GOODWIN LEE
Goodwin Lee, a non-Jewish American and first commander of Israel’s Aerial Photography Unit, had served in an aerial interpretation unit of the U.S. Army during World War II. Following the war, Lee was open to further military service and at the suggestion of a Jewish friend he joined the IDF.
A study of documents from the period show that he was a strict supervisor who did not allow his staff “not to dot the i’s.” He was a man of vision and foresight in all matters of aerial photography and its interpretation.
He strongly advocated for the men in his unit when their pay was delayed, and he engaged in a contentious interchange with the Intelligence unit when it failed to deliver film on time. At another point, a disgruntled lab worker provoked a security investigation of him and his work. He was cleared, and complained that the charges had been part of an effort to sabotage the unit and arose from a personal vendetta against him.
During the 1948 war, the coastline around Gaza, then occupied by the Egyptians, as well as areas round Ramallah, were photographed with hand-held cameras. Later on, cameras were mounted on the planes and, still later, F-42 automatic cameras were mounted on Spitfires and Messerschmitts, and also on other planes.
In August 1948 Goodwin supported a section in the unit to produce educational films for the air force. This section was directed by Jules Krause, a Machal volunteer.
Source: AVI (American Veterans of Israel) Newsletter: Summer 2001.
Written by Goodwin’s widow, Silva Lee.