Esther Arditi

Esther Arditi (; 1937 – 20 February 2003), also known as "The Angel in White," was a medic in the Israel Defense Forces, and the only woman to be awarded the Israeli Medal of Distinguished Service.

Early life and education Arditi was born in 1937 in Sofia, Bulgaria, but grew up in Italy during the Second World War. After graduating from high school, she immigrated to Israel and enlisted in the Israeli Air Force.

Career A week after earning her medic certification in 1954, Arditi saved combat pilot Yaakov Salomon and navigator Shlomo Hertzman from a burning Mosquito FB6 which had been struck by lightning while landing in a storm. She began to steer an ambulance to the scene but it became stuck in mud caused by the storm. As a result of her heroism, she became the first and only female soldier to be awarded the Israeli Medal of Distinguished Service.