Denis Earp

South African Air Force officer (1930–2019)

Lieutenant General

Denis John Earp

SSA SD SM SOE

Born| (1930-06-07)7 June 1930
Bloemfontein, South Africa
Died| 19 May 2019(2019-05-19) (aged 88)
Pretoria
Allegiance|  South Africa
Service/branch|  South African Air Force
Rank| Lieutenant General
Commands held| Chief of the Air Force
Battles/wars| Korean War
Awards|

Denis John Earp SSA SD SM SOE (7 June 1930[1][2]\- 19 May 2019[3]) was a South African military commander, who held the post of Chief of the South African Air Force.

## Career[edit]

He attended Grey College, Bloemfontein, Military College in 1948[2] and joined the SAAF in 1950. After qualifying as a pilot he served in Korea with 2 Squadron SAAF. He was forced to bail out over enemy territory and was a POW for 23 months.[4]

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.[5]

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.[5]

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.[5]

His career took an unusual turn when he converted to helicopters and became officer commanding 17 Squadron at Air Force Base Waterkloof.[5]

After that he became senior staff officer operations at SAAF Headquarters, then director operations from 1 June 1976, to 1978 and director general operations at Defence Headquarters in the rank of major general from 19 June 1978.[5]

He served as Chief of the Air Force from 1984 to 1988[6]

His son, Lieutenant Michael Earp, was a helicopter pilot who was killed in the Border War on 5 January 1982.[7]: Chp8

## Aircraft flown[edit]

* North American P-51 Mustang
* SAF Dassault Mirage 20000

## Honours and awards[edit]

Gen Earp received the following Awards and Decorations:[1][8]

* 1987 - Star of South Africa (Gold) (SSAG)
* 1986 - Star of South Africa (Silver) (SSAS)
* 1976 - Southern Cross Decoration (SD)
* 1973 - Southern Cross Medal (1952) (SM)
* n.d. - South African Police Star for Outstanding Service (SOE)
* 1953 - Korea Medal (South Africa)
* Pro Patria Medal
* Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years))
* Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years))
* Union Medal
* n.d. - United Nations Service Medal (Korea)
* n.d.  - Korean War Service Medal
* 1952 - South Korea - South Korean Order of Military Merit (Chungmu Cordon) with Silver Star (Korea, 1952)[1]
* 1952 - US - Air Medal (with Oak leaf cluster)
* 1987 - Order of the Cloud and Banner (2nd Grade - with Grand Cordon) (ORB)
* n.d. - Chile - Gran Cruz Al Merito Aeronautico[1]
* n.d. - Paraguay - Al Merito Miltar[1]

## See also[edit]

* Biography portal

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

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e 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. ^ a b Geldenhuys, Genl. Jannie (2011). We were there. Kraal Publishers. p. 49\. ISBN 978-0-9814009-8-3.
3. ^ "Former SAAF Chief Denis Earp dies". Defenceweb. 21 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
4. ^ Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452–1992. Fortress Publishers. p. 73. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
5. ^ a b c d e "The SADF: Supplement to the Financial Mail" (PDF). Financial Mail: 35. July 1987.
6. ^ "SADF.info".
7. ^ Lord, Dick (2012). From Fledgling to Eagle: The South African Air Force during the Border War (Kindle ed.). Solihull, England: Helion & Company Ltd. ISBN 978-0415350150.
8. ^ "Vyftien ontvang Ster van SA" [Fifteen receive Star of SA]. Die Burger (in Afrikaans). 5 March 1988. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.

Military offices

Preceded by

Michal Muller

|  Chief of the South African Air Force
1984–1988  | Succeeded by

Jan van Loggerenberg

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States