Ofer (Hirsch), Ze’ev (“Zevik”)

Son of Max and Sarah. He was born on 3 April 1940 in Kibbutz Yagur, where he studied at the Nesher School and at the Iron High School in Hadera, where he was interested in literature, classical and modern music, and excelled in athletics and swimming and played soccer and basketball. He also played soccer in the youth team of Hapoel Hadera as a goalkeeper for the team, and his hobby was horseback riding, and he even raised two horseback riding horses, as well as filming movies from trips abroad and traveling abroad. Ze’ev was drafted into the IDF in early November 1958 and volunteered to serve in the air force. At the end of November 1960 he joined the permanent army. In his days of service he was an excellent officer and an excellent professional. He was devoted to his job with all his might and loved by his friends and everyone who knew him. On 17 September 1971, Major Ze’ev, together with six other members, fell while his plane was hit by one of the enemy’s actions. He left a wife and two sons. He was laid to rest in the cemetery in Tel Mond. His wife received a letter of condolence from Ze’ev’s commander saying: “Zeev was one of the best people, and he served in his last position as a senior navigator of the ‘squadron of giants’ and was devoted to his profession and his role with all his might. Ze’ev was killed while carrying out an important operational mission near the front line, and he knew, as we all knew, that these missions were carried out in the shadow of the danger of injury, but he did not hesitate, Along with him, the squadron lost another six senior staff members, and Zeev fell in his defense of the homeland and in his fall commanded us all to live. A grove in memory of the shiva was planted in the Modi’in area near son of-Shemen, where a monument was erected. A training booklet in memory of Major Ze’ev Ofer, Captain Amos Guy and Captain Yoram Khayat, published by the Flight School.