Dan Tolkowsky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dan Tolkowsky
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Dan Tolkowsky, 1953
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| Born | January 17, 1921 Tel Aviv, Mandate of Palestine |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom Israel |
| Service/ |
Royal Air Force Israeli Air Force |
| Years of service | 1942–1959 |
| Rank | Aluf |
| Battles/wars | World War II 1948 Arab-Israeli War Suez Crisis |
| Other work | Investor for Discount Bank Investment Corporation (1959–1997) |
Aluf Dan Tolkowsky (born January 17, 1921) was an important officer in the Israeli Air Force (IAF). He became a major general and led the IAF from 1953 to 1958. After his military career, he became a successful investor. He even helped create the first special fund in Israel that invests in new companies.
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Early Life and Education
Dan Tolkowsky was born in Tel Aviv in 1921. His family was well-known. He went to the Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium for school. In 1936, he joined the Haganah, a Jewish defense group.
In 1938, he moved to London to study engineering. He attended Imperial College London. He earned his engineering degree in 1941.
Military Career
In 1942, Tolkowsky joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a volunteer. He was one of the first Jewish pilots from Palestine to train in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He became a pilot in 1943.
He flew fighter planes and later reconnaissance aircraft. These planes gather information by flying over areas. He fought in World War II in Europe. After the war, he flew transport planes. He left the RAF in 1946.
Joining the Israeli Air Force
After leaving the RAF, Tolkowsky worked as an engineer in Britain. In 1947, he secretly helped buy planes for the Haganah's air arm. This group later became the Israeli Air Force.
In 1948, he returned to Palestine. He joined the new Israeli Air Force. He flew during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. He took part in bombing missions against Egyptian forces.
He left the IAF for a short time but rejoined in 1951. He became the Inspector-General. Then he served as Chief of Staff to the Commander.
Leading the Air Force
In May 1953, Dan Tolkowsky became the Commander of the Israeli Air Force. He held this important role until July 1958. During his time as commander, the IAF received its first fighter jets. These modern planes greatly improved Israel's air defense.
The IAF also took part in the Suez Crisis in 1956. Tolkowsky helped lead the air operations during this conflict. He is still a major general in the Israel Defense Forces.
Life After the Military
In 1959, Tolkowsky started a new career in business. He joined the Discount Bank Investment Corporation (DBIC). He became a Managing Director in 1965.
Investing in Technology
DBIC was the first company in Israel to invest in high-tech industries. This was a new idea at the time. Tolkowsky helped start a technology company called Elron Electronic Industries in 1962.
In 1985, he co-founded Athena. This was the first venture capital fund in Israel. Venture capital funds invest money in new, growing companies. Athena focused on technology companies in Israel and the United States.
Public Service
Tolkowsky also held several government positions. He joined the National Council for Research and Development in 1963. He led a group that looked into radiation and radioisotopes.
In 1970, he led an investigation into an accident at Ben Gurion Airport. He also served on the Israel Securities Authority. In 1997, he was part of a commission that investigated a specific event in Jordan. He also helped examine how higher education institutions were organized.
Awards and Family
Dan Tolkowsky received many honors. He was awarded the French Legion of Honour in 1958. He also received an honorary doctorate from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology. He was married to Miriam. They had a daughter and two sons.
