Nehorai, Nadav
Son of Ahuv and Sonia. He was born on the 26th of Tammuz, July 25, 1946, in Beit Alpha. He completed his elementary studies at the local school in the kibbutz, and later studied at the Gilboa educational institute (named after the ghetto rebels). He was a young member of Hashomer Hatzair, and for a short period of time, belonged to Gedana-Avir. He enjoyed literature, and wrote short poems. He was drafted into the IDF and volunteered for the Air Force. During his military service, he attained the rank of lieutenant, and signed for permanent service. He managed to serve in the permanent service from mid November 1967 until the day he fell. He was a pilot in the Israel Air Force squadron. He was quiet and stable, doing everything he needed to without reservation, and was always prepared to do more. On the 13th of Kislev, December 4, 1968, his plane was shot down in an Israeli air strike on Iraqi forces stationed in Jordan. Nadav was forced to drop from his plane in enemy territory. He arrived at the ground safely and, after being released from the parachute, he had no choice but to abandon his plane. At that point, local residents shot him at close range. He was laid to rest at the Beit Alpha cemetery. His courage and his spirit were the subject of Defense Minister Moshe Dayan’s conversation with the air force commanders who accompanied him on a condolence visit to the house of the bereaved family. The squadron commander wrote to his family in a letter of condolence, among other things: “I accompanied Nadav until his very last moments and I witnessed his behavior in the battle and afterward, when he was in distress and had to abandon his plane. He left me with the impression of a pleasant, joyful boy who did his job without problems. “Nadav’s death”, the commander finishes his letter, “is another chapter in the heroism of those anonymous pilots who bear the heavy burden of security, and the burden on the IDF, and who carry out one of the most difficult and complex missions with devotion. “Parents published pages in memory of Nadav.