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Denis Earp

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lieutenant General

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
Branch
 South African Air Force
Rank
Lieutenant General
CommandsChief of the Air Force
Conflicts
Korean War
AwardsStar of South Africa SSAG Star of South Africa SSAS Southern Cross Decoration SD Southern Cross Medal SM South African Police Star for Outstanding Service SOE Korea Medal (South Africa) Pro Patria Medal Good Service Medal Good Service Medal Union Medal United Nations Service Medal Korean War Service Medal Order of Military Merit (무공훈장) Air Medal Order of the Cloud and Banner ORB

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.

Career

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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 bail out over enemy territory and was a prisoner of war for 23 months.[4]

Released in September 1953, he was posted to 1 Squadron until 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

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Honours and awards

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

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 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.
  2. 1 2 Geldenhuys, Genl. Jannie (2011). 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. 1 2 3 4 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 978-0415350150.
  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.
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