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Nir (Sophonero), Michael

Nir (Sophonero), Michael


Michael, son of Jonah and Tony, was born on October 20, 1952, in Be’er Sheva, where he studied at the “Netaim” elementary school, and then continued his studies in the comprehensive urban high school, Who was born to a heartless mother and was afraid of her life at the time of his birth, but the child passed away safely, but at the age of nine his mother passed away, He was considered a leader and he would decide what they would do, and he would collect various scraps in the yard of his house, and mostly he brought animals there: chicks, kittens, and homeless dogs Michael was an outstanding student, but he was a great mischievous man. As a child, Michael was a member of the Hashomer Hatzair movement, and he found a common language with the teachers in the high school, where he was interested in the various studies and departments, and therefore he excelled in his studies (and even in his certificate) He also participated in conferences of science-oriented youth and enjoyed spending the summer studying at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, As part of activities for science-seeking youth. Michael was a sports fan, and especially excelled in basketball. He trained a lot and practiced the field every day for hours. He also participated in training camps at the Wingate Institute and later joined the Maccabi Beer Sheva team. He had a collection of Israeli stamps, which nurtured him well, and his albums were well arranged. Michael traveled a lot, went on trips and work camps and reached every corner of the country. During the summer vacation after the seventh grade, he spent a month in England, in a study camp and on trips. Michael had been “crazy” for Tys since childhood, and in his youth he was more interested in this field. During his spare time, he used model airplanes and read books and technical material. He helped a lot of his friends to prepare for the matriculation exams, but he himself spent his time on the basketball court. His friends could not believe it and would watch to see when the light in his room went out. Nevertheless, he passed the exams with honors. Aspired to be a scientist and planned to study physics and mathematics within the academic reserve, but went to pilot tests and was accepted. Until he was drafted into the army he worked for half a year in his father’s transport business. Michael was drafted into the Israel Air Force in early January 1971. After completing basic training he underwent a pilot course and a parachuting course, and in November 1972 he received the “flying wings.” He was placed as a pilot in the squadron, Two months before the Yom Kippur War broke out, Michael was transferred to another squadron as a helicopter pilot, and at the end of September 1973 Michael married his high school classmate and while the couple was spending their honeymoon, the Yom Kippur War broke out. Michael rushed to the base, took part in operational activities in the north and south, parachuted forces, evacuated wounded and engaged in various reconnaissance and transport missions. He served as a pilot in the War of Attrition in the North, and in the course of his duty on April 19, 1974, when he returned from a battle in the north, There was a clash between two helicopters at the Machanayim airport, Michael’s helicopter went up in flames and all eight passengers were killed and brought to rest in the Be’er Sheva cemetery, leaving behind a wife, a father, a father’s wife and a sister.Perished with him, donated money to an annual scholarship fund named after them, by a trust company of Bank Leumi le-Israel; The eight families whose sons were killed in the accident jointly set up a memorial at the site of the accident at Mahanaim, called Yad L’Shemona.

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