Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Southern Cross Medal group of fourteen awarded to Colonel F. A. Swemmer, South African Air Force, who flew Spitfires with 3 Squadron, S.A.A.F. over Italy during the Second War, and Mustangs as a flight commander of 2 Squadron ‘Flying Cheetahs’, in the Korean War

South Africa, Southern Cross Medal, 1st type (495), minor blue enamel damage; South Africa, Korea 1950-53 (Lt. F. A. Swemmer) officially impressed naming; Permanent Force Good Service Medal, 30 Years (438); Permanent Force Good Service Medal, 20 Years (264); Permanent Force Good Service Medal, 18 Years (1313); Chief of Defence Force Commendation Medal (182); Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; Africa Service Medal, all officially impressed ‘P6771 F. A. Swemmer’; United States of America, Air Medal, bronze, with 2 oak leaf clusters, unnamed; U.N. Korea (Lt. F. A. Swemmer.) officially impressed naming; South Korea, Korea Medal, mounted as originally worn, generally very fine unless otherwise already stated (14) £1,600-£2,000

Southern Cross Medal.
The original recommendation dated, 13 March 1967, states: ‘This officer has, over the years, rendered invaluable service to the SA Air Force and, as his record has shown, has always placed the interests of the Air Force far above his own.
He was a flight commander during the war in Korea and completed 359 operational flying hours on fighter aircraft. In subsequent years he was a flying instructor at Central Flying School where he rose to the very responsible positions of Officer in Charge of Testing and Assessing, Chief Ground Instructor and Chief Flying Instructor. During all these years on flying instruction Major Swemmer established the proud achievement of never having had one of his own pupils suspended from flying training. On completion of his long and excellent instructional tour he took over 40 Citizen Force Squadron as Officer Commanding.
Major Swemmer has always set an extremely high standard in flying efficiency and has always insisted that all the pilots under his command aimed at achieving the same standard. His perseverance and untiring efforts to maintain this ideal has benefited the SA Air Force to a considerable degree and was illustrated in a most convincing manner recently when his squadron won the Citizen Force Inter Squadron Competition. The keenness, discipline and high standard of flying displayed by the members of his squadron was a direct result of the prolonged and untiring efforts of the squadron commander himself. The zeal and enthusiasm shown was a complete reflection of Major Swemmer’s own enthusiasm and zeal.’

Chief of Defence Force Commendation Medal.
The original recommendation dated, 25 May 1970, states: ‘Cmdt. Swemmer has been employed as a flying instructor in the SAAF since 1951. Appointed Chief Instructor, FTS DNTR, in January 1968, he has proved to be an extremely capable, conscientious and dependable officer. He organised his flying and ground training programmes in a manner that promoted maximum efficiency and flying safety, leading to the high standard of the trained pilots and the decreased accident rate of the FTS. As a flying instructor on Harvard, Vampire and Cessna aircraft for nineteen years, Cmdt. Swemmer has flown 4,237 hours. 1,859 have been flying instructional hours. he holds an A1 Category IRE Rating. Cmdt. Swemmer’s qualifications are the highest a flying instructor can obtain. His dedication to his work and the diligence shown by this officer has been an outstanding example to the junior flying instructors and helped to enhance the reputation of the South African Air Force.’

Frans Adriaan Swemmer was born in Standerton, South Africa in July 1920, and initially served as a Lieutenant with the S.A.I.C. from September 1939 - January 1942. He transferred to the South African Air Force for pilot training in January 1942, qualified as a pilot in May 1943, and served with 3 Squadron S.A.A.F. (Spitfires) in the Middle East and Italy. Swemmer received an official reprimand for:

‘Being guilty of an act in flying which was likely to cause loss of life to a person, in that he when on active service at or about 10.00 hours on 5 June 1945 at Camp Formido aerodrome when a pilot of His Majesty’s aircraft Spitfire No. CA.F. dived and flew the said aircraft over the runway of the said airfield at a height of approximately 50 ft., which act was likely to cause loss of life to himself as pilot of said aircraft.’

Swemmer was appointed as a Lieutenant to the Permanent Force in May 1946. He was 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. Swemmer served as a Flight Commander with 2 Squadron during the Korean War, and completed 359 operational flying hours on fighter aircraft. He was involved in a flying accident, 4 March 1951, ‘0645 Hrs Lt. Swemmer took on an armed recce. Engine cut. The aircraft overshot end of runway and he crashed landed in rice paddy fields. Aircraft badly damaged.’ (Accident report refers)

Swemmer was posted for service as an Instructor to the Central Flying School in July 1951, and advanced to Captain in December 1957. Swemmer advanced to Major in December 1962, and to Commandant in December 1968. He served as Officer Commanding 40 Squadron, January 1965 - December 1967, and was then posted as Chief Instructor, C.F.S., December 1967 - July 1970. Subsequent postings included as SO Ops, Light Aircraft Command, and Swemmer advanced to Colonel in October 1974. Colonel Swemmer retired in July 1980.

Sold with extensive copied service papers, including a photographic image of the recipient in uniform.