Sportsמשה מלניק

Moshe Melnik

Moshe Marom-Melnik is a retired Israeli Air Force brigadier general and fighter pilot who commanded the Nevatim and Hatzerim air bases.

born 1946First F-15 kill in the worldCommanding Squadron 133Operation Opera

Occupation: association football player, military officer
Education: Bar-Ilan University
Rank: brigadier general
Wars: Operation Opera, War of Attrition, Yom Kippur War, 1982 Lebanon War

Moshe Melnik was born in 1946 in Givatayim

Moshe Melnik was born in 1946 and grew up in Givatayim. He studied at the ORT Technikum high school. As a teenager he played goalkeeper for the senior team of Shimshon Tel Aviv in the first league.

He joined pilot course 54 in 1966 and finished it as a fighter pilot in 1967. He flew Skyhawks and later Phantoms, and fought in the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War. In 1979 he scored the first F-15 kill in the world, downing a Syrian MiG-21.

In 1981 he took command of Squadron 133, which flew F-15s, and led 4 of its jets in Operation Opera. He commanded the squadron in the First Lebanon War. He later commanded the Nevatim and Hatzerim bases, and left regular service in 1992 after his promotion was halted over disciplinary offenses.

He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Bar-Ilan University and a master's degree from Harvard University. After his release he worked for Sheldon Adelson's Interface Group until 1995. He then managed real estate projects in Israel and the United States.

Moshe Melnik's life in 9 milestones

1946
Born in Givatayim.
1966
Joined pilot course 54.
1968
Assigned to Squadron 115, a Skyhawk squadron.
1969
His plane was hit over Egypt and he made an emergency landing.
1970
Moved to a Phantom squadron.
1976
Sent to the United States to bring the first F-15s to Israel.
1979
Scored the first F-15 kill in the world.
1981
Took command of Squadron 133 and took part in Operation Opera.
1992
Left regular military service.

Moshe Melnik served in IDF Pilot Course

He served in the Israeli Air Force from 1966 as a fighter pilot, fought in the War of Attrition, the Yom Kippur War and the First Lebanon War, and retired as a brigadier general in 1992. He recorded 9.5 kills and served in the reserves until 2003.

IDF Pilot Course