Group Captain AG Malan “Sailor”

A Natural Curiosity

Group Captain AG “Sailor” Malan DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar, one of a number of South Africans who joined the RAF before the war, died in South Africa in 1963 and whilst his passing was honored albeit under attendance circumstance made difficult by the government, a subsequent memorial service at RAF Biggin Hill was attended by amongst others Lord Dowding and the Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Elsworthy who served with RAF Bomber Command and said in paying tribute to Malan, “ We mourn the passing of a fine officer and gallant comrade who was in the forefront of the Battle of Britain, a man who fought bravely and fearlessly at a time when courage and leadership in the air was our only safeguard. His name will live on in the history of the Royal Air Force and in the minds and hearts of men of courage everywhere”

A Natural Curiosity

Notwithstanding Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Elsworthy’s comment, “Sailor” Malan’s “name will live on in the history of the Royal Air Force” or, General Jan Smuts’s involvement in the formation of the Royal Air Force and his role as Churchill’s confidante during the Second World War, the only artwork of a South African, apparently relegated to a storeroom for a time before being reinstated to a position in very august company on a wall in the Royal Air Force Club’s impressive Churchill Bar, is a full length portrait of Flight Lieutenant Samuel Marcus Kinkead DSO DSC DFC who lost his life in 1928 attempting to break the world's speed record.

Links of Long Standing

Several joined well before war was declared including amongst others, TH Archbell, AS Ainslie, I Bocock, CBE Burt-Andrews GL Cruickshanks, G Chater, IB Difford, FA Harte, GDL Haysom, CB Hull, GLB Hull, AG “Sailor” Malan, EJ Morris, MT Pattle, H Rosofsky, JF Roulston RN Selley, HWL Sheahan CR Taylor and FL Watson.

Links of Long Standing

A thirteen-vote majority disallowed conscription, 44 570 of the estimated 342 700 South Africans who volunteered served in the South African Air Force17 and although a significant number of those airmen were educated at the country’s English medium schools, many Afrikaans speaking South Africans volunteered and as historian Hermann Giliomee points out, “Äfrikaners did not boycott the war as a Group” 18. General Smuts, for one, played a leading role, two notable South Africans who served in the RAF “Sailor” Malan and “Dutch” Hugo grew up in Afrikaans speaking homes, while Bultfontein High School educated Johannes Gous, a SAAF Stalag III “POW” murdered by the Gestapo, was initially turned down by the SAAF because his English was poor!

The First Ten Months

“The London Gazette” issues on June 11th and 14th confirmed “Distinguished Flying Cross” awards to Flight Lt AG “Sailor” Malan, Flying Officer RN Selley and Pilot Officer HA Haarhoff. Selley and his gunner Haarhoff were flying one of three No 220 Squadron Coastal Command Hudson’s tasked with protecting Dunkirk shipping when they encountered approximately 40 Luftwaffe Ju 87’s 17 which they attacked. “…Selley shot down two of the enemy aircraft with his front guns. By skilful manoeuvring he also enabled his rear gunner to shoot down a third and damage a further two enemy aircraft.” Malan’s citation recorded he “…. personally, shot down two enemy aircraft and, probably, three others. Flight Lieutenant Malan has displayed great skill, courage and relentless determination in his attacks upon the enemy."

Against Unfavourable Odds

Thirty-one-year-old Squadron Leader AG “Sailor” Malan DFC one of the oldest fighter pilots and, “one of a handful of junior fighter commanders whose wartime exploits were to make them legends in their own lifetime” 7, had been in command of No 74 Squadron for three days when his Spitfire pilots were involved in intense August 8th air battles.

Against Unfavourable Odds

Eric Kennington’s 1940 portrait of Squadron Leader AG “Sailor” Malan DSO DFC and Bar. An aggressive outstanding pilot and excellent shot, Malan, a tough leader who demanded high standards, commanded No 74 Squadron during the “Battle of Britain” and was the only South African airman awarded the DSO and Bar and DFC and Bar.

Against Unfavourable Odds

Group Captain AG Malan DSO and Bar DFC and Bar assumed command of Biggin Hill in 1943, commanded two Fighter Wings, returned to action on D-Day, commanded the Cosfoss Gunnery School, attended a Cranwell College Staff Course and resigned his commission in 1946.