Colin Sinclair

WW2 Desert Hurricane Pilot Tribute Page: Colin Sinclair

Hi and welcome to this site!

I met Colin last year at his home in Natal. Chris Brown organised this visit.(Thanks Chris!). Colin kindly agreed to be video interviewed and also allowed me to copy his photographs, flying log book and other memorabilia. All of these are presented on this web site.

Colin joined the SAAF in November 1940. He finished his training in early 1942 and was sent to SAAF No. 1 fighter squadron in Egypt. The squadron flew Hurricanes but Colin was for a while detached to RAF No. 92 squadron to gain experience on Spitfires.

After a very successful and eventful combat tour Colin joined No. 73 OTU as an instructor. In 1944 Colin became a flight commander of SAAF. No. 11 squadron in Italy flying mostly dive bombing sorties with Kittyhawks.

After the war Colin studied at Wits University and had a long and successful career as a dentist.

Thanks Colin for allowing me to video interview you and to copy all your war documents. Thanks also to Natalie for your kindness with the visit.

This is a living web site. Any input and/or participation will be much appreciated regarding additional information, correctness, information from relatives of members who served with Colin in some of his units, photographs, stories etc. Please e-mail me. Most welcome will be any photographs of No. 1 and 11 squadrons while Colin was with them.

If you perhaps have a family member who served as a SAAF fighter pilot during ww2 and you would want to find out more about his war service please contact me, hopefully I can be of some help.

Tinus le Roux

January 2013

Colin's aircraft being damaged by AA fire July 1942

Military Career

18/11/1940 75 Air School ITW (Intermediate Training Wing)

28/04/1941 75 Air School ATW (Advanced Training Wing)

02/08/1941 2 Air School E.F.T.S. Randfontein, Tiger Moths

20/08/1941 First Solo

01/10/1941 24 Air School I.T.S. (Intermediate Training Squadron) Dunnottar, Nigel, Miles Masters 2

26/11/1941 24 Air School A.T.S. (Advanced Training Squadron) Dunnottar, Miles Masters 2

14/01/1942 Obtain wings

14/01/1942 Commissioned as officer of the SAAF

16/01/1942 Mobile Air Force

28/03/1942 SA B Depot, Middle East

16/04/1942 SAAF No. 1 Fighter Squadron, Middle East

03/07/1942 Shot down a Stuka Ju-87 (Stuka party)

23/07/1942 Hurricane hit by ack-ack, aileron holed

18/08/1942 Detached to RAF No. 92 "East India" squadron to gain experience with Spitfires

01/09/1942 Spitfire hit by canon shell in engine, returned safely

08/11/1942 Damage a Bf-109

10/12/1942 End of operational tour, returned to South Africa

13/03/1943 73 OTU, Abu Suier, instructor on Harvards and Spitfires.

06/01/1944 11 OTU. Zwartkops, instructor on Kittyhawks

23/05/1944 SAAF No. 9 squadron, Middle East, Spitfires

01/08/1944 SAAF No. 11 squadron, Middle East, Italy, Kittyhawks, Flight commander

30/10/1944 Became operational, Italy. Kittyhawk bombers

13/08/1945 Join SAAF No. 7 Wing for srvice in the Far East. Japan surrendered when they were on their way.

10/09/1945 Arrive back in Durban Harbour.

25/02/1946 Mention in Dispatches being awarded

14/11/1947 DFC awarded

Colin's medals including a DFC and MiD.

VIDEO

Colin and Natalie, Dec 2012

Colin flying here: Western desert 1942 with 1 squadron, Bomb Finney took the picture.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW COLIN'S PHOTOGRAPH SET.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW COLIN'S FLYING LOG BOOK

Training with Miles Masters at Dunnottar, Nigel

Going "up north" with a Ju-52

New pilots at 1 squadron April 1942: Reg "Ginger" Baker ( Killed), Colin Sinclair, Barry Haynes, Ernest Jory, George O'Farrel, Harry Gaynor (Killed), Les Marshall (Killed)

1 Squadron Hurricanes at Port Said where Colin joined them.

Colin's pilot colleagues at the squadron: Ginger Baker, Jerks McLean, Tom Philips, Fred Schofield, Bill Rabie, 2 dogs in front: Ginger and Sannie.

Pilots from 1 squadron seconded to RAF 92 squadron to gain experience on Spitfires: Bill Rabie, RAF type, Colin Sinclair, Charlie Hewitson

Colin's Spitfire being hit with an exploding shell.

Servicing of a Spitfire V at RAF 92 squadron.

Colin at 73 OTU Abu Suier, 1943

At 73 OTU as a Harvard and Spitfire instructor with Bill Rabie and Bomb Finney.

AT 73 OTU: Colin is the flight commander.

Colin flying, pic taken by Bomb Finney

Command team of 11 Squadron: Capt. Dudley "Pigeon" Dove, Maj. Charves Laubser, Capt. Colin Sinclair. They were part of SAAF 8 wing under command of Col. Rosie du Toit.. Back ground is an 11 squadron Kittyhawk.

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