Kochav Hess

Kochav Hess was born in 1937 in Ein Iron

Kochav Hess was born on February 18, 1937, in Ein Iron. He studied auto mechanics at a technical high school in Haifa.

He hoped to become an aircraft mechanic and volunteered for flight school in 1960, having heard that dropouts were sent to mechanic jobs. He finished the course instead and flew Mystère IV jets in 109 Squadron at Ramat David. He later spent three years as a flight instructor.

He renewed his service on condition that he convert to helicopters, trained in the United States, and joined 124 Squadron flying Sikorsky S-58 helicopters. In 1965 he received the Chief of Staff citation for his part in Operation Kachal in Sinai. In the Six-Day War he commanded 6 helicopters at Sde Teiman and helped plan helicopter landings on the Golan Heights.

On June 7, 1967, he flew into Jordanian territory to rescue pilot Yaakov Zik. His helicopter was hit by antiaircraft fire over the Dead Sea, but he continued, picked up the pilot and landed at Lod. On June 13, 1967, he flew Chief Military Rabbi Shlomo Goren to the peak of Mount Sinai.

He left the Air Force in 1970 as a lieutenant colonel and served as an instructor in the reserves. As a civilian he headed aviation accident investigations at the Civil Aviation Administration and flew for a small airline. In 2008 he received the Golden Wings given to Air Force veterans.