Tribute page: WW2 SAAF pilot Rod Hojem, DFC
Hi and welcome to this site!
I have met the Hojem family via the internet. Thanks to Kevin Hojem who kindly lend his father's war memorabilia to me to be copied. Also thanks to Warwick Hojem who sent me war photographs of Rod, Graham and Colin Hojem.
Most interesting and of special historic importance is the set of letters Rod wrote to his dad while doing operational service, describing life in the harsh desert war, also published on the site.
Rodney Clayton Hojem joined the SAAF in early 1941 and was trained as a fighter pilot. After qualification Rod was transferred to No. 2 fighter squadron, stationed in Egypt at the Alamein line in mid 1942.
Rod had an eventful operational tour participating in the Alamein battles with the subsequent push to Tunisia until the surrender of the North African German/Italian forces in mid 1943.
2 Squadron flew the Curtiss Kittyhawk fighter which was in general inferior to the German Messerschmitt Bf-109 in fighting ability. Rod however managed a good record of shooting down four enemy aircraft while himself was never shot down.
During this time Rod was promoted to Captain and ended his operational tour as a flight commander. He flew 115 operational sorties in 182 ops hours.
After his return from war service Rod was involved with pilot training at various air schools until the end of the war when he was demobilised.
After the war Rod had a long and successful career in the insurance industry.
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 Rod, 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
May 2016
Military Service
Sept 41 4 EFTS Benoni: Tiger Moths
Oct 41 25 SFTS Standerton: Mile's Master
May 42 71 OTU Carthago, Egypt; Harvard, Hurricane, Tomahawk
16 July 42 No.2 Fighter Squadron: Kittyhawks
18 Aug 42 Wing holed during dog fight
29 Aug 42 Damaged a Machi C 202 near Alamein station
11 Nov 42 Shot down 2 x Ju 87 Stukas and a Prob damage to another.
01 Dec 42 Shot down a Me BF-109 F
19 April 43 Shot down a Ju-52
30 May 43 End of operational tour
Rodney in the front row second from the right.
2 Squadron Kittyhawk
DFC awarded
Wedding Photographs
Rodney and Mary Campbell on their wedding day.
?, Rodney, Mary and Jean Rowney who nursed with Mary at Addington hospital on the right
