Brother of Mrs. M. J. van Wyk, of Plumstead. Born Pretoria. A medical student. ref. 85 years of SAAF
SAWGP smear: LG 31 July 1945 p.3926 Lt de Jongh Montebelluno belongs here. Copied onto PN 29979-30145. | War In Angola Roll of Honour (warinangola.com, tabid=1175), page 1 of 143: dates this 1952-09-02 (ROH/SAWGP: 1952-09-01). SN 206971V and unit (4 Squadron) confirmed. Not overwritten.
Col (rt) Graham du Toit, Last Post, 1 Sep 2026: Capt R.E. de Jongh DFC, 4 Squadron, mid-air collision (AT-6 Harvard 7033 x 7120) near Barberton, age 29. Matches ROH record. Same incident as Lt C.M.D. Reitz (PersonNumber 32659).
Mike Sandham 3 Sep 2026 omissions: notes same mid-air collision as Lt C.M.D. Reitz (32659) Harvard #7120 / #7033 near Barberton; Reitz date conflict (attrition 1 Sep vs headstone/SAWGP 3 Sep) — this record already DateDeath 1952-09-01.
5 Sep 2026: Unit "4 Squadron" (a squadron, SAAF's regiment-equivalent) promoted to Regiment, per John's decision. Corps (South African Air Force) unchanged.
25 Sep 2026, Unit2 service-branch sweep: the stored Secondary Unit "Army" was CLEARED. It was not a sub-unit, it was a service-branch word, and it CONTRADICTED this record's own Branch, "Air Force". Across the roll 787 records carried such a contradiction; judged against Corps and Regiment -- independent of both columns -- the evidence backed Branch 744 times and Unit2 not once. Branch is therefore kept and the contradicting word removed. Nothing is guessed: this man's branch of service is already recorded, and his sub-unit, if any, is simply not known.
LG Sup 31 July 1945 pg. 3926 - "This officer has displayed the highest standard of efficiency and courage. He has completed a very large number of sorties including many reconnaissances. In April 1945, Lieutenant de Jongh was leading a formation of a strafing reconnaissance. A convoy of motor transport was observed in the Montebelluno area. Despite adverse weather and heavy enemy opposition, this officer led the formation into attack. Twelve of the enemy vehicles were subsequently destroyed and a further three damaged. In air fighting Lieutenant de Jongh has been responsible for the destruction of at least one enemy fighter and has damaged others."
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37202/supplement/3926
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Mike Sandham
Mike Sandham 3 Sep 2026 omissions: notes same mid-air collision as Lt C.M.D. Reitz (32659) Harvard #7120 / #7033 near Barberton; Reitz date conflict (attrition 1 Sep vs headstone/SAWGP 3 Sep) — this record already DateDeath 1952-09-01.
- South African War Graves Project open source ↗
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The London Gazette
open source ↗
DFC. Supplement dated 31 July 1945 (issue 37202), p.3926.
Lieutenant Robert Edmund DE JONGH (206971V), S.A.A.F., 1 (S.A.A.F.) Sqn.
This officer has displayed the highest standard of efficiency and courage. He has completed a very large number of sorties including many reconnaissances. In April, 1945, Lieutenant de Jongh was leading a formation of aircraft on a strafing reconnaissance. A convoy of motor transport was observed in the Montebelluno area. Despite adverse weather and heavy enemy opposition, this officer led the formation into attack. Twelve of the enemy vehicles were subsequently destroyed and a further three damaged. In air fighting Lieutenant de Jongh has been responsible for the destruction of at least one enemy fighter and has damaged others.
Page scan (PDF): https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37202/supplement/3926/data.pdf -
The War in Angola
open source ↗
War In Angola Roll of Honour (warinangola.com, tabid=1175), page 1 of 143: date conflict, see ExtraCitation.
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