DAN KENNY (SYDNEY KENTRIDGE)
Dan Kenny (right) with Jason Hoff, Producer of the film on South African Machalniks “804,” 14th July, 2011.(Photo courtesy of Jason Hoff)
Dan Kenny was born Sydney Kentridge in 1920 in South Africa into the famous Kentridge family; amongst his relatives were a well-known advocate and a talented artist. He joined the South African Air Force during World War II and was conscripted into the RAF with whom he fought in many tough battles in North Africa.
Dan volunteered to fight in Israel’s War of Independence and served as a navigator in 103 Squadron. Following the war, Dan was appointed Commanding Officer of the Israel Air Force base for advanced training at Kfar Sirkin. During his air force service he met and married Mira, who had emigrated to Israel from Scotland.
After many years in his prestigious position, he was appointed as Israel’s air attaché in the USA, and was asked to change his name to a more Israeli-Jewish name, and thus he became known as Dan Kenny.
While serving in the Israel Air Force in the USA, Dan and Mira were blessed with the birth of two daughters, Ronit and Michal. On their return to Israel, Dan served out the rest of his career with the Israel Air Force. He was the longest-serving Machalnik in the IAF, serving from 1948 until after Israel’s Six-Day War in 1967.
Source: Telfed, author – Vic Essakow, and World Machal Archives.