Adolph Malan
| Adolph Gysbert (Sailor) Malan | |
|---|---|
Group Captain Sailor Malan c. 1945
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Sailor |
| Born |
24 March 1910 Wellington, Cape Colony |
| Died | 17 September 1963 (aged 53) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1935–1946 |
| Rank | Group Captain |
| Commands held |
No. 74 Squadron RAF No. 19 Wing RAF No. 145 (Free French) Fighter Wing |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order & Bar Distinguished Flying Cross & Bar Croix de guerre (Belgium) War Cross (Czechoslovakia) Legion of Honour (France) Croix de guerre (France) |
Adolph Gysbert Malan DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar (24 March 1910 – 17 September 1963), better known as Sailor Malan, was a South African fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force (RAF), who led No. 74 Squadron RAF during the height of the Battle of Britain. Under his leadership No. 74 Squadron became one of the RAF's best units. Malan scored 27 kills, seven shared destroyed, three probably destroyed and 16 damaged.
Malan survived the war to become involved in the anti-apartheid movement in his country. His younger brother, George F. Malan, was killed flying with No. 72 Squadron RAF as a Spitfire pilot in Tunisia, in early 1943.
Malan was born in Wellington, Western Cape, then part of the Cape Colony. He joined the South African Training Ship General Botha in 1924 or 1925 as a cadet (cadet number 168), and on 5 January 1928 engaged as an officer cadet (seaman's discharge number R42512) aboard the Landsdown Castle of the Union-Castle Line of the International Mercantile Marine Co. which later earned him the nickname of "Sailor" amongst his pilot colleagues.
In 1935 the RAF started the rapid expansion of its pilot corps, and Malan was one of the people who joined up. He learned to fly in the Tiger Moth at an elementary flying school near Bristol, flying for the first time on 6 January 1936. Commissioned an acting pilot officer on 2 March, he completed training by the end of the year, and was sent to join 74 Squadron on 20 December 1936. He was confirmed as a pilot officer on 6 January 1937, and was appointed to acting flight commander of "A" Flight, flying Spitfires, in August. He was promoted to acting flying officer on 20 May 1938 and promoted to substantive flying officer on 6 July. He received another promotion to acting flight lieutenant on 2 March 1939, six months before the outbreak of war.
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