Spartan Boys: A Tulsa Jewish Story

In partnership with the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, this historical exhibit is dedicated to the story of The Spartan School of Aeronautics, and the training of 42 technical staff members of the young Israeli Air Force, who in 1949 came to the Spartan College of Aviation and Technology in Tulsa, for a 9-month training. They were known as the “Spartan Boys.” The Spartan Boys were "adopted" by families of the Tulsa Jewish community during their time of study. Upon completion of their training, they returned to Israel as certified aircraft mechanics. One young mechanic, Bob Golan (of blessed memory), originally from Poland who went to Israel after the Holocaust, ended up moving to Tulsa and becoming a docent at The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art.