Identity
Person No.
388
Service No.
88860
Last Name
First Name
Allen John Frederick
Initials
A J F
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
27
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,780
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action, Spitfire W3308, German aircraft were active off the east coast of England. Three pilots of 266 Sqn on convoy patrol took off from Docking having heard that enemy aircraft might be expected. Near the convy they were told of enemy aircraft approaching then saw a Ju 88 and chased it in line. Closing to 200 yards, Plt Off Hogn Small opened fire as the enemy bomber crossed 100 yards in front of him and continued firing fleeing enemy aircraft into cloud. On emerging from cloud, only two of the three pilots, Plt Off Small and Sgt Norham Lucas rejoined. They tried to call the third pilot, Flt Lt Allen John Frederick Allen-White, on R/T but without success. Three aircraft searched him for two hours, refuelled and searched for another one and a half hours, while air/sea rescue was informed and also searched, but no trace of Allen-White or his Spitfire Vb W3308 was found
Military Service
Location
Country
Locality
Cemetery
Grave Reference
Coordinates
Notes
Son of Allen James and Grace Marian Emelie (nee Forbes) Allen-White, of Johannesburg, South Africa. A surveyor by profession. On Jeppe High School for Boys Roll of Honour
Citations
Unknown
External References
Stories 3
Listed on Klapperkop wall as "* G. H. Du RAND" John Dovey
During Operation Dolfyn , on 1 July 1983 the third platoon of Alpha Company, 32 Battalion, were waiting to be joined by the first platoon at a TB between Dova and Nehone in Angola. When the guards spotted uniformed men approaching the TB, they assumed them to be the first platoon, but they were in fact a group of some 50 SWAPO insurgents, who proceeded to open fire on the third platoon. Still believing that they were under friendly fire, the third platoon scattered into the bush, carrying only their personal weapons, and did not open fire on the SWAPO group as they believed they would be causing friendly casualties. Once they realised their mistake, it was too late to carry out an effective counter-attack with only light weapons and SWAPO was able to loot the TB before making off. The third platoon suffered two fatal casualties, Sergeant G.H. du Randt and Rifleman E. Cassera, whilst 2nd Lieutenant G.W. Roos, Corporal P.G. Grobler and two more riflemen were wounded in the fire fight. Information extracted from 32 Battalion: The Inside Story of South Africa's Elite Fighting Unit , by Piet Nortje.
The facts described above, although catching, is not in all totally correct. I will be launching a new publication soon, Striking inside Angola with 32 Battalion. There the incident is properly described. For more information about the incident, contact me please at 082 569 4198 Marius Scheepers
Dedications 1
SALTY - Jy was 'n great ou. Jou leer ken deur die jare as iemand wat nie baie belanggestel het in regimentele "red tape" nie, maar in die bos het jy altyd jou kant gebring!