Militaryמרדכי הוד

Mordechai Chod

Mordechai Hod was the commander of the Israeli Air Force from 1966 to 1973, including during the 1967 Six-Day War.

1926 to 2003Commanding the Israeli Air ForceOperation Focus in 1967Founding CAL Cargo Air LinesHeading El Al

Born: 28 September 1926, Mandatory Palestine
Died: 29 June 2003, Tel Aviv
Occupation: air force pilot, air force officer, Aliyah Bet activist
Education: Israeli Air Force Flight Academy
Rank: aluf
Wars: World War II, 1948 Palestine war, Suez Crisis, Six-Day War

Mordechai Chod was born in 1926 in Mandatory Palestine

Mordechai Hod was born Mordechai Fein in 1926 at Kibbutz Degania, to Yosef and Menucha Fein. He later took the Hebrew surname Hod. He studied at a local agriculture college.

In 1944 he joined the British Army and served as a driver in the 178th Transport Company of the Jewish Brigade. He then worked in Europe as an agent of the Mossad LeAliyah Bet, helping illegal Jewish immigration. In 1948 he trained as a fighter pilot in Czechoslovakia and flew aircraft to Israel.

He graduated from the first course of the Israeli Air Force Flight Academy in 1949 and rose through command posts. He became commander of the air force in April 1966 and led Operation Focus at the start of the Six-Day War. He also commanded the air force in the War of Attrition and handed over command in 1973.

After leaving the army he founded CAL Cargo Air Lines. He was head of El Al from 1977 to 1979 and chairman of Israel Aircraft Industries from 1987 to 1993. He died in 2003 after a long illness.

Milestones in Mordechai Chod's life

1926
Born at Kibbutz Degania.
1944
Joined the British Army and served with the Jewish Brigade.
1949
Graduated from the first Israeli Air Force flight course.
1951
Appointed commander of a P-51 Mustang squadron.
1956
Commanded a squadron in the Suez Crisis.
1966
Became commander of the Israeli Air Force.
1967
Led the air force in the Six-Day War.
1973
Stepped down as air force commander.
1977
Became head of El Al.
1987
Became chairman of Israel Aircraft Industries.

Mordechai Chod served in IDF Pilot Course

Hod served in the Israeli Air Force from 1948, commanding squadrons and bases, and was its commander from 1966 to 1973 with the rank of Aluf. He led the air force in the Six-Day War and the War of Attrition, and was an air adviser in the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

IDF Pilot Course