibility and intensive training with fantastic instructors."
Cohen (R) with Ezer Weizman, Nelson Mandela (Photo: Oranit)
Cohen, who is survived by a wife and three daughters, was born in 1921 in South Africa to a Jewish family with seven brothers and sisters. He enlisted in the South African army at the age of 19 after WWII broke out and was later attached to a squadron operating through the Royal Air Force.
Cohen took part in the battle of El Alamein in October 1942 – a battle that marked the beginning of the turning point in favor of the allied forces. It was in that battle that he also lost two of his brothers who were also serving in the force.
When the War was over Cohen received the "Mentioned in Dispatches" award from the King of England and the South African Air force Commander for his actions during the war. He returned to South Africa to resume his studies in medical school but then got the call from the soon-to-be Jewish State.
Cohen left medical school and in June 1948, he joined the first Israeli flight squadron through the Machal volunteers program and became a pillar of the corps.
'Shaped Israel's combat squadron'
The then 101 squadron leader was Mordechai "Modi" Alon and Cohen's friends also included Ezer Weizman as well as volunteers from England, Canada and the US. During October 1948 Alon was killed in battle and Cohen took over after he was asked to do so by the then Air Force Commander Aharon Remez.
He later served as the commander of the Hatzor Airbase and together with the then Chief of staff Yaakov Dori, pinned the pilot wings on the new 101 Squadron pilots in 1949.
Syd later returned to South Africa to complete his degree in medicine and it was only in 1965, following many entreaties from Ezer Weizman that he officially made aliyah and worked as a doctor at the Tel HaShomer Medical Center as well as the Chief Medical Officer for El Al (a position he held until his retirement at the age of 85).
During the Six Day War and Yom Kippur War he served as an Airborne Combat Medic and as a reservist he laid the groundwork for the Emergency Aerial Medicine unit
Israel's fifth Air Force Commander Dan Tolkovsky told Ynet that he was aware of the illness and suffering that had haunted Cohen in the last few years: "I always held him in the highest esteem. He was a rare pilot and human being, steady, a leader, a good commander and a man of values who succeeded in every role he filled."
Israel's tenth Air Force Commander, Amos Lapidot, said that Cohen "was a Zionist, a guide, and was considered the highest authority on everything related to aviation medicine. He will always be remembered as one of those who shaped Israel's combat squadron."
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