Sad week for SA aviation community
Date: 17 June 2011
By Dean Wingrin
The South African military and general aviation community lost two friends this week, one the premier South African aviation historian and the other a member of the SAAF executive team.
Dave Becker
Aviation researcher, historian, author, photographer, gentleman and friend, Dave Becker, 71, passed away on Thursday 16 June. Dave was widely known in the aviation enthusiast community and, possessed by an almost photographic memory; he was a walking encyclopedia of SAAF and South African general aviation knowledge. Dave authored many books on the history of the SAAF and on his retirement from the SAAF with the rank of Major, he continued to pass on his knowledge in the form of in-depth historical articles and as a regular contributor to a local aviation magazine.
The first to arrive for an airshow or fly-in and the last to leave, Dave could always be found walking the flight line or peering into every hanger, camera and little black note-book in hand. He was always willing to offer assistance and advice and it was just a month ago that Dave was trying to talk the writer into accompanying him on his next trip to Oshkosh.
We are all the poorer at his passing and he shall be missed.
Brig Gen Nonelelo Mzongwana
On Friday 17 June, the SANDF announced the passing away of Brig Gen Nonelelo Lennox Mzongwana (49). As a young Captain in 1983 until 1988, Mzongwana successfully underwent his pilot training in Israel whilst serving in the Ciskei Airwing. He was integrated into the SAAF in 1994 and after a stint of flying various light transport aircraft, was appointed to a number of positions. He had only been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and appointed as the Director Air Transport and Maritime Systems with effect from 1 November 2010.