Shmuel Hetz

Shmuel Hetz was born in 1938 in Haifa

Hetz was born in 1938 in Kiryat Haim. His father Haim was a sculptor, and his brother Amos later founded the movement department at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. At age 8 he moved with his father and brother to Kibbutz Shefayim, where he attended primary school.

He studied aircraft mechanics at the Max Fine vocational high school in Tel Aviv and graduated with honors. During his studies he was active in the air youth corps and visited the United States on an exchange program.

He joined the IDF in 1957 and became a fighter pilot in 105 Squadron. He served as deputy commander in 113 Squadron during the Six-Day War and later in 101 Squadron. He was among the first Israeli Phantom pilots and in 1969 became the first commander of 201 Squadron.

On 18 July 1970 he led 8 Phantoms in an attack on missile batteries near the Suez Canal. His plane was hit, and he ejected his navigator but was killed. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel after his death, and his remains were found after the Yom Kippur War and buried at Kiryat Shaul military cemetery. He was married with 2 sons.