The SAAF Forum

I have ben trying to find more personal particulars on Air Sergeant J Jackson ie service number christian name/s to no avail, any help would be appricated here.

2nd february 1941

40 Sqn Hartbees # 834 Op: Army Co-operation

Lieutenant Johan Daniel Wilhelm Human 103021V Pilot SAAF
Air Sergeant J Jackson Air Gunner SAAF

834 was shot down near Hobok, during the Battle for Hobok.
Lt Human whilst circling low spotted an Italian MG post that was concentrating its fire on Irwin’s armoured car. He dove to Irwin’s aid and in doing so was hit by ground fire and 834 began to loose height rapidly and he never the less still made one more turn around, giving the rear air gunner A/Sgt Jackson another chance to machine gun the Italian positions. Lt Human then with his engine seized turned away and crash landed in the bush in front of the advancing Transvaal Scottish Regiment.

For this action Lt Human was awarded a DFC and A/Sgt Jackson the SAAF’s first DFM for WWII.

Lt Human's DFC award was gazetted in the London Gazette 07.03.1941 page 1370

Looking at "East African and Abyssinian Campaigns" by Neil Orpen & "A Gathering of Eagles" by James Ambrose Brown, I find nothing on Jackson that you have not already noted

Some additional info on Human from "Springbok Fighter Victory - Vol1" by Michael Schoeman.

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Brent Best

Ok W407594F .. some web trawling around the London Gazette yielded this

THE LONDON GAZETTE, 4 MARCH, 1941, #35094 page1305.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/35094/pages/1305

Interesting the DFM was then Gazetted before the DFC.

Cheers

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Brent Best

Thanks Kremlin