Orders, Decorations and Medals

A rare Second World War D.F.C., A.F.C. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel F. L. Kotze, South African Air Force, who was decorated for his services as a Boston pilot in No. 12 (S.A.A.F.) Squadron - which unit he commanded in early 1943, until wounded by flak

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1943’; Air Force Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1946’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal 1939-45, these five officially inscribed ‘203107 F. Kotze’; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., South Africa, the reverse officially inscribed ‘T./Lt./Col. F. L. Kotze, S.A.A.F.’, mounted as worn, good very fine (8) £4000-5000

D.F.C. London Gazette 23 February 1943. The original recommendations states:

‘This officer has completed 37 raids, 15 of them being night sorties. He took command of the Squadron on 9 January 1943 and has since led his men very ably through a difficult time. An outstanding feature of his work has been his enthusiasm for night work in which he has set a magnificent example to his crews and inspired them to do the good work they have accomplished since the attack commenced on the Buerat Line. He has hardly missed a raid since the night attacks on the retreating enemy began and by his singleness of purpose and devotion to duty has set a standard in this Wing which is far above average.’

A.F.C. London Gazette 1 January 1946. The original recommendation states:

‘This officer has completed 1550 hours of service flying instruction. Prior to the outbreak of war he was employed instructing S.A.A.F. pupil pilots at a Civil School (540 hours) and since November 1939 has carried out over 1000 hours flying instruction. His instructional duties have been confined to elementary training, and he has been a Flight Commander and a very successful Chief Instructor at E.F.T.Ss in the Air Training Scheme in South Africa.

Lieutenant-Colonel Kotze has had a tour of operations and finally commanded No. 12 Squadron (S.A.A.F.) with considerable success.

His total flying hours as a pilot are over 2800 hours and he has flown 131 hours in the last six months. Lieutenant-Colonel Kotze has a sound knowledge of flying and flying training and his contribution to the Air Force has been invaluable. He has also very successfully organised flying displays in connection with Air Force Exhibitions. Lieutenant-Colonel Kotze has been employed as a Staff Officer Training (Elementary) at No. 24 Group H.Q. since October 1943.’

Frank Louis “Frank” Kotze, who was born in the Transvaal in July 1907, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the S.A.A.F’s Special Reserve in January 1931 - otherwise employed by the African Air Transport Company, he was advanced to Lieutenant on the Reserve in the period leading up to the outbreak of hostilities. Quickly employed as a flying instructor, he gained advancement to Captain in August 1940 and was posted to the Middle East as a Major in the summer of 1942.

Kotze subsequently flew operationally in No. 12 Squadron, 3 (S.A.A.F.) Wing from August 1942 until March 1943, latterly as C.O. of the Squadron in the rank of Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel and, as cited above, was awarded the D.F.C. for 37 sorties in the unit’s Bostons.

Squadron records further confirm that he was wounded in the arm during a sortie over the Mareth Line on 12 March 1943, an incident described by James Ambrose Brown in Eagles Strike:

‘On the first “nursery show” to practice the method the formation was shadowed all the way by six Messerschmitts and one bold Italian dived through the formation. On the next observers counted the flashes from 35 light anti-aircraft guns. So intense was the barrage thrown up that every Boston in the leading box was holed. Fire kept up for the whole period that the formation was on the enemy side of the bombline. Lieutenant-Colonel F. L. Kotze was wounded while leading No. 12 Squadron ... ’

Evacuated to 21 M.R.S., Kotze joined No. 24 Group H.Q. as a Staff Officer Training (Elementary) in October 1943, and was awarded his Efficiency Decoration in May 1945 and the A.F.C., as cited above, in January 1946. He was released from the Service a few months later; sold with considerable research.