Identity
Person No.
30110
Service No.
P1/35454
Last Name
First Name
Gordon Derrick
Initials
G D
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
25
Military Service
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause of Death
Killed in action, in North American F-51 Mustang #304. At 13H00 on the 15th February 1951, Lt Doveton and Lt McKellar took off from their airfield at K-10, Chinhae, to conduct an armed reconnaissance mission in the vicinity of Kaesong-Haeju-Sariwon. After attacking a few different targets, they found a camouflaged vehicle near Kaesong, which they attacked. On their fourth pass the vehicle caught fire. Despite this, Lt Doveton chose to make another attack, and Lt McKellar saw Lt Doveton's aircraft bounce off the side of a hill in a cloud of smoke, somersault, and burst into flames
Grave Reference
Location
Additional Information
Notes
Husband of Helene Doveton. Born De Jongh. ref. 85 years of SAAF
Citation
LG Sup 31 July 1945 pg. 3926 - "This officer has displayed the highest standard of efficiency and courage. He has completed a very large number of sorties including many reconnaissances. In April 1945, Lieutenant de Jongh was leading a formation of a strafing reconnaissance. A convoy of motor transport was observed in the Montebelluno area. Despite adverse weather and heavy enemy opposition, this officer led the formation into attack. Twelve of the enemy vehicles were subsequently destroyed and a further three damaged. In air fighting Lieutenant de Jongh has been responsible for the destruction of at least one enemy fighter and has damaged others."
External Source
Unknown
South African War Graves Project