US pilot who helped create Israeli Air Force dies at 94
Former American fighter pilot Mitchell Flint passed away nearly seventy years after being one of the founding members of the IAF
Mitchell Flint, a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot who helped create the Israeli Air Force in 1948, has died.
Flint died Saturday in Los Angeles at the age of 94.
He served in Israel’s first fighter squadron as one of the founding members of Machal, a group of non-Israelis who fought in Israel’s War for Independence. He also helped to train Israel’s first military pilots.
Flint volunteered at the age of 18 to serve as a U.S. pilot, serving in the Pacific theatre during World War II, following in the footsteps of his father, who was a Navy combat flyer in World War I.
In 1948, using the ruse of traveling to the Olympic Games in London, he got himself to Czechoslovakia and then on to the new State of Israel to volunteer his services.
“I’m Jewish, Israel desperately needed trained fighter pilots, so I thought I could perhaps do something to sustain the state,” Flint told JTA in 2012.
He flew in refurbished German fighter planes that had been captured during World War II alongside a couple of Israeli pilots who had served in Britain’s Royal Air Force, and augmented by volunteers from the United States, Canada and South Africa.
In memory of his work for Israel’s 101st Squadron, Flint last year flew a special sortie over Israel for Independence Day.
After the War of Independence, Flint returned to the United States, moving to Los Angeles and becoming a lawyer.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
