The Beverly Hills City Council members were noticeably overwhelmed with pride and excitement Tuesday, as they honored two residents who are considered “real heroes” of the Israeli War of Independence.

Michael Flint, left, talks about the effort to produce the film “Angels in the Sky,” based on the efforts of his father, Mitchell Flint, right, and others who fought in the Israeli War of Independence. (photo by Gregory Cornfield)

“I don’t know if Israel would be there if it wasn’t for you. I don’t even know if I would be here if it wasn’t for you,” said Councilwoman Lili Bosse, daughter to two Holocaust survivors.

World War II veteran pilots and Beverly Hills residents – Mitchell Flint and the late Aaron “Red” Finkel – were founding members of “Machal,” a group of non-Israelis who fought in the 1948 War for Independence and whose heroism contributed directly to the creation of the nation of Israel.

The council members on Tuesday presented a proclamation for the two veterans for their extraordinary contributions to the formation of the State of Israel.

Entertainer Pat Boone on Tuesday spoke about the birth of the Israeli Air Force and Flint accepted the proclamation with Finkel’s family.

Finkel and Flint were original members of the Israeli Air Force’s first fighter squadron and helped train Israel’s first military pilots.

According to the proclamation, Finkel was a founding member the Israeli Air Force’s First Fighter Squadron 101 and his heroism “contributed directly to the creation of the State of Israel.”

Finkel was a longtime resident of Beverly Hills, who after the war, studied for his real estate license in night classes at Beverly Hills High School and whose son Joshua Finkel attended Beverly Hills schools.

Flint flew more than 50 missions for the Israeli Air Force during the War of Independence, and helped train Israel’s first military pilots. He flew 27 types of military aircraft, and is the only person in Aviation History to fly the four greatest fighter planes of WWII, the Messerschmitt, the Spitfire – the  Corsair and the Mustang – in war time combat situations, and retired as a Commander in the U.S. Navy. Flint has been an important part of the Beverly Hills community for more than 60 years as a resident and prominent local attorney.