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Denis John Earp (7 June 1930- 19 May 2019) was a South African military commander, who held the post of Chief of the South African Air Force.
South African Korea Medal
* n.d.
South Korean Order of Military Merit (Chungmu Cordon) with Silver Star (Korea, 1952)
* 1952US
* 1987
* n.d.ChileGran Cruz Al Merito Aeronautico
* n.d.ParaguayAl Merito Miltar
Career
He attended Grey College, Bloemfontein, Military College in 1948 and joined the SAAF in 1950. After qualifying as a pilot he served in Korea with2 Squadron SAAF
2 Squadron is a squadron in the South African Air Force which was formed in 1940. The squadron has a long history, having been involved in every single combat action in which the SAAF has taken part. During the Second World War it made a name for ...
. He was forced to bale out over enemy territory and was a POW for 23 months.
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.
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.
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.
His career took an unusual turn when he converted to helicopters and became officer commanding 17 Squadron at Air Force Base Waterkloof.
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.
He served as Chief of the Air Force from 1984 to 1988
His son, Lieutenant Michael Earp, was a helicopter pilot who was killed in the Border War Border War may refer to:
Military conflicts
*Border War or Bleeding Kansas (1854–1859), a series of violent events involving Free-Staters and pro-slavery elements prior to the American Civil War
*Border War (1910–1919), border conflicts betwee ...
on 5 January 1982.
Aircraft flown
* North American P-51 Mustang * SAF Dassault Mirage 20000Honours and awards
Gen Earp received the following Awards and Decorations: * 1987 * 1986 * 1976 * 1973 * n.d. * 1953 South African Korea Medal
* n.d. United Nations Service Medal for Korea
The United Nations Service Medal for Korea (UNKM) is an international military decoration established by the United Nations on December 12, 1950 as the United Nations Service Medal. The decoration was the first international award ever created by t ...
* n.d. Korean War Service Medal
The Korean War Service Medal (KWSM, ko, 6.25사변종군기장, ), also known as the Republic of Korea War Service Medal (ROKWSM), is a military award of South Korea which was first authorized in December 1950.
History
6.25 Incident Participati ...
* 1952South Korea South Korean Order of Military Merit (Chungmu Cordon) with Silver Star (Korea, 1952)
* 1952US
* 1987
* n.d.ChileGran Cruz Al Merito Aeronautico
* n.d.ParaguayAl Merito Miltar
See also
* List of South African military chiefs * South African Air ForceReferences
{{DEFAULTSORT:Earp, Denis South African military personnel of the Korean War 1930 births 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 Military Merit (Korea) Recipients of the Air Medal People from Bloemfontein Alumni of Grey College, Bloemfontein 2019 deaths White South African people