Highest Flying Medal for Deceased SAAF Pilot
Date: 20 September 2007
The following is a very rough translation from the Afrikaans article that appeared in the Beeld newpaper:
The wife of deceased Maj Andre Hatting, who was yesterday posthumously awarded the airforce's highest medal, received the award with pride. Meanwhile, Hattings wife, who has since remarried, is proceeding with her court case against her deceased husband's former base.
Mrs Annalien Crafford said yesterday "this thing is causing me distress" regarding the R4 million claim which was handed to the office of the Minister of Defence, Mr Mosiuoa Lekota, a year ago.
Hattingh crashed his motorbike at 6.30 am on 14 August 2003 into a Dakota aircraft which was being towed and died 24 hours later in hospital.
Crafford received the Ad Astra medal on behalf of Hattingh yesterday, just 50 metres from the place of the accident.
Asked what the awarding of the meant to him, Capt Joé Hattingh, also an airforce pilot, said it "means that acknowledgement is still given. It was very important for the family ... it makes a person proud of his memory."
Hatting Sr, who also received the Honoris Crux medal for bravery when he was alive, was one of ten people read out by Lt Gen Carlo Gagiano, Chief of the Airforce. Gagiano said "today's recipients are role models for those that follow" and he also praised the airforce base. "This base also deserves a medal. A lot of work has gone into this and today we can be proud."
Base Commander, Col Kobus Butler, was also awarded the 20 year medal for good service.
Crafford said after the ceremony that "I have sympathy for Col Butler and Lt Gen Gagiano as they were then not in the position that they are now defending, but we must get closure".
Included was Flight Sergeant Kenny George, the only one of the group from 22 Squadron recipients that was awarded the medal for the second time. "This is now my second one" the Oryx helicopter engineer said. "We were called out one Tuesday. A ship ran aground near Scarborough. Rescue workers were already onboard the ship when we arrived. We rescued 19 people. The ship remained on the beach for a few weeks" George explained.
This was the first time that the ceremony was held at Ysterplaat, where members of airforce bases Langebaanweg, Overberg in Bredasdorp and Ysterplaat were acknowledged for their service. Almost 500 guests attended the ceremony.
A spokesperson for the Department of Defence could not provide comment on claim by Crafford by press time.
