JT Durrant
Encyclopedia
Major-General James Thom Durrant CB
DFC
(1913-15 October 1990) was a highly successful South African pilot
during World War II
who eventually became the Director-General of the South African Air Force
. In addition to commanding SAAF
squadron
s and wings, he also commanded RAF
bomber groups. At the age of 32, he was the youngest Major-General in the Allied forces. He resigned from the SAAF as a result of the de-anglicisation policy instituted by the National Party
after winning the 1948 general election.
and educated at St John's College
.
Cadet Course whereafter he served in the South African Air Force
and qualified as a pilot. He passed a special course at the RAF Photographic School at RAF Farnborough
, the school which TE Lawrence had attended in 1922.
He returned to the Union where he did aerial survey
work. He was commissioned
as a 2nd Lieutenant in November 1934.
He held several posts between this period and the outbreak of war and proved himself to be a most capable Flying Instructor. In 1936, he was promoted Lieutenant
and in 1937 Flight Commander. In 1938, he was promoted Captain and posted to Waterkloof Air Station
.
With the outbreak of World War II he was appointed Officer Commanding, Photo Flight with the rank of Major
and later Officer Commanding of No. 40 Squadron SAAF which he commanded in East Africa
from May 1940-September 1941 when he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed Officer Commanding 24 Squadron SAAF
. He commanded this squadron throughout the bitter fighting in the Western Desert Campaign
in 1941-42.
He was then promoted Colonel
and given command of 3 (Bomber) Wing SAAF in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.
In 1944, he was seconded to RAF Bomber Command
and placed in command of 205 Group RAF with the rank of Brigadier
.
In 1945, he was posted to the Far East as AOC
No. 231 Heavy Bomber Group, RAF, with the rank of Major-General. At the age of 32, he was the youngest Major-General in the Allied forces.
In 1946, he became Director-General of the South African Air Force and qualified on a special course at the Imperial Defence College
in 1951.
on 1 August 1944, General Bor-Komorowski ordered the Home Army
to rise against the Germans. The element of surprise aided the AK who after 5 days had captured 70% of Warsaw. Because the promised Russian intervention never materialised, the well armed Germans received reinforcements and gradually stemmed and turned the tide. Food and ammunition ran low but not so much as a reply to the Poles' call for help was received by the AK. Furthermore Stalin flatly refused landing permission to UK based planes behind Russian lines.
Warsaw is about 910 mi (1,464.5 km) from the UK on the great circle course, but in order to avoid the defences of the Reich a detour would be near to 1100, and a return journey of 2200 mi (3,540.5 km) was out of the question. Churchill then ordered that relief be flown to Warsaw from Italy which is a little closer, some 815 mi (1,311.6 km) on the great circle thus requiring a return journey of almost 2000 mi (3,218.7 km). This would have led right over heavily defended points but was the most realistic compromise.
Major-General Durrant went to see Air Vice Marshal John Slessor
and was surprised to be admitted to the presence of Churchill
himself in an adjoining office. He pointed out to Churchill that an airlift of 1000 mi (1,609.3 km), most of it over enemy territory, could hold no hope of military success, and that the loss of airmen and aircraft would be tremendous. Churchill’s reply was brief and to the point:
And so Durrant and his volunteer aircrews, accepting all the known risks, made 196 trips to Warsaw, which included 11 hours over the Carparthian Mountains, and then flying at rooftop height to drop canisters packed with guns, ammunition and food.
Of the 80 aircraft that participated, 31 were shot down, 17 of which over the weekend of 13–16 August.
He stated that, despite Ministerial assurances that there were no politics in the UDF
, a senior officer on his own staff had said to the Chief of the General Staff (at that time Lt-Genl Christiaan du Toit) in his presence: "I want you to understand that I am 100 percent Nationalist, and that anything I am reputed to have said or done has been in the interests of my Minister." When Brigadier Durrant had objected to this statement, the Chief of the General Staff ruled that such a declaration of politics could be made if so desired.
.
He was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath
, CB.
