Militaryסיד כהן

Syd Cohen

Syd Cohen was a South African-born Jewish fighter pilot and physician who helped found the Israeli Air Force and commanded its 101 Squadron and Hatzor base.

1921 to 2011Helping found the Israeli Air ForceCommanding 101 SquadronAviation medicine at El Al

Born: 12 May 1921, Bothaville
Died: 2 December 2011
Occupation: military personnel, physician, fighter pilot

Syd Cohen was born in 1921 in Bothaville

Cohen was born in 1921 in Bothaville, South Africa, to a Jewish family of 7 children. After high school he moved to Johannesburg, where he worked in a gold mine and then in a dynamite factory.

During World War II he joined the South African forces and earned his pilot wings in 1941. He flew about 135 sorties over 15 months in North Africa, fought at El Alamein in 1942, where one of his brothers was killed, and later flew in Italy. After the war he began studying medicine.

He left his studies to volunteer with Mahal and reached Israel in June 1948, joining 101 Squadron. In October 1948 he took command of the squadron after its commander was killed, and he also commanded Hatzor base. In March 1949 he handed command to Ezer Weizman.

He returned to South Africa to finish medicine and married Adeline in 1950. They had 3 daughters.

In 1965 he moved to Israel and worked as a physician at Tel HaShomer hospital and as an aviation doctor for El Al. He served as an airborne doctor in the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War, and he died at his home in Ramat HaSharon in 2011.

Syd Cohen's life in 9 milestones

1921
Born in Bothaville, South Africa.
1941
Earned his pilot wings in the South African forces.
1942
Fought in the Battle of El Alamein.
1944
Sent to fly with a fighter squadron in Italy.
1948
Joined 101 Squadron and later became its commander.
1949
Presented wings at the first Israeli Air Force wings ceremony.
1950
Married Adeline.
1965
Immigrated to Israel and worked as a physician.
2011
Died at his home.

Syd Cohen served in IDF Pilot Course

Cohen flew with the South African forces in World War II, then joined the Israeli Air Force in 1948 and commanded 101 Squadron and Hatzor base until March 1949. He later served as an airborne doctor in the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War.

IDF Pilot Course