Pini (Pinchas) Ben Porat

Pinchas Ben Porat, a member of Kibbutz Na'an, was among the first Israelis to learn to fly. When the War of Independence broke out, he piloted Primuses, the Piper Cubs which were all Israel had at the time. He then became an Air Force Major and distinguished himself in the fighting for the Negev. He later captained a Flying Fortress.

Ben Porat was the First Officer of El Al Flight 402, which was shot down by two Bulgarian MiG-15 jet fighters and crashed near Petrich, Bulgaria, killing all passengers and crew aboard. He had joined El Al four years earlier, and was qualifying to become Captain of a Constellation.