Jerome Leon Lightman was born in London, England, on 9th June 1923, the son of Avraham and Miriam (Mary). A Zionist from his youth, he was an enthusiastic member of the Habonim movement, whho dreamed of the establishment of a pioneering society in Eretz Israel.
From an early age he took an interest in flying. In 1940 at the age of 17 he completed high school, and then went to Habonim’s farm to study agriculture, where he showed his ability as an instructor and organizer.
He was a veteran and one of the founders of Kibbutz Samaria in England, made up of a group of youngsters who wanted to settle at Mansura in the Upper Galilee. After three years of preparing himself for this goal, his second wish was realized when he was mobilized into the Royal Air Force. He served there for three years, from 1943 to 1946, with the rank of flight sergeant, and gained experience as a radio and radar operator, exceeding the required standard.
On his discharge from the Royal Air Force, he returned to the farm and planned on pioneering for peace. He was serious and unwavering in his demands on the movement and on himself. He had a good sense of humor and knew how to make his friends happy.
When Israel’s War of Independence broke out, he went to serve his homeland. In May 1948 he joined the Israel Air Force and served in it for five months. He excelled in his duties until the day of his death.
On 25th October 1948, as radio operator on a Dakota flight piloted by Canadian Wilfred Canter, and soon after a night take-off, the plane’s right engine began to overheat. The engine exploded within sight of the airfield, breaking off a wing and sending the plane spiraling into the ground near Kfar Yesodot. Killed together with Lightman and Canter were Canadian co-pilot Fred Stevenson and Canadian navigator Willy Fisher, as well as the army liaison officer, Michael Wimers, known as “King of the Negev.”
The crewmen were buried in a common grave in Rehovot. At the request of his friends at Mansura, Jerome Lightman’s remains were re-interred at the Rosh Pina military cemetery on 26th June 1950.
On 29th September 1949, on the order of the chief of staff, he was posthumously promoted to Flight Commander.
Source: Translated from the Yizkor website by Joe Woolf