Shiller (Gens), Meir (Max)

He was born on January 1, 1924 in Linz on the Danube River, Austria, to a Zionist family. In his youth, he joined the Zionist organizations Tchelet Lavan and Maccabi, in which he deepened his Zionist consciousness. In his hometown he finished elementary school. In 1936 he immigrated to Israel with his family, where he studied for two years in high school and later moved to a mechanical school. He was also an active member of the Maccabi movement and was among the founders of the northern branch in Tel Aviv. Soon he advanced in command and training positions until he became commander of a class. At the beginning of 1944, he was drafted into the British Air Force and was attached to a technical unit. Shortly after he was drafted, he was transferred from Israel, and since then he has visited it only once on vacation. On May 18, 1944, Meir died in a hospital after a week earlier when he was injured in an explosion. He was laid to rest in the Jewish cemetery in Basra, Iraq. Grave location Spec Memorial. Age 19. Royal Air Force unit. Rank Aircraftman 2nd Class.