How Combat Forged an Israeli Fighter Pilot

One month after graduating from the Israeli Air Force Academy, the Six-Day Arab-Israeli war broke out, thrusting Zvi Kanor into his first days of jet combat.

Kimberly Johnson

Friday, September 30, 2022 at 09:06 AM ET

Verified

Zvi Kanor climbed the ranks from fresh recruit, pressed into battle, to Brigadier General in the IAF. [Courtesy: Zvi Kanor]

Key Takeaways:

Brig. Gen. Zvi Kanor began his 27-year Israeli Air Force career as a 20-year-old fighter pilot in the 1967 Six-Day War, where he flew ill-equipped trainer aircraft (Fouga Magister) under dangerous, low-level combat conditions, leading to significant squadron losses.
The Israeli Air Force's operational strength is attributed to its unique debriefing culture, which emphasizes complete transparency and accountability through objective mission recordings (cameras), ensuring all mistakes are addressed and learned from regardless of a pilot's rank.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Editor’s Note: In the summer of 1967, 20-year-old Zvi Kanor earned his wings when he graduated from the Israeli Air Force Academy. One month after graduating, however, the Six-Day Arab-Israeli War broke out, thrusting him into his first days of combat. It would prove to be the opening salvo for a 27-year-long aviation career in the IAF for now-retired Brig. Gen. Kanor, who would go on to serve as a Wing Commander at Tel Nof Airbase. He retired from service in 1993.

Kanor recently sat down to discuss his early days as a fighter pilot, and the importance of transparency and accountability throughout ranks of the pilot community. Here are excerpts from that conversation, lightly edited for space and clarity, as told to FLYING.