Identity
Person No.
30563
Service No.
P1/40574
Last Name
First Name
Martin Olckers
Initials
M O
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
23
Military Service
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Unit
Secondary Unit
"B" Coy.
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause of Death
Killed in action, in North American F-51 Mustang #342. 2Lt M.O. Grunder was leading a flight of four Mustangs to cut rail and other supply routes. After completing the primary sortie, they headed south, and over Youndong 2Lt Grunder spotted something on the ground, in a wooded area which he went to investigate. It was an anti-aircraft battery, and he proceeded to strafe this, followed by the rest of his flight. His No.2, Major Wiggett, lost sight of 2Lt Grunder in the sun as he pulled up from his strafing run. Shortly after this, Major Wiggett saw a Mustang canopy and some papers floating down at 1500 feet, but no sign of 2Lt Grunder's aircraft. A search revealed the aircraft wreckage on the ground, but no sign of 2Lt Grunder, and no parachute was found
Grave Reference
Location
Additional Information
Notes
Son of Mr. A. J. Grunder, of Durban. ref. 85 years of SAAF
Citation
Unknown
External Source
https://www.izkor.gov.il (Israeli Fallen Soldiers & Victims of Terrorism database — search by name)
South African War Graves Project