In Memoriam

Colonel Ilan Ramon

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Colonel Ilan Ramon

1 February 2003

Colonel Ramon was born on June 20th, 1954 in Tel Aviv. He graduated from High School in 1972 and earned a B.S. in electronics and computer engineering from the University of Tel Aviv in 1987.

In 1974 he graduated as a fighter pilot from the Israel Air Force Flight School. From 1974 till 1976 he participated in A-4 Basic Training and Operations and between 1976 and 1980 he spent his time in Mirage III-C training and operations. In 1980, as one of the IAF’s establishment team of the first F-16 Squadron in Israel, he attended the F-16 Training Course at Hill AFB. From 1981 till 1983 he served as the Deputy Squadron Commander B. From 1983 till 1987 he attended the University of Tel Aviv and from 1988 till 1990 he served as Deputy Squadron Commander A. From 1990 till 1992 he served as a Squadron Commander of an F-16 squadron and from 1992 till 1994 he was Head of the Aircraft Branch in the Operations Requirement Department. In 1994 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and assigned as Head of the Department of Operational Requirement for Weapon Development and Acquisition. He stayed at this post until 1998. Colonel Ramon had accumulated over 3,000 flight hours on the A-4, Mirage III-C, and F-4, and over 1,000 flight hours on the F-16.

He also was one of the pilots who flew the Israeli Operation Opera on the Osirak nuclear plant in Iraq.

Afterwards he became a NASA astronaut flying with Space Shuttle Columbia. Colonel Ramon died on February 1st, 2003 over the southern United States when Space Shuttle Columbia and her crew perished during entry, 16 minutes prior to scheduled landing.

Visitor Comments

A True Hero

"Curly" Heslop, Jan 22, 2008 - 11:57 PM

Growing up my heros and role models were always fighter pilots. Colonel Ilan Ramon was a hero of mine. Reading about his involvment in the attack on the Osirrak Nuclear Reactor in Iraq at such a young age in his career gave me hopes of being such a great pilot. This story can be read about in a book called "Raid on the Sun". Col Ramon flew #8 and was the last to drop his bombs successfully after all the anti aircraft guns had warmed up filled the sky with flak.

I was saddened the day he died in the Shuttle Columbia mishap. God Speed Col Ramon perhaps one day I will have the privelage of meeting you and shaking your hand.

Great Pilot

Adam Prochaska, Nov 02, 2008 - 05:35 AM

A great F-16 pilot, he had bravery most of us wish we had. Godspeed Ilan.

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