Malan, Adolph Gysbert “Sailor”.

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Malan, Adolph Gysbert “Sailor”, better known as Sailor Malan, born 03-10-1910, in Wellington, Cape Province, South Africa (Zuid-Afrika), to an Afrikaner parents of Huguenot descent in Wellington, Western Cape, Willem Adolph Malan and Evelyn Forde Malan , He had two brothers and two sisters, Ralph Jordan Malan; Willem Stanley Malan; Prive; Marjorie Joubert Malan; and Zoe Minaar Malan. better known as Sailor Malan,

He joined the South African Training Ship General Botha in 1924 or 1925 as a naval cadet at the age of 14, and on 05-01-1928 engaged as an officer cadet aboard the Landsdown Castle the Union-Castle Line which later earned him the nickname of “Sailor” amongst his pilot colleagues. On 19-02-1932, Adolph joined the Royal Naval Reserve as an acting sub-lieutenant, and was commissioned a sub-lieutenant on 18-06-1935.

In 1935 the Royal Air Force (RAF) started the rapid expansion of its pilot corps, for which Malan volunteered. He learned to fly in the de Havilland Tiger Moth at an elementary flying school near Bristol, flying for the first time on 06-01-1936. He was commissioned as an acting pilot officer on 02- March, completed training by the end of the year, and was sent to join 74 Squadron, ‘Tiger Squadron’  on 20-12-1936. He was confirmed as a pilot officer on 06-01-1937. He was promoted to acting flying officer on 2-05-1938 and promoted to substantive flying officer on 6 July. He received another promotion to acting flight lieutenant on 02-03-1939, six months before the outbreak of war. ‘Tiger Squadron’

Malan developed the Ten Rules for Air Fighting for fighter pilots.

The Tiger Squadron 74th was dispatched 15 hours after war was declared to intercept a bomber raid that turned out to be returning RAF planes. On 06-09-1939, “A” Flight was scrambled to intercept a suspected enemy radar track and ran into the Hurricanes of No. 56 Squadron RAF. under command of Sqn Leader Edward Vincent Knowle.  Believing 56 to be the enemy, Malan ordered an attack. Paddy Byrne and John Conell Freeborn downed two RAF aircraft, killing one officer – Montague Hulton-Harrop

– in friendly fire, which became known as the Battle of Barking Creek. At the subsequent court-martial, Malan denied responsibility for the attack. He testified for the prosecution against his own pilots stating that Freeborn had been “irresponsible, impetuous, and had not taken proper heed of vital communications”. This prompted Freeborn’s counsel, Patrick Hastings, to call Malan a bare-faced liar. Hastings was assisted in defending the pilots by Roger Bushell, who, like Malan, had been born in South Africa. The court ruled the entire incident as an unfortunate error and acquitted both pilots.

Vincent Bunting of 611 Sq. speaking with Biggin Hill’s C/O – ‘Sailor’   Malan – January 1943 Sailor talks with Jack Charles & Al Deere

After fierce fighting over Dunkirk during the evacuation of the British Army from Dunkirk on 28-05-1940, Malan was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) having achieved five “kills”. During the night of 19/20 June Malan flew a night sortie in bright moonlight and shot down two Heinkel He 111 bombers, a then-unique feat for which a bar was awarded to his DFC. On 6 July, he was promoted to flight lieutenant.

On 24 December Malan received the Distinguished Service Order, and on 22-07-1941, a bar to the Order. On 10-03-1941 he was appointed as one of the first wing leaders for the offensive operations that spring and summer, leading the Biggin Hill Wing until mid-August, when he was rested from operations. He finished his active fighter career in 1941 with 27 kills destroyed, 7 shared destroyed and 2 unconfirmed, 3 probables and 16 damaged, as one of the highest scoring pilots to have served wholly with Fighter Command during World War II. He was transferred to the reserve as a squadron leader on 06-01-1942.

After tours to the US and the Central Gunnery School, Malan was promoted to temporary wing commander on 01-09-1942 and became station commander at RAF Biggin Hill, receiving a promotion to war substantive wing commander on 01-07-1943.

On 24 December Malan received the Distinguished Service Order, and on 22-07-1941, a bar to the Order. On 10-03-1941 he was appointed as one of the first wing leaders for the offensive operations that spring and summer, leading the Biggin Hill Wing until mid-August, when he was rested from operations. He finished his active fighter career in 1941 with 27 kills destroyed, 7 shared destroyed and 2 unconfirmed, 3 probables and 16 damaged, as one of the highest scoring pilots to have served wholly with Fighter Command during World War II. He was transferred to the reserve as a squadron leader on0 -01-1942

After tours to the US and the Central Gunnery School, Malan was promoted to temporary wing commander on 01-09-1942 and became station commander at RAF Biggin Hill, receiving a promotion to war substantive wing commander on 01-07-1943.

After the victorious conclusion of the War Malan resigned his commission with the Royal Air Force in April 1946, retaining the rank of group captain, and returned home to South Africa, where he commenced a career in sheep farming. Malan maintained his ties to the RAF community however, acting as president of the Royal Air Forces Association’s South African Area and becoming a life-member of its Johannesburg Branch.

Death and burial ground of Malan, Adolph Gysbert “Sailor”.

  Malan (second from left), RAF and Free French officers on D-Day

Malan died at the age of 53 on 17 September 1963 from Parkinson’s disease, at the time a rare and little understood medical condition. A considerable sum of money was raised in his name to further study the disease. His funeral service was at St Cyprian’s Cathedral, Kimberley,[26] and his body was buried at West End Cemetery in Kimberley, Cape Province. Due to his prominent role in opposition to apartheid, the South African government sought to marginalize the event of his passing in order to further erase any lasting legacy of the Torch Commando. Malan was not permitted a military funeral and all South African military personnel who attended his funeral were instructed not to wear their uniforms. The South African Air Force was instructed not to give any tribute to his passing.

Malan, Adolph Gysbert “Sailor” who was married with Lynda Irene Malan is buried at the West End cemetery, Kimberley in South Africa.

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