Tribute site: WW2 Bomber pilot and wing commander, Jack Mossop, CBE.
Hi and welcome to this site;
I met Eric and Nikki Turck via the internet. Nikki is the granddaughter of the legendary WW2 SAAF aviator, Colonel Jack Mossop. They have in their possession Jack's war time photograph albums and also a flying log book. Eric and Nikki were so kind to allow me to make scans of these and gave permission to be published on the internet. We decided to construct this tribute page in memory of Jack Mossop.
Allan Jack Marldon Mossop Joined the Air Force in 1934 when he began his pilot's training at Zwartkops in Pretoria. During this time he also attended the Military College at Robert's Heights as a pilot cadet where they did training in cavalry, infantry, artillery, armour and finally aviation. He finished his comprehensive training in 1938 and was transferred to the Natal Air Training School to become the commanding officer with the rank of captain.
When war broke out Jack served at various air schools but was eventually sent to East Africa in 1941. He was appointed commanding officer (major) of SAAF No.16 bomber squadron, flying Ju-86 bombers on various raids to enemy targets. After his operational service in East Africa Jack was transferred to an operational training unit.
In early 1942 he was transferred to SAAF No.24 bomber squadron as their commanding officer with the rank of Lt. Col. After only a few weeks of operations, Jack's Boston bomber was shot down. While being wounded, Jack made a safe crash landing. He miraculously survived 3 days next to the burnt wreck in the desert, unable to walk due to his serious injuries. The crew were eventually rescued. Jack was sent back to South Africa where he stayed for ten months in hospitals and recovered to good health.
Jack was sent back to North Africa in 1943 where he joined SAAF No.3 Wing. This formation included three SAAF bomber squadrons; no's 12, 21 and 24. Jack became the wing commander when they operated from Italy 1943-1945. He stayed with the wing until the end of the war.
After the war Jack did a R.A.F. Staff Officer's course in England. He then served for many years in various SAAF roles including the Air Directorate and station commander of Waterkloof Air Base. He also served 6 years as the Air Liaison Officer for the SA High Commissioner in London.
Jack passed away in....
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 Jack, 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
April 2015
Ju-86 in East Africa
Military Career
02/06/1934 Central Flying School, Zwartkops. Attended SA Military College at Roberts Heights
16/06/1938 Natal Air Training School (A.T.S), Durban, doing flying instruction, became station
commander.
04/09/1939 SAAF No. 4 Squadron, B/F Squadron, Durban.
04/10/1939 C.F.S. Zwartkops
25/11/1939 C.F.S. Kimberley
30/05/1940 No.1 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) Kimberley
11/12/1940 SAAF No.34 Coastal Reconnaissance Flight (C.R.F.), Mombasa, Flew 18 patrols/sweeps
24/04/1941 SAAF No.16 Squadron, East Africa, flew 25 operations, Mainly Ju-86 aircraft.
26/05/1941 Attacked by CR-42 on bombing raid to Omo river.
13/06/1941 Direct hit on a bridge , Bedelle
30/06/1942 Attack town of Gondar, self attcked by 2x Italian CR-42's, counted 15 holes, aircraft unserviceable.
23/08/1941 70 OTU,
16/10/1941 Zwartkops Air Station
08/02/1942 SAAF No.24 Squadron, North Africa, Squadron Commander, flying Boston bombers
23/02/1942 Raid on motorised transport at Timini, attacked by 4 Me 109's
14/03/1942 Raid on Martuba, sqdn shot down 3 Me 109's
18/03/1942 Squadron shot down 3 Me 109's,
21/03/1942 Shot down south of Bir Hacheim after a successful bombing raid. Badly wounded, made a successful crash landing, rescued after 3 days in the desert with no supplies.
22/03/1942 Hospitals in Cairo and South Africa
14/01/1943 Return to service, C.F.A.D. Durban
21/04/1943 No.3 (SA) Bomber Wing, North Africa
23/08/1943 No.1 M.O.R.U. as forward bomber controller
15/12/1943 No.3 (SA) Bomber Wing, Italy, commanding officer
08/07/1945 Awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire ( CBE )
01/08/1945 R.A.F. Staff College, England, staff officer's course
14/02/1946 Adjutant General Section
14/11/1948 Air Directorate
13/08/1950 Waterkloof Air Station
13/02/1953 Air Liaison officer to High Commissioner, London
02/06/1959 Air Directorate
Boston Bomber with 24 squadron, North Africa
Jack and at their wedding in
TRAINING 1934 - 1938, Zwartkops
Posing with an Avro Avian trainer
Jack as a Cadet at the SA Military College, Roberts Heights.
Cavalry training, SA Military College
Artillery training, SA Military College
Infantry training
DH-9 aircraft used as trainers
Westland Wapitis, ZAS
SAAF cadets at the Military College course ?? 19??. Jack standing in the middle, back row.
NATAL AIR TRAINING SCHOOL 1938 - 1939
Jack seated 4th from the left. (photo credit: Angus Farrall, seated in front with dog)
EAST AFRICA 1940-1941
Very rare photograph of a Fairy Swordfish flown by the SAAF, 34 C.R.F., East Africa 1940.
Jack next to a Ju-86
Bombed-up Ju-86
Bombing up the Ju-86
Captioned: CR-42 shot down by Lt. S.v.B. Theron
NORTH AFRICA 1942
Boston Bomber with 24 Squadron in North Africa
Wounds in the face?
Nazi ground art in the desert.
SHOT DOWN AND IN HOSPITAL 1942-1943
Hospital visit by the "oubaas" Gen. Jan Smuts.
3 WING (SA), North Africa and Italy 1943-1945
Col. Jack Mossop with R.A. "Tom" Blackwell, DSO DFC who was a 24 Squadron CO.
Boston Bombers
Marauder bomber used by squadrons of 3 Wing.
3 Wing staff party. Note the emblems of the different formations of 3 Wing (SA)
Aftermath of an accidental explosion of a fully bombed up B-26 Marauder.
Visit of the Union parliamentarian . Jack is on the left.
Jannie Smuts visiting the wing, Jack on the left.
Jack Returned to South Africa in May 1945. On the first leg from Jesi to Bari Jack was a passanger on this US B-25 aircraft.
Most probably the aircrew and passangers of the B-25 flight from Jesi to Bari, May 1945. Jack is second from left.
Post-War : Note the CBE award