DAVIS J F O (DFC)
- Nation SOUTH AFRICA
- Unit S.A.A.F.
- Service No. Unknown
- Rank CAPTAIN
- Date of Death 10-Mar-51
- Location 8-1-5
- Grave No. 437
Burial Story
Captain Davis was briefed to lead a close support mission with Mosquitoes. Their target being communist troops in a valley and on a side of a hill along a ridge, between the Han and Bukhan Rivers. The Mosquito aircraft dived down into the valley and fired a white phosphorous rocket at the target area he required Davis and his flight to attack. As the phosphorous rocket struck a building in the valley, Davis reported seeing a number of enemy troops running out into the open. He immediately turned into the attack, with McDonald as his No2, with Blaauw and Cooke giving top cover. On his final turn into his first attack, Davis rolled onto his back at about 1200ft and appeared to go into a spin. When the aircraft had done about one and half turns, both napalm bombs fell clear, as if Davis had purposefully jettisoned his bombs to lighten the aircraft in an endeavor to recover from the spin. The aircraft continued to spin and crashed together with the falling napalms into a gully on the side of a hill. The aircraft immediately burst into flames. The flight was taken over after completion of the attack on the enemy troops.