Giora Epstein
Giora Epstein-Even | |
|---|---|
Epstein in the late 1990s | |
| Nickname(s) | Enei netz (Hawkeye) |
| Born | 20 May 1938 Negba, Mandatory Palestine |
| Allegiance | Israel |
| Branch | Israeli Air Force |
| Years of service | 1956–1997 |
| Rank | Tat aluf |
| Other work | El Al pilot (1977–1997) |
Brigadier General Giora "Hawkeye" Epstein (Hebrew: גיורא אפשטיין; born May 20, 1938), today Giora Even (Hebrew: גיורא אבן), is a retired Israeli Air Force (IAF) officer and a fighter ace credited with 17 victories, 16 against Egyptian jets and one against an Egyptian Mi-8 helicopter, making Epstein the ace of aces of supersonic fighter jets and of the Israeli Air Force. Epstein was an active IAF pilot from 1961 until May 26, 1997, when he retired at age 59. Like many retired IAF flyers, he later worked as a pilot for El Al Airlines.
His 17 victories ranks him fourth all time after Nikolai Sutyagin (22), Kurt Welter (20) and Yevgeny Pepelyaev (19) in jet versus jet victories and first all time against supersonic fighters.