Former Israeli Air Force Commander Aharon "Yallo" Shevit Dies at 91

Aharon "Yallo" Shevit, a former fighter pilot and senior commander in the Israeli Air Force, passed away on Saturday at the age of 91. Shevit, who held the rank of Brigadier General (res.), had a distinguished career that included commanding a fighter squadron, serving as an air wing commander, and acting as an air attaché in the United States.

Born Aharon Yelovsky, Shevit enlisted in flight school in 1953. After completing his training, he was required to Hebraize his name. He served as a flight instructor and in 1956, flying a Mystere jet, he shot down two Egyptian Vampire jets during the Suez Crisis. In 1960, he received a letter of commendation from then-Air Force Commander Ezer Weizman for a successful emergency landing. He later served as deputy commander of Squadron 116 and was instrumental in establishing the Air Force's aerobatic team.

In 1966, Shevit was appointed commander of the "Scorpion" squadron, leading it during the Six-Day War. In Operation Focus, the opening phase of the war, he led strikes against airfields in Inshas and El Mansoura in Egypt, as well as Sikel in Syria. During the Syrian strike, he shot down a Syrian MiG-21 in aerial combat. During the War of Attrition, he flew as a Skyhawk pilot, participating in attacks on Jordanian artillery batteries, and later flew F-4 Phantoms in Squadron 69. He participated in operational sorties in Egypt, including Operation "Air Bow" in May 1970, an attack on the Ras Banas port, which was the Air Force's longest-range operation at the time.

In 1971, Shevit was appointed to command the establishment of Etzion Base in Sinai, serving until 1976. At the outbreak of the Yom Kippur War, he was on a delegation in the U.S. but returned to Israel to command the base, which housed Squadron 144. He subsequently served as air attaché in the U.S. for three years before retiring from the IDF in 1979. After his military service, he held positions including head of the Ministry of Defense delegation in Singapore and vice president of operations at Elul Technologies.

Sammy Boxar, the mayor of Ness Ziona and Shevit's relative, eulogized him on Facebook, remembering him as a "legendary fighter pilot, a groundbreaking figure in the Air Force, and above all, a beloved cousin and dear friend." Boxar recalled Shevit as a brave and pioneering pilot, a squadron commander, and the first commander of Etzion Base. He described Shevit as a charismatic, funny, and people-oriented individual who remained humble and close to everyone despite his achievements. Boxar also fondly remembered Shevit flying his plane over their hometown of Ness Ziona, waving his wings, a gesture that became a cherished memory for a generation.