Denis Earp
|
Denis John Earp
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | 7 June 1930 Bloemfontein |
| Service/ |
 South African Air Force |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | Chief of the Air Force |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
| Awards | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/> |
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Lieutenant General Denis John Earp SSA SD SM SOE (Bloemfontein, born 7 June 1930)[1][2] was a South African military commander, who held the post of Chief of the South African Air Force. Attended Grey College, Bloemfontein. He attended Military College in 1948[2] and joined the SAAF in 1950. After qualifying as a pilot served in Korea with 2 Squadron SAAF. He was forced to bale out over enemy territory and was a POW for 23 months.[3]
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.[4]
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.[4]
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.[4]
His career took an unusual turn when he converted to helicopters and became Officer Commanding 17 Squadron at Air Force Base Waterkloof.[4]
After that he became Senior Staff Officer Operations at SAAF Headquarters, then Director Operations from June 1 of 1976 to 1978 and Director General Operations at Defence Headquarters in the rank of Major General from June 19 of 1978.[4]
He served as Chief of the Air Force from 1984 to 1988[5]
His son, Lieutenant Michael Earp, was a helicopter pilot who was killed in the Border War on 5 January 1982.[6]:Chp8
Aircraft Flown
Honours and Awards
Gen Earp received the following Awards and Decorations:[1][7]
- 1987 –
Star of South Africa (SSA)
- 1986 –
Star of South Africa, Silver (SSAS)
- 1976 –
Southern Cross Decoration (SD)
- 1973 –
Southern Cross Medal (SM)
- n.d. – x20px South African Police Star for Outstanding Service (SOE)
- 1953 – Korea Medal Korea Medal
- n.d. –
United Nations Service Medal for Korea - n.d. –
Korean War Service Medal - 1952 – Korea – x20px Order of Military Merit (Korea) (Chungmu Cordon) with Silver Star (Korea, 1952)[1]
- 1952 – USA –
Air Medal 
with Oak Leaf Cluster (USA)
See also
References
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| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chief of the South African Air Force 1984 – 1988 |
Succeeded by Jan van Loggerenberg |
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- Pages with broken file links
- South African military personnel of the Korean War
- 1930 births
- Living people
- Korean War prisoners of war
- South African prisoners of war
- South African military personnel of the Border War
- Chiefs of the South African Air Force
- Recipients of the Order of the Cloud and Banner
- Recipients of the Order of Military Merit (Korea)
- Recipients of the Air Medal
- People from Bloemfontein
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- South African military personnel stubs
