Johannes Jacobus le Roux

Squadron Leader Johannes Jacobus le Roux DFC (12 April 1920 - 19 September 1944) was a South African World War II flying ace, who flew for the Royal Air Force.[1] He is credited with 23.5 kills

Johannes Jacobus le Roux
Born(1920-04-12)12 April 1920
Heilderg, Transvaal
Died19 September 1944(1944-09-19) (aged 24)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Air Force
Years of service1939 - 1944
RankSquadron Leader
Commands heldNo. 602 Squadron RAF
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross

He joined the RAF in 1939.[2]

Le Roux standing in front of his motorcycle at Souk el Khemis ('Waterloo'), Tunisia

In July 1944, by now OC, 602 Squadron, Le Roux was credited with attacking and seriously injuring General Erwin Rommel in his staff car, on a road outside Sainte Foy de Montgomerie, in Normandy. Strafing the vehicle, the driver lost control, struck a tree and spun off the road. Rommel fractured his skull when he was thrown from the vehicle. In doing so, Le Roux single-handedly removed Germany's commanding general from the Normandy battlefield.

References

  1. Tidy, D (June 1969). "SOUTH AFRICAN AIR ACES OF WORLD WAR II". 1 (4). Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. Price, Alfred (1995). Late Marque Spitfire Aces 1942-45. Osprey. p. 57. ISBN 1-85532-575-6.
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