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Denis Earp
South African Air Force officer (1930–2019) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
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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
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Aircraft flown
- North American P-51 Mustang
- SAF Dassault Mirage 20000
Honours and awards
Gen Earp received the following Awards and Decorations:[1][8]
- 1987 –
Star of South Africa (Gold) (SSAG) - 1986 –
Star of South Africa (Silver) (SSAS) - 1976 –
Southern Cross Decoration (SD) - 1973 –
Southern Cross Medal (1952) (SM) - n.d. –
South African Police Star for Outstanding Service (SOE) - 1953 –
Korea Medal (South Africa) 
Pro Patria Medal 
Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years)) 
Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years)) 
Union Medal - n.d. –
United Nations Service Medal (Korea) - n.d. –
Korean War Service Medal - 1952 – South Korea –
South Korean Order of Military Merit (Chungmu Cordon) with Silver Star (Korea, 1952)[1] - 1952 – US –
Air Medal (with Oak leaf cluster) - 1987 –
Order of the Cloud and Banner (2nd Grade - with Grand Cordon) (ORB) - n.d. – Chile – Gran Cruz Al Merito Aeronautico[1]
- n.d. – Paraguay – Al Merito Miltar[1]
See also
References
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