Aaron Shavit, Israeli Air Force Veteran and Pioneer, Dies at 91

Aaron "Yalo" Shavit, a decorated Israeli Air Force veteran and a descendant of the founders of Ness Ziona, passed away at the age of 91. Born in 1935 as Aaron Yelovsky, he adopted the surname Shavit after completing his flight course in 1955, retaining the nickname "Yalo" from his birth surname.

Shavit enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in 1953, joining flight course number 17. During the 1956 Sinai Campaign, he shot down two Egyptian Vampires while flying a fighter jet. In 1963, he was instrumental in establishing the Air Force's aerobatic team.

In the Six-Day War, Shavit commanded the "Scorpion" squadron (105th), participating in Operation Moked and downing a Syrian MiG-21. He later became the first commander of the Etzion Air Force base in the Sinai in 1971, leading it through the Yom Kippur War.

His career also included serving as the IDF's military attaché in the United States and heading a defense technology delegation in Singapore. After retiring from the IDF as a brigadier general in 1979, Shavit pursued a career in international business and defense technology consulting. In 2018, he was honored with a special badge by the Ness Ziona municipality.

Shavit's military service spanned significant conflicts and milestones in Israeli military aviation history, including his roles in major wars and the establishment of key Air Force units.