John Loch Hewitson joined the SAAF in 1938 and obtained his wings in 1939. As a member of No. 1 squadron he participated in the East African campaign 1940-1941, flying Gladiators and Hurricanes. On his return to the Union he became one of the initial No. 5 squadron pilots under the leadership of the top SA ace Jack Frost. 5 Squadron was sent to North Africa in 1942 equipped with Curtiss Tomahawk aircraft and John as one of the flight leaders. At that stage German aircraft enjoyed superiority in the air. The SAAF squadrons still caused substantial losses to the enemy but at considerable cost. In June 1942 John was promoted to squadron leader and took command of No.4 squadron. He was shot down in flames in July 1942, got wounded but bailed to safety. He then was captured and spent 3 years in Italian and German POW camps. John was a participant of the famous but tragic "Great Escape" effort of 1944 at Luft Stalag III as a "penguin" or soil disperse worker. Luckily he was not drawn by the lots system to take part in the actual escape.
This is a living web site. Any input and/or participation will be much appreciated regarding additional information, correctness, information from relatives of members who served with John in his squadron, photographs, stories etc. Please e-mail me. Most welcome will be any photographs of No. 1, 4 or No. 5 squadrons while John was with them.
If you have a family member who served as a SAAF fighter pilot during ww2 and you want to find out more about his war service please contact me and maybe I can be of assistance.
Tinus le Roux
May 2012
Military Career
01/07/1938 Pretoria Flying School
11/09/1939 2. Air School
23/10/1939 Obtain wings
16/01/1940 C.A.F.T.D.
01/05/1940 No. 1 Squadron
18/09/1940 Shared destroyed a Fiat CR-42
01/10/1940 Promoted to 1st Lieutenant
06/11/1940 Shot down a Caproni Ca-133 and
damage one on the ground
22/01/1940 Shared destroyed and damaged 2
Caproni Ca-133's on the ground
24/01/1941 Destroyed a Ca-133 on the ground
28/01/1941 Damaged on the ground a SM-79, SM-81
and two CA-133's
08/03/1941 C.F.S Bloemfontein
13/06/1941 Promoted to Captain
22/06/1941 No. 5 Squadron
24/09/1941 Mention in Dispatches awarded
11/03/1942 Shot down a Junkers Ju-88
27/05/1942 Shot down a Messerschmitt Bf-109 F
01/06/1942 No. 4 Squadron (OC)
01/06/1942 Promoted to Major
04/06/1942 Shot down a Stuka Ju-87
13/06/1942 Shot down a Messerschmitt Bf-109
26/06/1942 Shot down in flames, wounded, bailed
26/06/1942 POW Italy, Germany
16/03/1943 DFC awarded
20/08/1945 24 Air School Nigel
06/09/1945 43 Air School Grahamstown
17/10/1945 W.A.S.
31/12/1945 Demobilized
John during the East African campaign 1940-1941, screen shots from John's 8mm film.
John and Marjorie at their house in Cape Town, December 2011.
John had a 8mm movie camera with him during his war service. He kindly made available to me his war film reels to be digitized. Screen shots of these films are presented on this site together with other memorabilia and related photographs.
John's DFC with the oak leaf indicating a recipient of a Mention in Dispatches.
Medal set, SAAF wings and a crown shoulder insignia for the rank of major. Also the caterpillar club card issued by the Irvin parachute company for pilots who were saved by their parachutes. In John's case the caterpillar brooch will have red ruby eyes indicating that the jump was made from a flamed aircraft.