The South African
Military History Society
Die Suid-Afrikaanse Krygshistoriese Vereniging
Military History Journal
Vol 1 No 7 - December 1970
South Africans in the Battle of Britain
by D. P. TIDY
At the Close of the film 'Battle of Britain' a list of participants
includes the names of 22 South Africans. As a result a number of readers
have asked for their names to be recorded herein. In fact, 23 are listed below as having flown
operationally under Fighter Command control in the
Battle of Britain. The ranks reflected against their names
are those they held on 10th July, 1940:
- F/O N. J. M. Barry*
- F/O P. R. F. Burton*
- F/Lt. G. F. Chater
- P/O C. A. A. G. Clark
- F/Lt. C. R. Davis*
- F/O I. B. Difford*
- P/O G. J. Drake*
- F/O C. W. Goldsmith*
- P/O L. W. Graham
- P/O R. H. Haviland
- P/O I. B. D. E. Hay
- F/Lt. G. D. L. Haysom
- P/O M. K. Hill
- P/O P. H. Hugo
- S/Ldr. C. B. Hull*
- P/O A. G. Lewis
- F/Lt. A. G. Malan
- P/O E. J. Morris
- P/O J. R. S. Oelofse*
- P/O F. H. Posenor*
- P/O B. G. Stapleton
- P/O B. van Mentz
- P/O A. B. Watkinson
* denotes killed in the Battle.
Many other (at least 13) pilots who are now South
Africans, or who were born, or who have made their home,
in South Africa, flew operationally in the Battle, but did not
hold South African nationality at the time of the Battle.
Among them were the following (ranks as at 10th July, 1940):
- P/O D. A. Adams
- P/O J. R. A. Bailey
- P/O J. T. Crossey
- F/Lt. M. N. Crossley
- P/O P. R. G. Dexter
- F/Lt. C. P. Green
- Sgt. D. A. Helcke*
- Sgt. G. C. C. Palliser
- P/O S. R. Peacock-Edwards
- P/O R. F. Philo
- F/Lt. A. C. Rabagliati
- Sgt. T. J. Wallace
- P/O P. H. V. Wells
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