Servaas Theron

SD, SM, DSO and Bar, DFC, AFC
Theron (right)
Born(1918-05-09)9 May 1918
Tulbagh, Western Cape
Died14 March 1986(1986-03-14) (aged 67)
Pretoria, Gauteng
Allegiance South Africa
Service/branchSouth African Air Force
Years of service1938–1970
RankBrigadier
Service numberP102649
Commands held
Battles/wars
Awards

Servaas van Breda Theron (9 May 1918 – 14 March 1986) was a South African World War II fighter ace, credited with 10 'kills'.[1]

World War II

He joined the Permanent Force in 1938. After flight training he was posted to 1 Squadron SAAF in 1940, before being posted as a flight commander to 2 Squadron SAAF in October that year. He later went to 3 Squadron SAAF, staying there until May 1941. While there he scored 5 aerial victories and took part in destroying 8 on the ground, earning a DFC in March 1941.[1] On 13 March 1941, Theron landed alongside a Hawker Hurricane that had run out of fuel and siphoned petrol from his plane into the stranded plane and both planes made a getaway.[2] On their return to base, they found the airfield under attack. Both Theron and the pilot he rescued shot down a Fiat CR.42.[2]

He returned to South Africa, becoming Chief Flying Instructor at the Central Flying School in 1943. He then went to the Mediterranean, joining No. 450 Squadron RAAF for a short period. In August 1943 he took command of 250 Squadron until April 1944. He was awarded the DSO in June 1944.[1]

Later career

After the war he returned to South Africa and stayed in the South African Air Force. In 1946 he was awarded the Air Force Cross.[3] He went on to command 2 Squadron SAAF and served in the Korean War from September 1950 to March 1951, flying Mustangs. He received a Bar to his DSO for his service in Korea.[1]

He was then posted as an instructor at AFB Langebaanweg. He served as Director of Operations for the SAAF before his retirement in 1970.[1]

After retiring from the Air Force he became Chairman of Hawker Siddeley International.[4]

Awards and decorations

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Shores, C; Williams C (15 July 2008). Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots. Grub Street. ISBN 978-1-898697-00-8.
  2. 1 2 Thomas, Andrew (2003). Hurricane Aces 1941 -1945. Osprey. p. 61. ISBN 978-1841766102.
  3. ↑ "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). 13 June 1946. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2020.
  4. ↑ Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992. Fortress Publishers. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
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