Jewish airmen in WWII

[Mifletz]

At the very end of the film "Battle of Britain" it lists the number of foreign pilots who fought in it.

The last on the list says "Israeli - 1".

This caused some stir at the time since Israel didn't exist in 1940, and by rights it should have said "Palestinian".

But no fuss was made because this was 1969, just 2 years after the Six Day War, and the atmosphere in the West was generally pro-Israeli.

If it wasn't Weizman, any idea who this one BOB "Israeli/Palestinian" was?

[Franz von Werra]

The pilot the film refers to might be George R. Goodman, although he died long before the Israeli State was established.

[malladyne]

Many Jews in the UK are so anxious to either assimilate themselves or to hide their true identity that they assume English names and very often those that display a English root or a certain element of taste and style.
For example, I know of a jewish legal practice in North London where the of the principal partners were called Isidore Isaacs,Nahum Rothstein and Jacob Goldblatt, but upon qualifying as solicitors they changed their names to Rupert Winchester, Guy Sheringham and Alex Tonbridge.
During the War, of course, such Jewish airmen as there were (not that many) had much better reasons to change theirr names..and many did.
Malladyne

[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...

[drgondog]

John Chalot 358Fs/355fg was a Jew, went down on 11 March and spent the rest of the war at Dachau (survived). Only Jewish fighter pilot I am aware of in the 355th

Regards,

Bill Marshall

[Franz von Werra]

As per the Jewish pilot controversy, here's what Wikipedia says. Although I don't think it's determinant information, I find it interesting.

Palestinian contribution
The RAF's official "Battle of Britain Roll of Honour" recognises 1 Palestinian as having fought in the Battle of Britain: Pilot Officer George Ernest Goodman (42598 ), born in Haifa, Palestine (now Haifa, Israel). The Palestinian contribution is also sometimes described as the "Israeli contribution", although the State of Israel was not proclaimed until 1948. PO Goodman's parents were British Jews, he carried a British Passport and was educated at Highgate. He is therefore sometimes recorded as a British airman.

At least 32 (probably 43) Jewish airmen took part in the Battle of Britain (just over 1% of participants). Over three-quarters were British Jews, the rest fighting in the American, Belgian, Canadian, Czechoslovak, Polish and South African contingents (Martin Sugarman).

Also see:
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/...w2/sugar4.html

[Franek Grabowski]

Martin Sugarman's 'research' may only be called as a crap. Goodman was not Jewish, it was underlined by his family.

[Mens Agitat Molem]

Perhaps this link might provide more information:-

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/...w2/sugar1.html

It's an article about Jewish RAF Special Operators in Radio Counter Measures with 101 Squadron.

[cz_raf]

Franek, there were also quite a lot of Jews/people of Jewish origin among Czechoslovak airmen in the RAF.

Pavel