Van Der Vyver , Johannes Andreas (J A)

Major Johan van der Vyver was the Logistics officer for 32 Battalion, based at Rundu. On the night of 12 September, he flew to Mavinga in Angola, on board a C-130, to co-ordinate the Battalion's supplies and other requirements. Normal procedure in these supply flights was for each landing aircraft to land and turn at the end of the runway where their loads of personnel, rations and supplies would be swiftly unloaded, and any returning personnel etc. would be loaded, all whilst the engines were kept running, to precipitate a quick take off from the rudimentary airstrip at Mavinga, and allow further approaching SAAF aircraft to land in their turn. After completing his task, Major van der Vyver was supposed to fly back to Rundu on the last C-160 aircraft leaving Mavinga that night. He was late arriving for his flight, however, and by the time he got to the aircraft the back ramp had been closed as all the passengers returning to Rundu had boarded. There was still a side door open and Major van der Vyver ran to try and get into the aircraft via this door. Unfortunately, his path took him into the path of the aircraft's rotating port propeller, which he completely failed to see in the dark. He was struck by this propeller and killed instantly. Information exracted from the book: " From Fledgling To Eagle: The South African Air Force During The Border War " by Brig-Gen Dick Lord. ISBN 978-1-920143-30-5.