Fighter Pilot Owen McCarthy: tribute web site
Hi and welcome to this site;
I met Cathy Schröder (nee McCarthy), daughter of Owen McCarthy via my niece Annette Kunz. Cathy was so kind to let me scan her father's log book, war photographs and other documentation. Ian Noble-Jack was a nephew of Owen and he assisted with photo copies of Owen's log book and documentation.
Rhynas Owen McCarthy joined the SAAF as pupil pilot in March 1941. After qualifying as a fighter pilot he was sent to the Middle East and joined up with No. 5 fighter Squadron stationed in North Africa.
Owen had an eventful combat tour and was claimed shot down by the German ace Hans Joachim Marseille. This was a mistake from the German: according to the 5 squadron war diaries Owen was attacked and shot up that specific day but came back to make a safe landing at base with a category 2 damaged aircraft.
During this time 5 Squadron participated in the fierce Alamein battles and also with the advance that chased the Germans off African soil.
In 1943 the squadron moved over to Italy but Owen's tour expired in November that year when he was sent back to South Africa.
Owen flew operations in Tomahawk and Kittyhawk aircraft in different kinds of sorties including dive-bombing missions.
After the war Owen had a successful career as a CA in a large fruit processing company.
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 Owen in 5 squadron, photographs, stories etc. Please e-mail me. Most welcome will be any photographs of No. 5 squadron while Owen 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
August 2013
Military Career
07/03/1941 Joined SAAF
14/03/1941 75 Air School ground training
10/11/1941 3 Air School Elementary flying training, Tiger Moth
05/01/1942 23 Air School I.T.S., Hawker Hart/Hind
03/03/1942 23 Air School A.T.S., Hawker Hart/Hind
24/04/1942 Qualified for wings
24/04/1942 Promoted to 2/Lieutenant
25/05/1942 26 Air School, Pietersburg, Miles Master
03/07/1942 M.A.F.
28/07/1942 SAAF Almaza Base Depot, Egypt
10/08/1942 233 Wing Depot, Egypt, Operational training, Tomahawk
26/08/1942 SAAF 5 Squadron
31/08/1942 First Operational flight
07/09/1942 Aircraft damaged by aerial attack, made safe landing at base, cat II damage, Claimed by Marseille as a kill.
12/09/1942 Engine failure, forced landing outside base
24/10/1942 Promoted to 1st Lieutenant
20/04/1943 Part of rudder shot off by ground fire, Cape Bon
21/05/1943 Squadron taken a break from operations
29/08/1943 Squadron move to Italy, perform numerous ground attack sorties causing substantial damage.
20/11/1942 Operational Tour Expired, return to South Africa, total of 113 sorties and 186 ops hours.
03/04/1944 CFS Bloemfontein
20/08/1944 7 Air School Kroonstad
15/11/1944 6 Air School Potchefstroom
In the desert 1942
MEDALS
Thanks to collector Paul Roos who own's the medals and sent me the photographs. Thanks also for the fine restoration and display of the medal group.
Medal set: 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, War Medal, Africa Service Medal
Name stamping on the War medal and the Africa Service Medal.
Silver bracelet plate, probably made in Cairo.
5 Squadron Tomahawks in the desert
5 Squadron Kitty-bomber in Italy
Photograph in Owen's album showing 5 squadron pilots mocking with the enemy regime...
DOCUMENTS
OWEN MCARTHY'S CAREER AFTER TH WAR
Documents forwarded to me by Ian Noble-Jack, thanks Ian.
