WW2 Marauder Bomber Pilot Tribute Page: Dave Dent
Hi and welcome to this site!
Dave in 1944 standing at a B-26 Marauder
In Kimberley, April 2013
David Galt Dent joined the SAAF in August 1942 and qualified as a pilot in 1944. He finished his bomber pilot operational training in mid 1944 and was sent to SAAF No. 12 squadron in Italy. The squadron flew B-26 Martin Marauder aircraft. After a very successful and eventful combat tour of 72 operational sorties Dave returned to the Union. During this tour Dave was awarded an immediate DFC.
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 Dave in 12 squadron, photographs, stories etc. Please e-mail me. Most welcome will be any photographs of No. 12 squadron while Dave 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
May 2013
MILITARY SERVICE
28/08/1942 75 Air School
29/05/1943 7 Air School, Kroonstad, 75 h on Tiger Moths
14/06/1943 First Solo
04/09/1943 21 Air School, Kimberley, 159 h on Oxfords
29/01/1944 Obtain wings
29/01/1944 Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant
20/03/1944 70 OTU Shandur, Egypt, 63 h on B-26c Marauder
30/06/1944 SAAF No. 12 Bomber squadron, Pescara Italy
21/08/1944 Raid on Ravenna; Starboard engine and tail holed
29/08/1944 First operational sortie as first pilot, raid on gun positions, Pesaro
04/09/1944 Aircraft holed by AA on two raids
09/09/1944 Aircraft holed at several places, A/C sent to RSU
11/12/1944 Engine failure, emergency landing with one engine
27/01/1945 A/C holed by AA on raid to Castel Franco
03/03/1945 Raid on Conegliano M/Yds; attacked by FW-190 and Bf-109's. Formation broken. Dave bombed the target alone. EA continued attacking Dave's A/C, damaging rudder control and fuel pump and both engines. Emergency landing on fighter aerodrome Cervia. Gunner wounded and Dave slightly wounded.
06/03/1945 DFC awarded
10/04/1945 Last operational sortie (OP.71)
18/06/1945 27 Air School Bloemfontein
26/09/1945 Demobilised
Dave on wings parade day January 1944
After the war 1945
VIDEO INTERVIEW WITH DAVE ON 13 April 2013
PHOTOGRAPHS
Dave with a Marauder at 70 OTU Shandur, Egypt.
Red Cross Cafe Restaurant, Rome. LtR: Lt. Hastie, Dave, American B-26 pilot, Lt Bridgen, American B-26 pilot
Airfield at
Dec 1944
Dec 1944
Dec 1944
3 March 1945; Dave's aircraft "N" Nemises after the successful emergency landing at a RAF fighter base.
DOCUMENTS
DFC London Gazette
From :the book "Eagles victorious"
From the book " Theirs is the Glory"
12 squadron war diary 3/3/1945
From 12 squadron war diary: operation report 344
PAGE VISITS SINCE 4/10/2013