Dan Tolkovsky
Encyclopedia
Aluf
Dan Tolkovsky was the commander of the Israeli Air Force
from May 1953 to July 1958. Tolkovsky entered the military in 1943, when the Royal Air Force
sent a Jewish unit from Palestine
to train at a flight school in Rhodesia
(present day Zimbabwe
). Tolkovsky was the first in his group to complete the course, and went on to serve as a fighter pilot
and later in aircraft reconnaissance in Greece
during World War II
.
Because of his air experience, Tolkovsky would become a founding member of Israeli air power. He first joined Sherut Avir
, the short-lived forerunner of the IAF, where he assisted in the procurement of modern military aircraft from Czechoslovakia
. He later served as the IAF Commander.
Aluf
Aluf is the term used for General and Admiral in the Israel Defense Forces . In addition to the Aluf rank itself, there are four other ranks which are derivatives of the word...
Dan Tolkovsky was the commander of the Israeli Air Force
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
from May 1953 to July 1958. Tolkovsky entered the military in 1943, when the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
sent a Jewish unit from Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
to train at a flight school in Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
(present day Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
). Tolkovsky was the first in his group to complete the course, and went on to serve as a fighter pilot
Fighter pilot
A fighter pilot is a military aviator trained in air-to-air combat while piloting a fighter aircraft . Fighter pilots undergo specialized training in aerial warfare and dogfighting...
and later in aircraft reconnaissance in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Because of his air experience, Tolkovsky would become a founding member of Israeli air power. He first joined Sherut Avir
Sherut Avir
The Sherut Avir was the air force of the Haganah and the forerunner of the Israeli Air Force.-Founding:The Sherut Avir was founded in November 1947, just two weeks prior to the passing of the 1947 UN Partition Plan which proposed the division of Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state.It was at...
, the short-lived forerunner of the IAF, where he assisted in the procurement of modern military aircraft from Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. He later served as the IAF Commander.