Date of birth:

May 2nd, 1917 (Somerset West)

Date of death:

December 27th, 2008

Service number:

102987V

Nationality:

South African

Dirk Nel joined the military at the age of 19. Initially he flew bombers with No. 24 SAAF Squadron but two years later joined No. 31 Squadron and was their commanding officer during the Warsaw uprising but was found to be too senior to fly missions in order to support the Polish resistance Home Army.
Nel was promoted to Lieutenant-colonel on 14th June 1945.
After the war he joined South African Airways.

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• - Second Supplement to The London Gazette of Friday 5th June 1942, Issue 35586, dated Tuesday 11th June 1942, page 2521
  - Third Supplement to The London Gazette of Tuesday 9th March 1943, Issue 35936, dated Friday 12th March 1943, page 1188
  - Supplement to The London Gazette of Friday 8th June 1945, Issue 37119, dated Tuesday 14th June 1945, page 3030
  - SAAF Museum: Home