Botha, Michael Coenraad (M C)

Killed in action, in North American F-86 F-30 Sabre #614. Major S. Wells led four Sabres on a naval affiliation exercise with HMS Ocean, off the west coast opposite K-55. After pulling out from his mock attack, 2Lt M.C. Botha reported that both his alternate and emergency system controls were locked, and the pressure on his alternate system gauge was reading zero. Major Wells advised him to watch his normal system and to head for the coast and bale out if necessary. 2Lt Botha ejected over land at 18,000 feet, but was then blown out to sea, his parachute being seen approximately two miles offshore. He was never found, despite an intensive search conducted over two days, and is believed to have drowned or been overcome by the mud in the shallow water close to shore