Ian Sturgeon

WW2 Tac/R Pilot Tribute Page: Ian Sturgeon

Hi and welcome to this site!

I made contact with John Sturgeon, Ian's son. (thanks to Stefaan Bouwer) We decided to establish this web page as a tribute to Ian's ww2 service. John send me the war time photographs of Ian as well as other documents and information. All of these are presented on this web page.

Eric Ian Humphries Sturgeon joined the SAAF in March 1940. He finished his training as a pilot in 1941 and was posted to SAAF No. 40 squadron in North Africa.

40 Squadron was a tactical reconnaissance unit flying dangerous single or dual aircraft sorties over enemy concentrations to gather information.

Ian had an eventful and successful operational tour in North Africa doing primary reconnaissance missions. He also shot down an enemy fighter and was himself shot down and wounded. Ian received the DFC award and was promoted to the rank of captain.

After his return to South Africa, he was sent to Italy in 1944 for a second operational tour to 40 squadron. While in Italy Ian was shot down, wounded and captured but escaped and re-joined his squadron after nearly one month of evading the enemy behind the front line.

Ian was subsequently injured in a flying accident and returned to South Africa in late 1944.

After the war Ian had a successful career in the petroleum industry but sadly passed away in 1965 at an early age of 44.

1940 while in training

Ian as Captain with DFC (1943 +)

A 40 squadron Hurricane Mk-1 in the desert 1942. (photograph Michael Welchman)

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 Ian in some of his units, photographs, stories etc. Please e-mail me. Most welcome will be any photographs of No. 40 squadron while Ian 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

In the desert 1942

Military Career

04/03/1940 Joined the SAAF

16/08/1941 Obtained wings

16/08/1941 Promoted to 2nd Leutenant

27/09/1941 Departed for North Africa

30/09/1941 Attached to RAF No. 30 squadron

27/11/1941 Joined SAAF No. 40 Squadron, flying Hurricanes and Tomahawks

16/02/1942 Promoted to Leutenant

07/05/1942 Shot down an Italian MC-202

13/06/1942 Became "A" Flight commander

13/06/1942 Aircraft was hit in the fuel tank by enemy AA fire, returned safely to base.

01/07/1942 Damaged an enemy aircraft.

01/07/1942 Was shot down and wounded in the neck, force landed, returned to base

22/01/1943 Promoted to Captain

02/03/1943 DFC awarded

02/03/1943 Finished tour, move to SAAF base camp in Cairo

24/03/1943 Returned to South Africa

24/04/1944 Move to Italy to rejoin 40 squadron in second operational tour, flying Spitfires

29/05/1944 Shot down by enemy fire, crash landed, wounded in his foot (burns) and elbow (shrapnel) and taken prisoner

01/06/1944 Escaped from German prison hospital and survived on foot behind enemy lines.

29/06/1944 He was found by advancing Allied troops and admitted to an Allied hospital.

04/07/1944 Returned to 40 squadron.

10/07/1944 Seriously injured in a flying accident while flying a Harvard from H.M.S. Hunter. Major D W Maree, DFC, was co-pilot and was instantly killed.

05/10/1944 Posted to MAFD SAAF ex ME

12/06/1945 Released, medical unfit.