Des Ducasse

WW2 Fighter Pilot Des Ducasse tribute page


Hi and welcome to this site;

Thanks to Dave Ducasse, Des' son, who kindly made available the log book and memorabilia to be scanned by me. Thanks also to Wayne Allen-White who met up with  Dave  and arranged everything. 

This page is constructed in memory of Des Ducasse's war service of 1941-1945.

 

Desmond Vyvyan "Des" "Duke" Ducasse joined the SAAF in early 1941, qualified as a fighter pilot and was sent to North Africa in 1942 for operational service with 2 squadron, flying Kittyhawks.

During his service  in North Africa Des  flew mainly bomb line patrols, armed recce's, bomber escorts and ground attack operations.  

He participated with the fierce Alamein battles and the subsequent push for final victory in North Africa. 

In mid 1943 the squadron moved to Sicily and then Italy  where they converted to Spitfires. 

On 26.2.43 he was badly shot up by 109s, but on 29.11.43 he damaged a 109F

Des' operational tour ended in early 1944 where upon  his involvement continued as  a flight  instructor in the Union.

After the war Des had a long and successful career in school education.



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 Des, photographs, stories etc. Please e-mail me. 

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

September 2017


Des' service medals; photographs thanks to Wayne Allen-White




CLICK HERE TO VIEW DES' FLYING LOG BOOK

CLICK HERE TO VIEW DES' PHOTOGRAPHS 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW DES' DIARY 








Pupil pilot training


Des second from the right just after receiving their wings.





 



Des pose with the victory flag. He made, polished and fixed the swastikas to the flag. The swastikas were made from shot down enemy aircraft aluminium.






Wayne Allen-White and Dave Ducasse; both their dads were pilots in 2 Squadron 1942-1944




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