Topper van der Spuy Korean War hero

Transcription

1 Topper van der Spuy Korean War hero (If he would have been captured, we would have won the war He would have made the communists laugh them self to death)

2 Background to the Korean War and the South African Involvement FLYING CHEETAHS IN KOREA A special feature to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the No.2 Squadron SAAF s involvement in that conflict. Text and paintings by Derrick Dickens MEMORIES ARE at best times short and for most South Africans knowledge of the part played by pilots of No.2 Squadron SAAF in the Korean conflict which started sixty years ago, are at best sketchy. But the bottom line is these magnificent, unsung heroes in their flying machines carved a distinguished record in the history of the country s armed forces In the closing stages of World War II and once the Soviet Union had agreed to declare war on Japan early in 1945, it was decided that the Soviets could occupy North Korea and the Americans the South. The dividing line was the 38th parallel. As part of 18th fighter bomber wing SAAF and 67 USAF Squadron Mustangs shared the base at K 13 Suwon and used to accompany each other on interdiction sweeps. In 1947, the United Nations resolved to create an independent Korea. This resolution led to the planting of the seeds of discontent which would lead to the Korean conflict starting on June 25, 1950, and ending on July 27, Thus Korea became the first theatre of combat between the Western and Communist worlds, and signalled a major upsurge of the Cold War. In response to a United Nations resolution, both US and Russian forces were withdrawn from Korea in With the advent of the Cold War, Korea suddenly assumed vital strategic importance, positioned as it was bordering on the Soviet Union, China and Japan. Korea became the flashpoint of the Cold War when North Korea, with the backing of China and the Soviets, invaded the South. Within four days, the North Korean army had overrun the southern capital of Seoul and was moving rapidly southward. US troops were committed to the Pusan perimeter, where they were joined by reinforcements from the US, Britain and the

3 Commonwealth in July and August. After bitter fighting, the thrust south was halted and the final offensive of North Korea was repulsed in September, after which the UN forces started their offensive which pushed the Communist forces back over the 38th parallel. An amphibious landing of UN troops at Inchon leap frogged the North Koreans and cut off their supply routes, causing a disorderly retreat. By October, the UN forces had passed the 38th parallel and were heading for the Yalu River, the frontier with Red China. The Chinese then entered the war quite unexpectedly and drove the UN forces back over the 38th parallel. By the end of January, the Chinese had overextended their supply lines and were forced to a halt. They were then once again driven back north by a massive concentration of UN firepower to the 38th parallel, where fighting settled down to a vicious stalemate. Armistice talks were launched and continued intermittently for the next two years, while the war of attrition continued unabated. The war in the air resulted in UN air supremacy over the battlefields bringing it to conclusion, with the armistice signed at Panmunjom on July 27, THE SAAF GOES TO WAR The South African Government announced on August 4, 1950, that a fighter squadron had been offered to the United Nations for deployment in Korea, and three weeks later it was confirmed that the offer had been accepted, and No 2 Squadron was been chosen for this formidable task. Just over 200 officers and men were needed to supplement the existing nucleus of the squadron, and when volunteers were called for, 332 officers and other ranks came forward. On August 27, key posts were allocated to 18 officers plus 32 additional pilots and 157 other ranks. The officers, under Commanding Officer Commandant Van Breda Theron, DSO, DFC, AFC and Deputy Commanding Officer, Major Blaauw, DFC, were experienced in their own special fields, and the combat leaders were all pilots who had distinguished themselves during WWII. Flying operations were to be controlled by the 18th USAF fighter bomber wing Pilots of 2 SAAF Squadron, the Flying Cheetahs, underwent concentrated training on Spitfire Mk IXs before they were placed at the disposal of the United Nations. They converted to the F 51D Mustang at Johnson Air Force Base, Tokyo, and were attached to the USAF 18th fighter bomber wing at K 9, Pusan and K 24 Pyongyang. The squadron flew into action to stem the Communist hordes swarming from the North, the head long advance forcing it to fall back to K 10 near Chinhae, which remained its permanent base for the next two years. In this war the SAAF received its baptism of fire from Russian MiG jets and moved from a piston engined air force into the jet age from flying P 51 Mustangs to F 86 Sabres. In operations using the Mustangs, the SAAF carried out sorties, and lost 74 of its 95 aircraft. During three years of conflict, the SAAF fielded 243 officers, 545 ground personnel and 38 army officers and men. The Flying Cheetahs lost 34 pilots in action, almost a hundred percent attrition rate, which attested to the viciousness of the fighting The squadron mainly carried out interdiction and close air support missions, sealing off supplies from the Communist troops and disrupting communications. These tasks were invariably performed in the face of heavy

