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Roos , Johannes Gysbertus (Bertus/Brut) (J G)

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Photo of Roos
Identity
Person No.
32727
Old ROH no.
1872
Service No.
73348260PM
Last Name
Roos 39
First Name
Johannes Gysbertus (Bertus/Brut)
Initials
J G
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
1957 (±1 yr) 431
Age at Death
24
Death Record
Date of Death
25 August 1981 107
Cause code
KIA 14,778
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action 14,654
Killed in action, hit by an RPG a short while before Operation Protea in Angola, in Allouette III #48(2)
Military Service
Branch
Air Force
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
17 Squadron 77
Corps
South African Air Force 3,524
Unit
Unknown
Defence Force
SADF 3,839
South African Defence Force
Location
Country
South Africa 23,872
Locality
North West 534
Cemetery
KLERKSDORP (NEW) CEMETERY 39
Grave Reference
A16 1
Operation
Operation
Protea
Dates
1981-08-23 to 1981-09-04
About
The largest SADF conventional operation since the Second World War at the time it was launched: a deep mechanised incursion into Cunene province, Angola, against SWAPO and Angolan (FAPLA) forces, resulting in the occupation of Xangongo and Ongiva and the capture of large quantities of Soviet-supplied FAPLA equipment.
Awards
Pro Patria Medal
Pro Patria Medal
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 Mrs. J. Roos. ref. 85 years of SAAF

Research notes

Col (rt) Graham du Toit Last Post 25 Aug 2026 / Bushwar Books: confirm Alouette III #48 shootdown near Mongua, but give cause as "14,5mm anti-aircraft fire" vs this record's "RPG" -- not overwritten, conflict noted.
Francois Roos (brother), ROH story 20 Jun 2017: known as Bertus/Brut, aged 24.
5 Sep 2026: Unit "17 Squadron" (a squadron, SAAF's regiment-equivalent) promoted to Regiment, per John's decision. Corps (South African Air Force) unchanged.
25 Sep 2026, Unit2 service-branch sweep: the stored Secondary Unit "Army" was CLEARED. It was not a sub-unit, it was a service-branch word, and it CONTRADICTED this record's own Branch, "Air Force". Across the roll 787 records carried such a contradiction; judged against Corps and Regiment -- independent of both columns -- the evidence backed Branch 744 times and Unit2 not once. Branch is therefore kept and the contradicting word removed. Nothing is guessed: this man's branch of service is already recorded, and his sub-unit, if any, is simply not known.

Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 4
on 12 May 2003 · via source
Lt. Roos died with Sgt Stacey when their Allouette Gunship was hit by an RPG a short while before Operation Protea began in August 1981. I see that this incident is recorded as taking place in 1980, but I can assure you that it occured in 1981. ( Updated - Ed ) The wreck of the helicopter was brought back to the Airforce Base in Ondangwa and it was a shock for us National Serviceman to see such devastation. I managed to take pictures of the helicopter and still have them, twenty two years later. Both Pilot and Flight Engineer were wonderful people, friendly and approachable on the flight line. I was fortunate enough to have flown with them when they did "top cover" May they both RIP.
on 31 May 2003 · via source
Lt J G "Brut" Roos was killed in 1981 near Ongiva in Angola during Ops Protea.
on 28 October 2010 · via source
Lt Roos and Sgt Stacey were the crew of the Alouette shot down over Mongua on 25 August 1981. I was a platoon commander in combat team 'Mamba', part of 61 Mech Bn. On this day, our job was to take Mongua, north-west of Ongiva. The Alo crew assisted us with navigation to the target through the thick bush to the south of the town, and they did a great job. The job was acutally meant to be done by a Bosbok aircraft crew, but the Bosbok had mechanical trouble, so Lt Roos and Sgt Stacey took over. We were very close to the target area, maybe 500 m or so, when the Alo was hit by a 14.5 mm anti-aircraft fire. It crashed right behind our Ratels, and members of our unit recovered the bodies of Lt Roos and Sgt Stacey, and also the wreck. We later found the 14.5mm on the target, in pieces after taking a hit from one of the Ratel 90s. They played a key role in this attack, but paid the ultimate price. Rest in peace... H van Dalsen vdalsens at iinet.net.au
by Francois Roos on 20 June 2017
Lt Bertus (Brut) Roos was my brother. They were shot down and killed on 25 August 1981. It was a great shock and we still miss him and think about him often. He was a kind and gentle person who lived and enjoyed his passion to fly. He was 24 years old at the time.
Dedications

No dedications have been added yet.