South African Air Force (SAAF) Officers 1939-1945

South African Air Force (SAAF) Officers
1939-1945

Looking for details on a SAAF officer not listed here yet?
Check out the website of Mr Tinus le Roux.
Unfortunately no specific sources on SAAF officers are available to me.
You can e-mail me with additions.

For detailed biographies of key RAF personnel (Air Commodore and higher) there is already an excellent website: www.rafweb.org

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Bennett,
G
E.L. Black
Son of John and Minnie Bennett, of Adelaide, Cape Province, South Africa. Married to Dorothy Bennett, of Adelaide; one daughter. 1905 ?
-
23.03.1942
(MIA) [age 37]
[Alamein Memorial, column 266]

Lt. ? [8722]

? - 23.03.1942 24 Squadron SAAF (missing in action when his Boston was shot down by ground fire during a raid on Rommel's crowd)

Bolitho,
John Clifford
J.C. Bolitho (Photo courtesy of Mr Rick Cannam) 08.05.1921
-

Lt. ?

1943/44 145 Squadron RAF (Italy)

JOHN CLIFFORD BOLITHO, was born May 8, 1921 at Modder "B" Transvaal, South Africa. Matriculation certificate (university entrance). Bolitho holds Warbirds #8804 and EM #151301. He would like to own Spitfire MK9, Mustang F51 and T6. Prior to WWII, Commandant (Lieutenant Colonel) worked underground as a gold miner and qualified as a private pilot. Joining the South African Air Force (S.A.A.F.) January 1940 he qualified as a military pilot in November 1940. February 1943 he was seconded to the R.A.F. and completed an operational tour and O.T.U. instructor with No. 145 Fighter Sdn. (Spitfire MK VIII). Transferred back to the S.A.A.F. (28 Squadron Transport) he flew C47 Dakotas operationally in the Middle East. on S.A.A.F. Pretoria to Cairo shuttle service, the Berlin Air Lift, and VIP pilot. His period as an Al Grade Instructor (single/multi engine) was interrupted in April 1952 when he volunteered for an operational tour with No. 2 "Cheeta" Sqn. S.A.A.F. — part of the U.S. Air Force 15th Fighter Bomber Wing in Korea. He was awarded the U.S. Air Medal and the squadron won a U.S. President [...] instructional and VIP duties, and was later employed at various S.A.A.F Headquarters as staff officer and less as a pilot until his retirement on pension from the S.A.A.F. on the 8th of May 1986. His first wife is deceased, and he married Gezina Johanna on June 17, 1984. He has two children and four grandchildren. Now resides in Capetown, South Africa.

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Lloyd,
Willem B
"Louis"
W.B. Lloyd
Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Lloyd, of Pretoria. ?
-
19.12.1942
[Thaba Tswane (Old No. 1) Military Cemetery, L9]

Lt. ? [205568]

19.12.1942

died with General Dan Pienaar (South Africa) while on a return flight over Lake Victoria

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Pearce,
Peter Saville
P.S. Pearce (Photo courtesy of Mr Warren Taylor)
Son (with two sisters) of Brian Errol Duff Pearce, and Violet ....
Married (09.11.1949, Natal, South Africa) Deirdre Ethel Catherine ....; two sons, one daughter. 07.06.1920
Baton Rouge, New Orleans , Louisiana, USA
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04.03.1962
Douala, Littoral, Cameroon (accident)

2nd Lt. 14.01.1943 [543099]

Lt. ? (reld 23.11.1945)

Afr SM - -

WM 39-45 - -

Education: University of South Africa (BA).

14.01.1943 attested SAAF

18.02.1944 - 07.05.1944 31 Squadron SAAF (Middle East)

07.05.1944 - 03.12.1944 SAAF (UK)

03.12.1944 - 17.10.1945 60 Squadron SAAF (Central Mediterranean Forces)

Director, Illovo Sugar & Illovo Trading Co.

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