12 Facts About Milton Rubenfeld

Milton Rubenfeld was injured and returned to the United States, and settled in New York state, where he married and owned a local business with his wife, Judy.

Milton Rubenfeld was born in Peekskill, New York, the fourth of six children of Orthodox Jewish parents, Gussie and Louis Milton Rubenfeld.

Milton Rubenfeld was an Eagle Scout, a student in New York University and the University of New Mexico, and taught aerobatics.

Milton Rubenfeld decided to fly with the Royal Air Force in England, with the 420 Squadron.

Milton Rubenfeld flew as a ferry pilot for the Air Transport Command.

In early 1948, Milton Rubenfeld flew transport planes on a few missions to and from Israel, until early May, when he reported to Ceske Budejovice, in Czechoslovakia, where he and the other pilots began training on the Avia S-199, a Czech airplane roughly based on the German Messerschmitt Bf 109.

Since there were five pilots and only four airplanes, Milton Rubenfeld remained behind for the first mission on May 29,1948.

Milton Rubenfeld's parachute did not fully open before he hit the water several miles offshore, and he suffered three broken ribs, several cuts, and an injury to his groin.

Milton Rubenfeld began to swim to shore, but gave up after "a couple of hours".

Milton Rubenfeld returned to the United States soon after this mission, to receive follow-up medical care.

Milton Rubenfeld married a few years later; he and his wife, Judy, had three children, with his family living first in Oneonta, New York, then Sarasota, Florida.

Milt Milton Rubenfeld died in Sarasota on February 21,2004, at the age of 84.