4 antiaircraft fire and counter attacks by MiG 15s. Early in 1953, the Flying Cheetahs converted from their F 51 Mustangs to the jet powered F 86 Sabre operating from K 55 at Osan, south of Seoul. They did conversion training in T 33 Shooting Stars and a week later their first Sabres arrived. Cmdt. Gerneke flew the first operational sortie on February 22. The same day they sighted numerous MiG, but no combat resulted. By March 12, they were fully operational and flew four counter air patrols along the Yalu River in an attempt to lure MiGs across the border to engage in combat. It was during one of these air alerts when, on March 18, Col. Kalfie Martin and Eddie Pienaar intercepted two MiGs. Both pilots attacked and one MiG was seen to explode when it entered some cloud. The kill was credited to Col. Martin. During the last months of the war missions were equally distributed between interdiction, close support and counter air, with an occasional rescue patrol. The Sabres were returned to the USAF and the last SAAF officers left Korea on October 29, 1953, thus ending South Africa s involvement in the Korean conflict. By the time the armistice was signed, July 27, 1953, the squadron had flown sorties carrying out fighter sweeps along the Yalu and Chong Chong rivers, and concentrating mainly on ground attack operations against enemy airfields. Decorations earned included three Legions of Merit, two Silver Stars, 50 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 40 Bronze Stars and 176 Air Medals. 152 clusters to the Air Medal, one Soldier s medal and 797 Korean War Medals The USA presented No.2 Squadron with a Presidential Unit Citation, awarded for extraordinary heroism in action against the armed enemy of the United Nations. Korea presented the SAAF with the order of Military Merit Taeguk with Gold Star, to the unknown dead of the armed forces of the Union of South Africa, as well as a Presidential Unit Citation for exceptional meritorious service and heroism. By the time the Flying Cheetahs left Korea, they had established a record which compared favourably with the best of the United Nations Forces. They lost 34 pilots in flying nearly 3, 5 percent of all fighter bomber sorties, destroying rolling stock, railway lines, tunnels, bridges and locomotives, military equipment, trucks, artillery pieces, and tanks, and accounting for hundreds of enemy troops. The 826 South Africans who served in Korea all contributed to a combat record unequalled by a force of similar size in previous conflicts. In honour of the Flying Cheetahs, 18th USAF Fighter Bomber Wing issued this policy order: In memory of our gallant South African comrades, at all retreat ceremonies, the playing of the American National Anthem shall be preceded by playing the introductory bars of the South African National Anthem and that all personnel of the Wing will render the same honours to this Anthem as to our own. Used by the kind consent of Derrick Dickens

5 A forgotten hero Captain Topper van der Spuy, Korean War hero Alexander van der Spuy was born on a farm on July 1923, near Zeerust. The family later left and he went to the Volkskool Hiedelberg where he matriculated in The next year, 1942, he joined the South African Airforce. The Second World war was in full swing and he wanted to become an Air Force pilot. He was a talented man and he passed the pilot training without much trouble. After his training he was send to Italy, where the South African war effort was now focused. He was now part of SAAF 2 Squadron and where flying British Spitfire s. He was a more than keen participant to the war and loved flying. He flew 161 combat sorties before he was shot down in He survived the emergency landing and was fortunately rescued by friendly Italian peasants that hidden him from the German s. After three months he was successfully smuggled to the Allied lines. He returned to flying and after victory in Europe was swithched to the Milkrun. Flying Dakota transporters from Southern Europe to London. The 161 sorties he flew is still the South African record for the most sorties by a pilot in any war. His call sign during the war was Topper 6. Topper became his nickname for the rest of his life, and even his closest family later called him Topper. On returning to South Africa he was demobilized and decided to go to University. He attended Wits University in Johannes burg, studing soil conservation. With other ex servicemen he resided in Cottesloe Residence. While studying he took on diving as a sport and achieved Transvaal Colors. He was ever a keen sportmen and later played rugby for the SA Airways and golf he played till his death. After completing his studies he went back to farm at Vaalkop, a farm in the Marico District. He grew tobacco and oranges. But the farmer could never suppress his urge to fly again. He was an aviator at heart. When South Africa joined the Korean War, he immediately volunteered to go. He again joined 2 Squadron and was send off to Korea. He did 67 sorties. On sortie nr 68 he unfortunately made a technical error and crashlanded just after take off. He climbed out of the aircraft unscathed. He flew one more sortie, but the commanding officer decided it was enough. Topper had enough of flying, the CO decided and he was returned to South Africa. He was a jovial and more than likable man. He played the guitar and with the humorous side of his personality, it did not take him long to have many friends. So many friends that when het left Korea, the American in the base organized him a special farewell party. They made a banner to see him off.

6 After the war he decided that he would remain in flying. He joined the Sa Airways in 1953 as first officer, and was promoted Captain in He had flew Lodestar, Dakotas, Skymasters (captained the last Skymaster flight from Windhoek), DC7s,Viscounts,707 s and 727 s. He performed an acclaimed, emergency nose up landing in a 707 in 1974, at Jan Smuts airport. He retired in 1980, due to heart problems. As ever helpful man he stopped his car to help a woman to push her car out of the road. He suffered a mild heart attack with the push attempt. He had to leave flying and retired from the SAA. He went back to Marico and farmed on Vaalkop till his death in He died age 72. A full and colorful life. During 1984 the Chief of staff of the American Air Force, Gen. Gabriel received a letter from an ex SAAF technican, also a Korean War veteran. Gen. Gabriel asked in his reply if Sgt. Vorster he knew Topper and what happened to him. Vorster connected Topper with the Chief of the American Air Force. His buddy of Korea. Not long after that Topper was invited to the American Korean War veteran s reunion in Arizona. He was received as a hero. We celebrate Captain Topper van der Spuy, Korean War hero, and every other of the 826 South Africans that took part in suppressing and repulsing the communists attempt to take over Southern Korea. 34 of them died in doing so. We celebrate the airmen not only for giving their lives for a just and fair course, but also those who came back and contributed to help build a better South Africa. Leon Bezuidenhout