In August 1946, Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, GCB, KBE, MC, DFC, Allied Air Commander-in-Chief, South East Asia included the following in his report, Air Operations in South East Asia 3 May 1945 to 12 September 1945, to the Secretary of State for Air
commenting on the successful sinking of a 10 000 ton Japanese tanker by the air forces of 231 Group:
In 1994, the Polish Ambassador
to South Africa, Mr S Cieniuch presented the Warsaw Insurrectionary Cross to Durrant's widow.
He was also awarded the Legion of Merit
.
from October 1946-December 1950.
Upon leaving the Air Force, he made his mark in the commercial and business world.
He was elected as a Councillor in the Johannesburg City Council. and served on the Council from 1969-1977. In 1970, he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the South African National War Museum
as one of the Johannesburg City Council representatives.
Brigadier Durrant had a deep-rooted regard for all matters military. In this regard, he was extremely active as a member of the War Histories Advisory Committee responsible for the writing of the series of histories recording the part played by the South African forces during World War II. Two volumes in this series were published.
from the Parktown
Presbyterian Church on 19 October.
He was survived by his wife, Margaret, two sons and a stepson and stepdaughter.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
DFC
Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
(1913-15 October 1990) was a highly successful South African pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who eventually became the Director-General of the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
. In addition to commanding SAAF
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
s and wings, he also commanded RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
bomber groups. At the age of 32, he was the youngest Major-General in the Allied forces. He resigned from the SAAF as a result of the de-anglicisation policy instituted by the National Party
National Party (South Africa)
The National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
after winning the 1948 general election.
Early life
James Thom Durrant was born in JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
and educated at St John's College
St John's College (Johannesburg, South Africa)
St John's College is a private school for boys in Houghton, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa.-History:St John's College was founded in Johannesburg on 1 August 1898 and is an Anglican school....
.
Military career
He joined the South African Air Force Reserve at the age of 19. In 1933-34, he successfully completed a Permanent ForcePermanent Force
The Permanent Force was an integral part of both the South African Defence Force and the South West Africa Territorial Force and other British Commonwealth militaries. It consisted of all the full time volunteers, volunteers of auxiliaries and national servicemen....
Cadet Course whereafter he served in the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
and qualified as a pilot. He passed a special course at the RAF Photographic School at RAF Farnborough
Farnborough Airfield
Farnborough Airport or TAG London Farnborough Airport is an airport situated in Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire, England...
, the school which TE Lawrence had attended in 1922.
He returned to the Union where he did aerial survey
Aerial survey
Aerial survey is a geomatics method of collecting information by using aerial photography, LiDAR or from remote sensing imagery using other bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as infrared, gamma, or ultraviolet. It can also refer to the chart or map made by analysing a region from the air...
work. He was commissioned
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
as a 2nd Lieutenant in November 1934.
He held several posts between this period and the outbreak of war and proved himself to be a most capable Flying Instructor. In 1936, he was promoted Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
and in 1937 Flight Commander. In 1938, he was promoted Captain and posted to Waterkloof Air Station
AFB Waterkloof
Air Force Base Waterkloof is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is situated on the outskirts of Pretoria, and is the SAAF's busiest airbase.The base's name, Waterkloof, is Afrikaans, it means Water Ravine in English....
.
With the outbreak of World War II he was appointed Officer Commanding, Photo Flight with the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
and later Officer Commanding of No. 40 Squadron SAAF which he commanded in East Africa
East African Campaign (World War II)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
from May 1940-September 1941 when he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed Officer Commanding 24 Squadron SAAF
24 Squadron SAAF
24 Squadron SAAF is a disbanded squadron of the South African Air Force. Its last role was as an attack aircraft squadron. The squadron was first formed on 5 March 1941 by renumbering 14 Squadron SAAF in Egypt....
. He commanded this squadron throughout the bitter fighting in the Western Desert Campaign
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
in 1941-42.
He was then promoted Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and given command of 3 (Bomber) Wing SAAF in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.
In 1944, he was seconded to RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
and placed in command of 205 Group RAF with the rank of Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
.
In 1945, he was posted to the Far East as AOC
Air Officer Commanding
Air Officer Commanding is a title given in the air forces of Commonwealth nations to an air officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, an air vice marshal might be the AOC 38 Group...
