- Bob Kershaw
Robert H. C. (Bob) Kershaw (died 6 May 1998) was a fighter pilot and later businessman of
South Africa , notable as the first South African recipient of theDistinguished Service Order inWorld War II , for his daring rescue of downed squadron leader Jack Frost.Kershaw and Frost were flying
Hawker Hurricane s in the No. 3 Squadron of theSouth African Air Force when they were sent toKenya in early 1941 as part of a campaign against the Italians in Abyssinia. On 15 March, during an attack onDiredawa airfield, Frost's tank ofglycol coolant was hit and he had to put his plane on the ground quickly before the overheating engine flamed out. Frost landed at a satellite airfield near Diredawa, and set his plane on fire to prevent its capture, but Kershaw had seen Frost go down and followed, putting his plane down on the same field.Space in the Hurricane was tight, so Frost had to discard his parachute and sit in Bob's lap. With Bob working the rudder's foot pedals and Jack using the throttle and control stick, they were able to take off and return to base.
The rescue was a sensation in South Africa, Bob receiving an immediate DSO. His portrait was painted (it now hangs in the
South African National War Museum ), and the portrait was in turn adapted for a 1 1/2-pencepostage stamp issued in August 1942.Kershaw returned to flying, and eventually rose to the rank of Major. He flew the
Supermarine Spitfire after they were delivered to the SAAF. Later he and his engineer would design the prototype twin payload bomb rack for the Spitfire, as it was ineffectual with a single payload. He was shot down and captured later. He received a Distinguished Flying Cross.After the war he went into the automobile business in East London, becoming managing director of Grosvenor Ford. He later retired to
Knysna , where he joined the commando wing of the SAAF, rising to the rank of commandant. He died in Knysna in 1998.References
* [http://www.dispatch.co.za/1998/05/08/easterncape/KERSHAW.HTM Dispatch Online obituary, with photograph]
* [http://www.dispatch.co.za/1998/05/29/editoria/LET4.HTM Dispatch letter with more detail]
* [http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol016dt.htm South African Military History Society account of the action and rescue]
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