Jewish airmen in WWII

[Franz von Werra]

Originally Posted by Graham Boak

I did notice recently that the list of the nationality of BoB pilots included one Israeli. An interesting concept, that.

You might be interested in knowing that I discussed this issue many years ago with some ex-RAF penfriends.
One of them stated that the Israeli Prime Minister (the name escaped him, but now I know it is the late Ezer Weizmann - sigh!) served in the wartime RAF, but was not sure about the BoB period.
Another provided me with more in-depth information and identified the pilot as GEORGE GOODMAN. I am not sure as to whether he was of Jewish religion, however, he was born in Palestine in 1915 to a railway engineer. He joined the RAF and took part to the BoB with 1 Squadron (JX) flying Hawker Hurricanes.
He later moved to N. Africa and was killed in 1941. He is buried in Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma (Libya).

[Brian]

Hi Franz

May I correct one or two statements - Ezer Weizmann was a former president of Israel. He did not serve in the Battle of Britain but towards the end of the war, as did Aaron Remez, the first commander of the Israeli Air Force, and many others from those early days. As for George Goodman, he was born in Palestine, as it was then, so strictly-speaking was Palestinian.

Cheers
Brian

[Franz von Werra]

Originally Posted by Brian

Hi Franz

May I correct one or two statements - Ezer Weizmann was a former president of Israel. He did not serve in the Battle of Britain but towards the end of the war, as did Aaron Remez, the first commander of the Israeli Air Force, and many others from those early days. As for George Goodman, he was born in Palestine, as it was then, so strictly-speaking was Palestinian.

Cheers
Brian

Many thanks!!

[drgondog]

At least one fighter pilot in 358Fs/355FG was jewish, was shot down in March 1944 and survived Buchewald..

[Franek Grabowski]

Gents
I have received a kind email from a son of Maj. Gen. Levi R. Chase, stating that he was neither Jew or of Jewish origin. Similar messages appeared on BoBHSF, and clearing issues of Stanford-Tuck and Goodman, both being very Anglo-Saxon protestants.

[Franz von Werra]

So my guess on Goodman was wrong. Too bad: I'd got the cue from a bomber pilot and I found it fascinating.

...And the mystery continues...

[Andy Saunders]

Originally Posted by Franz von Werra

So my guess on Goodman was wrong. Too bad: I'd got the cue from a bomber pilot and I found it fascinating.

...And the mystery continues...

I may have missed something along the way on this thread (haven't read all the posts!) but is there some confusion about place of birth and status as a member of the Jewish faith?

I understood Goodman to have been born in Palestine, but that does not make him Jewish and he cannot have been "Israeli" as has already been pointed out.

If we are talking "of the Jewish faith" then I suspect they number many more than one. Offhand, one already comes to mind - and that was P/O Nelson of 74 Squadron. However, he was certainly British. "Jewish" is a faith, not a nationality! Singling out Nelson, Goodman or any other pilot, as Jewish is of little relevance really - apart from the German attitude to Jews, of course. Other than that, it is no more relevant than if they were Roman Catholic, Anglican, Non-Conformist or Atheist. Sub-dividing Battle of Britain pilots into nationality groups has some historic significance. Sub-dividing them into faith groups has none, although another forum has recently discussed which Battle of Britain pilots were Mormon. That specific discussion, though, may have other connotations connected with that particular faith.