Servaas Theron

Servaas Theron

SD, SM, DSO and Bar, DFC, AFC
Servaas Theron; SD, SM, DSO and Bar, DFC, AFC
	Theron (right)
Born	9 May 1918; Tulbagh, Western Cape
Died	14 March 1986 (aged 67); Pretoria, Gauteng
Allegiance	South Africa
Service / branch	South African Air Force
Years of service	1938–1970
Rank	Brigadier
Service number	P102649
Commands	2 Squadron SAAF; 250 Squadron;
Battles / wars	World War II; Korean War;
Awards	Distinguished Service Order; Distinguished Flying Cross; Air Force Cross;

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

Southern Cross Decoration (SD)
Southern Cross Medal (1952) (SM)
Korea Medal (South Africa)
Union Medal
Distinguished Service Order and Bar (DSO & Bar)
Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar (United Kingdom) (DFC & Bar)
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) (AFC)
(Code: 1939_45Star Not found)
Africa Star
Defence Medal (United Kingdom)
War Medal 1939 – 1945 (Mentioned in Dispatches) (MID)
Africa Service Medal (WWII)
United Nations Service Medal (Korea)
Korean War Service Medal

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e 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.
^ ^a ^b Thomas, Andrew (2003). Hurricane Aces 1941 -1945. Osprey. p. 61. ISBN 978-1841766102.
^ "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). 13 June 1946. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2020.
^ Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992. Fortress Publishers. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.

[AcesHigh-1] 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.

[HurrAces-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.

[Uys1992-4] Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992. Fortress Publishers. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.

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