Al Schwimmer passes away

Al Schwimmer, one of the founders of Israel Aircraft Industries and the Israel Air Force, passed away on Saturday at the age of 94. Schwimmer was a central figure in the contribution to Israel's air supremacy when he, among other things, smuggled planes into the upcoming state before 1948 and was one of the founders and early officers in the Israel Air Force.

Schwimmer was born in New York and studied aeronautics to become a flight engineer. During the Second World War he served in the US Air Force and eventually joined the Haganah. Due to his activities smuggling planes to Israel - violating a prohibition to bring war means to a state in-the-making - the FBI arrested him. He was convicted of treason and his civil rights were revoked. 51 years later he received a pardon from President Bill Clinton.

As manager of Israel Aircraft Industries, Schwimmer turned the company into one of the world's leaders. He was also a consultant to Prime Minister Shimon Peres regarding technology and industry. In 2006 he received the Israel Prize.

"Schwimmer was a man and a legend," President Peres said of his close friend Schwimmer, "I was with him when Ben-Gurion gave us the green light on what seemed then like an impossible task: to establish an advanced technology organization for building, improving and renovating 'blue and white' airplanes. He was a leader and he was fearless. I will remember him as a friend, a dreamer and a daring man, a Jew and a Zionist, a warm person who uncompromisingly loved and believed in the State of Israel."