Identity
Person No.
30114
Old ROH no.
367
Service No.
73455123PE
Last Name
First Name
Owen John
Initials
O J
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
21
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,780
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action, in Angola, shot down, in English Electric Canberra #452. On a bombing mission and left 12 Squadron on the evening of 14th 1979 at about 16H00. Four Canberras flew in formation and while doing a low level tree top flight and dropping bombs something from the ground fired and hit the Canberra on the side, killing the pilot instantly. Nav. Doyle flew the plane from the navigator's position for about 12 minutes with bomb bay doors open. Eventually the plane climbed steeply, turned, and crashed into the ground half inverted, exploding on impact, at about 17H00
Military Service
Branch
Air Force
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Unit
Unknown
Secondary Unit
Army
Defence Force
SADF 3,822
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
Locality
Memorial
Memorial
Location
On a koppie at the Voortrekker Monument, overlooking Pretoria
Address
Coordinates
Panel
Not listed against a numbered panel
On the panel
Position on the panel will be added with photographs
Unit History
Awards
South Africa
Pro Patria Medal warrant, Government Gazette No. 5171 (25 Jun 1976), Rule 5, as amended by GG No. 5575 (3 Jun 1977); discontinued by GG No. 25213 (25 Jul 2003, Schedule corrected by GG No. 26778, 17 Sep 2004) for service on/after 27 Apr 2003. Gazette extracts: https://rohsa.co.za/award.php?id=24
Notes
Son of Mr. N. J. Doyle, of Cape Town.
Research notes
5 Sep 2026: Unit "12 Squadron" (a squadron, SAAF's regiment-equivalent) promoted to Regiment, per John's decision. Corps (South African Air Force) unchanged.
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
SADF.info Border Roll of Honour
open source ↗
SADF.info Border RoH
- South African War Graves Project open source ↗
-
The War in Angola
open source ↗
War In Angola Roll of Honour (warinangola.com, tabid=1175), pages 66-76 of 143: confirmed, no changes.
Stories 2
My brother was navigator aboard a Canberra bomber. The plane was shot down a short distance inside Angola and crashed killing both pilot Wally Maira's and my brother Owen Doyle. They were on a bombing mission and left 12 Squadron on the evening of 14th or 15th March 1979 at about 17H00. Five Canberra's flew in formation and while doing a low level tree top flight and dropping bombs something from the ground fired and hit the Canberra on the side killing the pilot instantly, my brother flew the plane from the navigators position for about 12 minutes with bomb bay doors open till the plane went straight down into the ground. We are proud of you God Bless Colin Doyle
Owen was 21 years old when he died, he was a member of 12 Squadron and was flying in a Canberra bomber aircraft. Full names Owen John Doyle. Born 6 July 1957.
Dedications 3
To my brother Owen Doyle whom I miss terribly and think about every day. Thank you for all the good times we had as teen ages. You deserve to be in heaven and I look forward to being with you one day. love Colin Doyle Colin Doyle
To Owen, my big brother. You were my hero and I often wonder how your life would have turned out, you would have been 50 years old this year. I still miss you. You said in your last letter that if anything happened to you: "I love you all, remember the good times and have a beer on me" Trevor Doyle
Owen Doyle has finally been honoured with the inclusion of his name on his old school Grey High school's war memorial. With the new wings you have now you will fly forevever.