His impressive final combat tally of seventeen includes sixteen enemy jets alongside an Egyptian Mi-8 helicopter.

By Hezy Laing

Giora Epstein, the legendary Israeli Air Force (IAF) Brigadier General, holds the unparalleled global record for the most supersonic jet kills.

Born in Israel in 1938, his incredible aviation journey began after initially serving as a paratrooper before finally achieving his dream of flight training.

Nicknamed “Hawkeye” due to his extraordinary vision, Epstein cemented his status as the “ace of aces” during the conflicts spanning 1967 to 1973.

Flying the French-built Dassault Mirage III, he registered his first aerial victory during the 1967 Six-Day War.

He quickly advanced to become a master tactician of the jet era, racking up kills in both the War of Attrition and the fiercely contested Yom Kippur War.

During the Yom Kippur War in October 1973 alone, Epstein downed twelve enemy aircraft, a staggering achievement including a remarkable feat of shooting down four MiG-21s in a single day.

His impressive final combat tally of seventeen includes sixteen enemy jets alongside an Egyptian Mi-8 helicopter.

He notably served in the illustrious 101 and 105 Squadrons, outmaneuvering adversaries across multiple intense engagements, sometimes battling against overwhelming numerical odds.

In recognition of his valor and distinguished service, Epstein was decorated with the Medal of Distinguished Service for his exploits in 1973.

By 2018, the IDF honored his globally recognized achievement by promoting him to the rank of brigadier general.

After retiring from his extensive military career in 1997, he brought his immense skill to the commercial sector, piloting for El Al Airlines for decades.

His legacy remains permanently etched into military aviation history, setting an unbeatable standard for supersonic aerial combat.