Denis Earp

Denis John Earp SSA SD SM SOE (7 June 1930[1][2]- 19 May 2019[3]) was a South African military commander, who held the post of Chief of the South African Air Force.

Denis John Earp

SSA SD SM SOE
Born(1930-06-07)7 June 1930
Bloemfontein, South Africa
Died19 May 2019(2019-05-19) (aged 88)
Pretoria
Allegiance South Africa
Service/branch South African Air Force
RankLieutenant general
Commands heldChief of the Air Force
Battles/warsKorean War
Awards

Career

He attended Grey College, Bloemfontein, Military College in 1948[2] and joined the SAAF in 1950. After qualifying as a pilot he served in Korea with 2 Squadron SAAF. He was forced to bale out over enemy territory and was a POW for 23 months.[4]

Released in September 1953, he was posted to 1 Squadron till January 1957. Then he spent two years as an instructor at Central Flying Service Dunnottar before being appointed as a pilot attack instructor at the Air Operations School.[5]

In 1964 he spent time in England converting to Canberra light bombers and on his return served as a pilot at 12 (Canberra) Squadron at Waterkloof Air Force Base.[5]

In December 1967 he returned to 2 Squadron as commanding officer. Eighteen months later he was appointed commandant flying at Air Force Base Pietersburg and after that senior staff officer (air) of the Joint Combat Forces.[5]

His career took an unusual turn when he converted to helicopters and became officer commanding 17 Squadron at Air Force Base Waterkloof.[5]

After that he became senior staff officer operations at SAAF Headquarters, then director operations from 1 June 1976, to 1978 and director general operations at Defence Headquarters in the rank of major general from 19 June 1978.[5]

He served as Chief of the Air Force from 1984 to 1988[6]

His son, Lieutenant Michael Earp, was a helicopter pilot who was killed in the Border War on 5 January 1982.[7]:Chp8

Aircraft flown

Honours and awards

Gen Earp received the following Awards and Decorations:[1][8]

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See also

References
  1. Hayes, S.V (ed) (1992). Who's Who of Southern Africa. Who's Who of Southern Africa C.C. p. 203. ISBN 0-620-15974-X.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. Geldenhuys, Genl. Jannie. We were there. Kraal Publishers. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-9814009-8-3.
  3. "Former SAAF Chief Denis Earp dies". Defenceweb. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  4. Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992. Fortress Publishers. p. 73. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
  5. "The SADF: Supplement to the Financial Mail" (PDF). Financial Mail: 35. July 1987.
  6. "SADF.info".
  7. Lord, Dick (2012). From Fledgling to Eagle: The South African Air Force during the Border War (Kindle ed.). Solihull, England: Helion & Company Ltd. ISBN 0415350158.
  8. "Vyftien ontvang Ster van SA" [Fifteen receive Star of SA]. Die Burger (in Afrikaans). 5 March 1988. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
Military offices
Preceded by
Michal Muller		 Chief of the South African Air Force
1984 – 1988		 Succeeded by
Jan van Loggerenberg
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