Denis Earp

Denis John Earp SSA SD SM SOE
Born	7 June 1930 Bloemfontein
Service/branch	South African Air Force
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	Chief of the Air Force
Battles/wars	Korean War
Awards	Star of South Africa (SSA) Star of South Africa, Silver (SSAS) Southern Cross Decoration (SD) Southern Cross Medal (SM) South African Police Star for Outstanding Service (SOE) Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (USA) Order of the Cloud and Banner - with Grand Cordon (2nd Grade) (ORB)(Taiwan)

Lieutenant General Denis John Earp SSA SD SM SOE (Bloemfontein, born 7 June 1930)^[1][2] was a South African military commander, who held the post of Chief of the South African Air Force. Attended Grey College, Bloemfontein. He attended Military College in 1948^[2] and joined the SAAF in 1950. After qualifying as a pilot served in Korea with 2 Squadron SAAF. He was forced to bale out over enemy territory and was a POW for 23 months.^[3]

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.^[4]

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.^[4]

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.^[4]

His career took an unusual turn when he converted to helicopters and became Officer Commanding 17 Squadron at Air Force Base Waterkloof.^[4]

After that he became Senior Staff Officer Operations at SAAF Headquarters, then Director Operations from June 1 of 1976 to 1978 and Director General Operations at Defence Headquarters in the rank of Major General from June 19 of 1978.^[4]

He served as Chief of the Air Force from 1984 to 1988^[5]

His son, Lieutenant Michael Earp, was a helicopter pilot who was killed in the Border War on 5 January 1982.^[6]:Chp8

Aircraft Flown

• North American P-51 Mustang

Honours and Awards

Gen Earp received the following Awards and Decorations:^[1][7]

• 1987 – Star of South Africa (SSA)

• 1986 – Star of South Africa, Silver (SSAS)

• 1976 – Southern Cross Decoration (SD)

• 1973 – Southern Cross Medal (SM)

• n.d. – South African Police Star for Outstanding Service (SOE)

• 1953 – Korea Medal
• n.d. – United Nations Service Medal for Korea
• n.d.  – Korean War Service Medal
• 1952 – Korea – Order of Military Merit (Korea) (Chungmu Cordon) with Silver Star (Korea, 1952)^[1]
• 1952 – USA – Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (USA)

• 1987 – Order of the Cloud and Banner - with Grand Cordon (2nd Grade) (ORB)(Taiwan)

• n.d. – Chile – Gran Cruz Al Merito Aeronautico^[1]
• n.d. – Paraguay – Al Merito Miltar^[1]

See also

• List of South African military chiefs
• South African Air Force

References

1. Hayes, S.V (ed) (1992). Who's Who of Southern Africa. Who's Who of Southern Africa C.C. p. 203. ISBN 0-620-15974-X.
2. Geldenhuys, Genl. Jannie. We were there. Kraal Publishers. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-9814009-8-3.
3. Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992. Fortress Publishers. p. 73. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
4. "The SADF: Supplement to the Financial Mail" (PDF). Financial Mail: 35. July 1987.
5. "SADF.info".
6. Lord, Dick (2012). From Fledgling to Eagle: The South African Air Force during the Border War (Kindle ed.). Solihull, England: Helion & Company Ltd. ISBN 0415350158.
7. "Vyftien ontvang Ster van SA" [Fifteen receive Star of SA]. Die Burger (in Afrikaans). 5 March 1988. Retrieved 23 February 2015.