Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Korean War South African, 2 Squadron ‘Flying Cheetahs’, P51 ‘Mustang’ fighter pilot’s gallantry group of six awarded to Captain, later Kommandant, Sydney Grey de la Harpe, who was awarded the United States Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals (for 80 missions) for his distinguished service and valour during the Korean war

South Africa, Korea 1950-53 (Lt. S. G. De La Harpe) officially impressed naming; South African Good Conduct Medal, edge officially numbered ‘613’; United States of America, Distinguished Flying Cross, bronze, impressed (SYDNEY G. DE LA HARPE); United States of America, Air Medal, bronze, with three oak leaf clusters emblem on riband; U.N. Korea (Lt. S. G. De La Harpe) officially impressed naming; South Korea, Korea Medal, very fine and better (6) £1,200-£1,600

United States of America, D.F.C. citation:
‘Lieutenant Sydney Grey de la Harpe, South African Air Force, did distinguish himself by extraordinary achievement whilst participating in aerial flight on 24 June 1951. He led a flight of F-51 type aircraft on interdiction of Sariwon Airfield, North Korea. Second Lieutenant R. L. Staats flew in the position of wing man in this three-ship mission carrying 500 lb. bombs as well as rockets and .50 ammunition. Although anti-aircraft fire was continuous and intense over the airfield, Lieutenant de la Harpe personally directed successive attacks showing leadership and valor far above and beyond that normally expected. He directed the attacks with such outstanding success that four direct hits were obtained on the runway and two gun positions were destroyed. He did not leave the area until he was positive that the optimum damage had been inflicted. By his devotion to duty and his confident direction of the attacks, Lieutenant de la Harpe has caused the greatest possible damage to the enemy potential. His act has brought the highest credit on himself, his Unit, and the South African Air Force.’

Sydney Grey de la Harpe was born on 17 April 1929, at his father’s farm Taungs, Middleburg, Cape Province. After matriculation from school, fluent in English and Afrikaans, he attested as a Cadet in the S.A. Military College on 1 April 1947. He qualified on 31 March 1949 and was posted to Central Flying School, Migel, on 2 April 1949, additionally being appointed 2nd Lieutenant for flying duties. Posted to 2 (Flying Cheetahs) Squadron, with the original contingent of 49 officers and 157 men, he left Durban for Tokyo, Japan en route to Korea on 26 September 1950. Arriving at Johnson Air Base on 5 November, the squadron spent the next 10 days converting to F-51 Mustangs. Here the Americans tried to treat them like complete novices, whereas most had flown the Mustang previously, some during the Second War. It took a serious demonstration in acrobatic flying to show the Americans the error of their ways. By 12 November, the conversion was complete and the first pilots were on their way to Korea. On 16 November a further 13 officers and 21 other ranks left for K9 airfield at Pusan. The squadron was attached to the American 18th Fighter Bomber Wing, with whom they remained for the rest of the war. On 19 November, the advance detachment moved to K24 near the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, flying their first combat mission the same day.

De La Harpe’s first mission was on 30 December 1950, an attack on an enemy occupied village and by the end of January 1951, he had completed a further 11 missions against enemy ground targets, on one mission his aircraft being damaged by anti-aircraft fire during an attack on an enemy Command Post. During the following five months, he took part in a further 71 combat missions, the majority against ground targets, with his last mission being flown on 24 June, for a total of 83 missions flown. Two weeks after his last mission, de La Harpe’s tour was over and on 11 July he was on his way home. For his service in Korea, he was awarded the United States Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals for 80 combat missions. On his return home, he filled many senior positions in the South African Air Force before finally retiring in 1969 after 22 years’ service to take up a position as a sales representative (flying) with a Johannesburg aviation company. He died on 10 August 2010.

Sold with official photos from S.A.A.F., including one of de la Harpe receiving the U.S. D.F.C. Also, a large amount of copied research, including service record, copies of his 83 combat mission reports. Together with ‘The American DFC to UK and Commonwealth Forces for Korea’ by W. Westlake (contains de la Harpe’s citation) and a DVD produced by ‘The Friends of the SAAF Museum’, being two informal Q&A sessions with S.A.A.F. veterans who were pilots in North Africa during WWII and Korea, including de la Harpe.