Benyamin Kahana

Son of Ephraim-Shmuel and Miriam. He was born on the 6th of Adar 5671 (6.3.1911) in Jaffa. He studied at the Mikveh Israel agricultural school, at the commercial school and afterwards at the Montefiore technical school in Tel Aviv. He was a lover of nature and sport, especially motorcycle riding. He took part in many competitions and achieved fine results. After winning first place in a motorcycle race in the Rishon LeZion sands in 1934, he was crowned "one of the best motorcycle riders in the country." In 1934 a delegation of motorcyclists from among the members of Betar set out for Europe to tour the Jewish communities, with the aim of promoting immigration to Eretz Israel. Kahana was one of the organizers of the delegation and an active participant in it.

During the days of the British Mandate he served as a guard (notar) in the Hebrew Settlement Police. Kahana's first activity in the field of aviation was within the framework of the "Eretz Israel Aviation Club," where he engaged in gliding. He was one of the first and foremost activists in this field in the second half of the 1930s, engaged in instruction on the Bat Yam beach and at Kfar Yeladim (the Children's Village), and reached personal achievements. He was among the first civilians to receive a pilot's license in the days of the Mandate (license number 6), when he completed the Irgun (Etzel) pilots' course, the first course ever completed in Eretz Israel; afterwards he devoted all his time and energy to aviation. In April 1948 he enlisted in the Air Force, the only graduate of the Irgun pilots' course to be accepted as a pilot.

In 1951 he visited Eilat, and the place so enchanted him that his soul became bound to it. At the beginning of 1956 he moved to live there with his family while still serving in the Air Force as a Piper pilot. As an enthusiastic nature lover he fell in love with the fish, the shells and the vegetation within the sea of Eilat, and conceiving the idea of an aquarium he began to gather the means for establishing it. Going out to the Sinai Campaign with the rank of Captain, he fought his war against the enemy from the air, and in the battle of Kuntilla, on the 25th of Cheshvan 5717 (30.10.1956), he fell, having displayed fortitude, courage and an extraordinary act of heroism. After his fall he was commended by the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Moshe Dayan. He was brought to rest in the cemetery in Eilat. He left a wife and three children. On the first anniversary of his fall the municipal garden was named for him: "Gan Binyamin" (Binyamin Garden).

In 1973 the Chief of Staff's Citation for Distinguished Service awarded to Major Binyamin Kahana, of blessed memory, was converted to the Medal of Courage.

In 2011 Captain Binyamin Kahana was promoted to the rank of Major.