Identity
Person No.
34322
Service No.
W83896R
Last Name
First Name
Frederick Albertus Francois
Initials
F A F
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
25
Military Service
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause of Death
Died of wounds, received on 10 April 1982 during Operation Yahoo while flying as a spotter and air co-ordinator in support of Koevoet anti-insurgent operations in the Elundu area. He was flying as the spotter in a 1 SWA Squadron PA28-235 Cherokee Pathfinder aircraft, Registration ZS-EXT flown by Major H.A. Kessler from 1 SWA Commando Squadron. The aircraft suffered engine failure due to a bent valve while assisting in a follow-up operation and carried out a forced landing in a mahangu field. Unfortunately, the aircraft undercarriage dug into the furrows and the aircraft flipped over. Primed hand grenades that Major Kessler had placed into the launching tube fell back into the cockpit area when the aircraft flipped over and exploded. Major Kessler was killed instantly and although Claasen was rescued from the wrecked aircraft, he was grievously burned and succumbed to his injuries on 20 April 1982
Grave Reference
Location
Additional Information
Notes
ref. Gallantry Awards of the South African Police 1913-1994
Citation
LG Sup 22 August 1918 as 133 Battery Sergeant Major 12th Citizen Battery
External Source
Unknown
South African War Graves Project