WW2 Spitfire Fighter Pilot Zingi Harrison tribute page
Hi and welcome to this site;
I met Gary Harrison via the internet and he was so kind to let me scan and copy all his late dad's war service memorabilia. We subsequently decided to construct this tribute page in memory of Zingi Harrison.

1944/45: Spitfire fighter pilot in Italy

1943: pupil pilot
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 Zingi in 2 squadron, photographs, stories etc. Please e-mail me. Most welcome will be any photographs of No. 2 squadron while Zingi 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


Gary meeting his dad's Squadron commander Stewart "Bomb" Finney, DFC and bar. Cape Town 2014
Military career
25/02/1942 I.T.W. and A.T.W. 75 AS
22/06/1942 SA Military College
08/10/1942 A.F.V.
09/01/1943 5 AS Witbank, 80 h Tiger Moth
18/01/1943 First solo
03/04/1943 25 AS Standerton, 155 h Miles Master
11/06/1943 Accident with Miles Master while taxi, pulled up UC instead of flaps
??/08/1943 Qualify as pilot and obtain wings
23/08/1943 MAF Depot
18/12/1943 11 OTU Roberts Heights, Harvards and Kittyhawks
08/01/1944 11 OTU Isipingo
30/01/1944 ZAS Roberts Heights
22/03/1944 ALAMASA SAAF base camp Cairo
25/03/1944 Conversion course Ismalia, Hurricanes, Harvards
26/04/1944 Advance base Bari
15/05/1944 4 Aircraft delivery unit, Bari
28/05/1944 7 Wing training flight, Spitfire 5
20/06/1944 2 Squadron, Italy, Spitfire 9
18/07/1944 Aircraft damaged by small arms fire
11/10/1944 Aircraft damaged by flak
14/03/1945 Aircraft damaged by flak
23/03/1945 End of operational tour, completed 200 ops hours, returned to South Africa.



Zingi (R) with his parents

In his Spitfire: DB-B "Zilla". The name refers to Mrs. Harrison who is still around at 91. Note the removed canopy.
TRAINING

Initial Training : glider flying at Kwaggapoort near Pretoria.

Flying Tiger Moths at 5 Air School Witbank, initial flying training.

Flying Miles Master II at 25 Air School Standerton, service flying training.

Miles Master II

Miles Master II


Operational Training Unit 11 Isipingo: Curtiss Kittyhawk

No notes on this photograph but it appears to be the wings parade or officer's promotion parade group photograph at 25 AS. It seems to be a Miles Master at the back. Zingi on the extreme right seated. Interesting occasion as Field Marshall Jan Smuts, Gen. Boetie Venter and Gen. Pierre van Ryneveld were present!

Zingi

Boetie Venter, Jan Smuts, Pierre van Ryneveld.
OPERATIONAL SERVICE: 2 SQUADRON, ITALY 1944-1945

Zingi flew this aircraft many times: DB-B, "Zilla"

Lt. Lance Deary ( 7 sqdn) , Lt Hilton "Pret" Pretorius (4 sqdn), Zingi.


Note the 500 lb bomb under the belly.


Note the 90 gal tank under the belly and the clipped wings..






Zingi and his fellow 2 sqdn pilot "Dronkie" Haynes.

