Boris Senior

Boris Senior was born in 1924 in South Africa

Senior was born in 1924 in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Wolf Senior, a Jew from Lithuania, and Annie Robinson. He grew up in a Zionist home. After high school he trained as a pilot in Rhodesia and joined the South African Air Force.

In World War II he flew with the British Royal Air Force on attack missions over Italy. He was shot down in March 1945 over the Gulf of Venice and was rescued from the sea. His brother Leon was also shot down and was never found.

After the war he joined the Irgun during a visit to the Land of Israel and then studied economics at the University of London. There he met Ezer Weizman. He returned in November 1947 and joined the Air Service as one of the first Machal volunteers.

In 1948 he bought 13 aircraft in South Africa and recruited volunteers. During the War of Independence he commanded Sde Dov, held staff posts, took part in Operation Velveta and flew with the 101 Squadron. In 1950 he founded the Air Defense Command, and he left the IDF in 1952.

He then went into business. In 1998 he published his memoir "New Heavens." He died in Kfar Shmaryahu in 2004 and left 4 children and 8 grandchildren.