LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Paul Reubens, the comedian and actor behind 'Pee-wee Herman', comes from an extraordinary family. Milton Rubenfeld, his father, was a top-gun pilot who served in WWII and then helped establish the Israeli Air Force in 1948.

Milton Rubenfeld was born in 1919 to a Jewish family in Peekskill, New York. Before joining the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a volunteer in 1939, he worked as a commercial pilot and aerobatics teacher. He performed combat sorties during the Battle of Britain before joining the US Army Air Force in 1941, as per War History.

Who was Paul Reubens' father?

Rubenfeld was recruited by the Haganah, a Jewish paramilitary organization that morphed into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) after the war. It had established an agency to attract skilled American Jewish pilots. Hyman Shechtman, one of Haganah's top officials, contacted Milton and asked if he would assist the Israeli cause. He accepted and joined the 'Haganah Air Service,' a clandestine group that brought trained pilots and planes to Israel, which was being attacked by five Arab armies to form the 'Israeli Air Force', as per STL Jewish Light.

Rubenfeld had his initial flight training aboard Avia S-199 planes, which were modified copies of the German Messerschmitt Bf 109. The planes were untrustworthy and difficult to handle, but Rubenfeld and four other pilots mastered them and reported to Israel's Ekron Air Base on May 20, 1948. They were the Israeli Air Force's only flying personnel at the time, with just four planes available. With little ammunition and gasoline, they flew missions against enemy forces, bombing, and strafing objectives. They were also up against the Egyptian and Syrian air forces, who had better planes and numbers.

Rubenfeld and his comrades played a crucial role in defending Israel’s independence. They participated in several key battles, such as Operation Pleshet, which stopped the Egyptian advance on Tel Aviv, and Operation Yoav, which broke the siege of Jerusalem. They also shot down several enemy planes, earning themselves the nickname 'The 101 Squadron'. On May 30, 1948, as per 101Squadran.com Rubenfeld flew his first combat mission for Israel. He bombed an Iraqi armored column near Netanya, but his plane was hit by enemy fire and he had to bail out over the Mediterranean Sea. He swam to shore, but he was mistaken for an Arab pilot by some Israeli farmers who shot at him. He shouted “Shabbos, gefilte fish!” to prove that he was Jewish.

How did Milton Rubenfeld die?

Rubenfeld was wounded in action on October 16, 1948, when his plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire in Gaza. He suffered severe burns and injuries and was hospitalized for several months. He was awarded the Israeli War of Independence Medal for his bravery and service. Rubenfeld returned to the US in 1949 and married Judy Rosenberg, a flight attendant. They had three children: Paul, Abby, and Luke. Paul Reubens became a famous comedian and actor, who created 'Pee Wee Herman'. He cast his father as an extra in some movies and shows. Milton Rubenfeld died of cancer in 2004 at the age of 84. Paul Reubens has spoken about his father’s legacy in interviews and documentaries. He said that his father was “swaggering and macho” and that he felt it was his destiny to fight for Israel. In 2015, a documentary titled Above and Beyond [here] was released, which tells the story of Rubenfeld and his fellow pilots who formed the Israeli Air Force.