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Former Israel Air Force Commander Benny Peled died Saturday at the age of 74 in his home in Ramat Hasharon of a prolonged illness. Peled headed the IAF during the Entebbe Operation and during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. He is survived by his wife, three children, two of whom are pilots, and eight grandchildren.
Former IAF Commander Eitan Ben-Eliahu told Israel Radio on Saturday that Peled had rehabilitated the air force in a very impressive manner following the Yom Kippur War.
"He was different than all of us," Ben-Eliahu said. "He had very established theories and had a vast knowledge of technology that he knew how to implement." Ben-Eliahu went on to say that Peled had been an engineer and had been a pioneer in the field of engineering studies.
Peled, the eighth commander of the IAF, was born in 1928. In 1946 he finished his studies at Gymnasium Herzliya High School and began serving in a police unit in the Upper Galilee.
In 1947, Peled studied at the Technion in Haifa in the mechanical engineering department, but his studies were interrupted with the outbreak of the War of Independence. In December of that year, he volunteered to serve in the Air Force and was sent to the first plane mechanics course. At the beginning of 1948, Peled began his service as a plane mechanic at the Sdeh Dov Airport.
In 1949 Peled was sent to a pilot's course, but the course was disbanded due to a lack of both planes and instructors. In December of 1949 Peled was posted at the Sirkin Air Field for the continuation of the pilots course and finished the course with distinction. After the course Peled was posted in the first combat squadron, where he participated in an operational training course on Mustang planes. During the course, Peled was transferred to serve as an instructor in a Spitfire squadron, until he was promoted to command the operational instruction course.
During the War of Attrition in 1956, Peled's plane was hit by Egyptian anti-aircraft fire, and he was forced to eject from his aircraft. Afterwards, Peled hid, injured, for several hours, until he was rescued by an air force plane 240 kilometers inside enemy territory.
In May 1964, Peled was appointed commander of the Hatzor Air Force base, which he commanded during the Six Day War in 1967. In August 1967 Peled headed the Air Force division in the General Staff. In 1967, Peled was transferred to Israeli Aircraft Industries, where he served as the deputy CEO. In 1971 Peled returned to his position as head of the Air Force division in the General Staff, and in May of 1973 he was promoted to command the IAF. Peled commanded the air force during the Yom Kippur War, and retired from the IAF in 1977.
Between the years 1979-1985, Peled served as the president of the Elbit corporation.
The date and time of Peled's funeral have not yet been determined.
*Biographical information taken from IAF website. |
