Brig. Gen. (res.) Giora Even-Epstein, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) pilot who holds the world record for aerial kills in the supersonic jet era, died Saturday in Ramat Hasharon at age 87. Epstein shot down 17 enemy aircraft during three major wars, establishing him as the most successful fighter pilot in Israeli military history.
Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit
Epstein served as an active IAF pilot from the early 1960s through 1977, accumulating more than 9,000 flight hours and approximately 5,000 hours in fighter aircraft. His combat record includes 16 Egyptian jets and one helicopter, with 15 victories against supersonic fighters.
His first confirmed kill came during the 1967 Six-Day War when he downed an Egyptian Sukhoi jet. As deputy squadron commander during the War of Attrition from 1967 to 1970, Epstein recorded four additional kills, steadily building his reputation as a skilled combat pilot.
The 1973 Yom Kippur War marked the peak of Epstein’s combat success. He shot down 12 aircraft during the conflict, including an extraordinary single sortie in which he downed four enemy planes. His Yom Kippur War victories included seven MiG-21s, two Sukhoi-7s, two Sukhoi-20s, and one Mil Mi-8 helicopter. For his actions during the war, he received the Medal of Distinguished Service.
Epstein’s path to the cockpit was marked by persistence and determination. Born in 1938 and raised on Kibbutz Negba, he was inspired by watching Air Force training exercises near his home. He joined the IDF in 1956 during the Sinai Campaign and initially served in the Air Force’s Ordnance Corps.
Medical concerns twice prevented his acceptance to flight school. Doctors cited an enlarged heart and low pulse rate from athletic activity as disqualifying conditions. Rather than accept the rejections, Epstein volunteered for the Paratroopers Brigade and completed a squad commanders’ course before being assigned as a parachuting instructor.
After his discharge in 1959, Epstein returned to agricultural work on his kibbutz but re-enlisted three years later. He successfully appealed his earlier flight school rejections and was accepted seven years after his initial enlistment. He graduated from flight school with honors in 1963.
Initially assigned to the 124th Helicopter Squadron, Epstein was dissatisfied with the placement. He appealed directly to then-Air Force commander Ezer Weizman, who later became president of Israel, and was reassigned to a fighter squadron. He began service in the 113th Squadron, flying Dassault Super Mystère fighter-bombers.
Following the Yom Kippur War, Epstein was appointed commander of the 117th Squadron, which operated Mirage III fighters. His aircraft displayed 17 kill markings, represented by X symbols painted on the fuselage.
After retiring from active duty in 1977, Epstein began flying commercial aircraft for El Al. He continued his military service in the reserves, commanding the 254th Squadron and retraining on F-16 fighter jets. Throughout his career, he flew 9,000 sorties in fighter aircraft.
In 2018, the Israel Defense Forces promoted Epstein to brigadier general during a ceremony at Air Force Headquarters. Then-IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot presided over the ceremony alongside Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin.
“This is an expression of immense respect and appreciation,” Eizenkot said during the ceremony. “You belong to the founding generation that built the IDF’s capabilities and passed on a legacy of dedication, victory, and excellence.”
Norkin noted Epstein’s combat achievements, stating that he “downed 17 enemy aircraft—11 during the Yom Kippur War alone, five with missiles and seven with cannons. We are proud to have a world champion in our Air Force.”
At age 79, Epstein published a memoir titled “Aces of Aces,” which detailed his combat experiences as a fighter pilot. The book was translated into English under the title “Hawkeye: The Enthralling Autobiography of the Top-Scoring Israel Air Force Ace of Aces.”
Among those who paid tribute to Epstein was Noam Lanir, son of Lt. Col. Avi Lanir, who served as Epstein’s squadron commander in 1973 and died in Syrian captivity. In a Facebook post, Lanir recalled his childhood memories of the pilot.
“As a child I remember Giora knitting sweaters at home and cooking—and then going out and shooting down more MiGs than anyone else,” Lanir wrote.
Retired Col. Avner Yarkoni, a fellow fighter pilot, wrote on social media: “The Giora has passed. A fearless warrior. A true friend. A kind and beloved man. And everything they say about him—it’s all true.”
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