Hi and welcome to this site;
While doing video interviews with surviving ww2 SAAF fighter pilots and subsequent research on their whereabouts, I made contact with Harry Freeman. He was a Spitfire pilots who served with 1 squadron in Italy during the latter part of the war. Harry kindly agreed to be video interviewed while telling some of his war stories.
The purpose of this site is to present these video interviews. Also presented here is the flight log book of Harry, photographs of fellow pilots and other related historical information.
Harry flying again at 90! Harry's children gave him this very special 90th birthday gift October 2012: a flip in a Tiger Moth that he also flew as a pupil pilot 70 years ago. (thanks Beverly for these pics)
Harry joined the SAAF in 1941 at the age of 18. He did the usual ground and flight training courses to be qualified as a pilot in September 1942. He was sent to North Africa in early 1943 as stand-by pilot for the combat fighter squadrons. By this time the Allied Air Forces had the upper hand over the Luftwaffe and fortunately the SAAF pilot casualties became less with subsequent few replacement opportunities.
While not being placed in a fighter squadron, Butch was posted to various units for advanced fighter training in the Middle East.
Eventually he was transferred to 1 squadron, flying Spitfires on mainly escourts, ground bombing and -strafing missions. During this time he was twice severely wounded and both these instances returned the aircraft to base safely. For this he was awarded the DFC.
After the war Harry left the SAAF and worked in the insurance sector until his retirement in 1992.
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 Harry in his squadron, photographs, stories etc. Please e-mail me. Most welcome will be any photographs of 1 squadron while Harry was with them.
If you have a family member who served as a SAAF fighter pilot during ww2 and you want to find out more about his war service please contact me and maybe I can be of assistance.
Tinus le Roux
February 2012
Military service 06/07/1941 No. 75 Air School Lyttleton 01/02/1942 No. 1 Air School Baragwanath (55 hours on Tiger Moths and Hornets) 25/03/1942 No. 25 Air School Standerton (88 hours on Miles Master) 27/11/1942 Getting wings 03/02/1943 71 OTU Carthago 13/03/1943 Various SAAF and RAF units in Middle East 23/10/1943 1 Sqdn SAAF, operational service (Spitfires 8 and 9) 26/12/1943 Gunnery School El Ballah 07/02/1944 1 Sqdn SAAF, operational service (Spitfires 8 and 9) 20/04/1944 Attacked by USAAF fighters, wounded, hospitalized 16/08/1944 Hit by enemy 40mm anti-aircraft fire, wounded, hospitalized 02/02/1945 No. 25 Air School 16/03/1945 Middle East, No’s 3 and 5 F.U., RAF ??/??/1945 DFC awarded 27/06/1945 1 Sqdn SAAF, flying Mustangs, prepare for operational service Far East 29/11/1945 Demobilized |  1942
 1945
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Harry (R) with Colin Shaw at Trigno in Italy. Photograph from Bomb Finney's collection.
Standing L-R Lts Kritzinger, Anthony, Werner, Golding, Freeman Sitting Lt Shaw, Capt Wayberne,Lt MacWilliams, Schoen, Roy, Mitchell,Langton, Keyser,Boyd
Harry next to Cecil Golding, photograph from Hinton Brown collection.
Wings parade; November 1942, Standerton
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Harry and Margaret after the war
 Wedding on 11 March 1950 |
Distinguished Flying Cross "DFC"
Harry's war service medals
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Harry went “up North” in March 1943. He did training at the 71 OTU (Operational Training Unit) and a number of other units on Harvards, Tomahawks, Kittihawks, Hurricanes and Spitfires.
Eventually in November 1943 Butch joined the “Billy Boys” of 1 SAAF squadron stationed at Palata in Italy. Here he flew the Spitfire Mk VIII and Mk IX.
The squadron was then led by major Hannes Faure and later major Johnny Seccombe.
Operational missions were mainly bomber escourts, bomb line patrols, top cover for bombing missions and recce patrols. Later the squadron changed to dive bombing and ground strafing missions.
On 2nd of April 1944 he was attacked by friendly P-38 aircraft from the USAAF formation. With bullet wounds on his leg, arm and shoulder and a damaged Spitfire he managed to return the aircraft safely but was hospitalized.
16 August 1944, Harry was on a dive-bombing mission where they successfully destroyed a bridge. With subsequent ground strafing his Spitfire was hit by 40mm flak and Harry was severely injured. He returned with the aircraft safely to base, made a crash landing and became unconscious due to blood loss. Again hospitalized, this time for nearly 3 months. On his return to the squadron he was sent back to the Union. (November 1944)
In this tour Harry flew 165 operational hours with 116 combat sorties.
Video on How Harry got wounded
Video on How Harry was shot down by US fighters.
Gunnery course at El Ballah, Egypt. Harry in front on the left. This course was from Dec 1943 to Jan 1944. Photograph obtained from Fritz Johl who was also on this course.
1 Squadron Spitfire IX in Italy with a 500 lb bomb under the belly.
Harry 3d from right in front.
Spitfire under service: photograph from the collection of armaments officer Labby Labistour
Clipped wing Spitfires taking off: Labistour photographs
Here photographs of Harry's collection:
Landing ground at ? in Italy
Hannes Faure, OC of 1 squadron with Captain "Pops" Vossie Vos, Ops officer of 1 sqdn.
1 Squadron mechanics
Hannes Faure with his two flight leaders: Stewart "Bomb" Finney and Lippie Lipawsky.
L.R. ; ?, Harry Gaynor, ? and the two squadron dogs Daba and Chum.
Harry Gaynor with Daba and Chum.
The king visiting 7 SAAF wing where 1 squadron was part of.
Harry in front row 3d from left. Capt Vossie front row second from right. Hinton Brown in back row second from left.
Harry in second row second from right. Capt Vossie front row second from left. Hinton Brown in second row on the right.