No. 231 Heavy Bomber Group, RAF, with the rank of Major-General. At the age of 32, he was the youngest Major-General in the Allied forces.
In 1946, he became Director-General of the South African Air Force and qualified on a special course at the Imperial Defence College
Royal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
in 1951.
Warsaw uprising
At 17h00 in WarsawWarsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
on 1 August 1944, General Bor-Komorowski ordered the Home Army
Armia Krajowa
The Armia Krajowa , or Home Army, was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II German-occupied Poland. It was formed in February 1942 from the Związek Walki Zbrojnej . Over the next two years, it absorbed most other Polish underground forces...
to rise against the Germans. The element of surprise aided the AK who after 5 days had captured 70% of Warsaw. Because the promised Russian intervention never materialised, the well armed Germans received reinforcements and gradually stemmed and turned the tide. Food and ammunition ran low but not so much as a reply to the Poles' call for help was received by the AK. Furthermore Stalin flatly refused landing permission to UK based planes behind Russian lines.
Warsaw is about 910 mi (1,464.5 km) from the UK on the great circle course, but in order to avoid the defences of the Reich a detour would be near to 1100, and a return journey of 2200 mi (3,540.5 km) was out of the question. Churchill then ordered that relief be flown to Warsaw from Italy which is a little closer, some 815 mi (1,311.6 km) on the great circle thus requiring a return journey of almost 2000 mi (3,218.7 km). This would have led right over heavily defended points but was the most realistic compromise.
Major-General Durrant went to see Air Vice Marshal John Slessor
John Slessor
Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Cotesworth Slessor GCB, DSO, MC was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force . A pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during World War I, he held operational commands in World War II and served in the RAF's most senior post, Chief of the Air Staff, from 1950 to...
and was surprised to be admitted to the presence of Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
himself in an adjoining office. He pointed out to Churchill that an airlift of 1000 mi (1,609.3 km), most of it over enemy territory, could hold no hope of military success, and that the loss of airmen and aircraft would be tremendous. Churchill’s reply was brief and to the point:
And so Durrant and his volunteer aircrews, accepting all the known risks, made 196 trips to Warsaw, which included 11 hours over the Carparthian Mountains, and then flying at rooftop height to drop canisters packed with guns, ammunition and food.
Of the 80 aircraft that participated, 31 were shot down, 17 of which over the weekend of 13–16 August.
Resignation
He resigned from the South African Air Force on 29 February 1952 citing "irreconcilable differences with the Minister of Defence".He stated that, despite Ministerial assurances that there were no politics in the UDF
Union Defence Force
The Union Defence Force may refer to a former or current military organization:* the South African Army from 1912 to 1957* the military of the United Arab Emirates...
, a senior officer on his own staff had said to the Chief of the General Staff (at that time Lt-Genl Christiaan du Toit) in his presence: "I want you to understand that I am 100 percent Nationalist, and that anything I am reputed to have said or done has been in the interests of my Minister." When Brigadier Durrant had objected to this statement, the Chief of the General Staff ruled that such a declaration of politics could be made if so desired.
Honours
It was for his in the Abyssinian campaign that he gained the DFCDistinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against...
.
He was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, CB.
In August 1946, Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park, GCB, KBE, MC, DFC, Allied Air Commander-in-Chief, South East Asia included the following in his report, Air Operations in South East Asia 3 May 1945 to 12 September 1945, to the Secretary of State for Air
Secretary of State for Air
The Secretary of State for Air was a cabinet level British position. The person holding this position was in charge of the Air Ministry. It was created on 10 January 1919 to manage the Royal Air Force...
commenting on the successful sinking of a 10 000 ton Japanese tanker by the air forces of 231 Group:
"For this outstanding success I sent a message of congratulation to Major-General JT Durrant, SAAF, who, on June 15th, had assumed Command of 231 Group".
In 1994, the Polish Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to South Africa, Mr S Cieniuch presented the Warsaw Insurrectionary Cross to Durrant's widow.
He was also awarded the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
.
Other roles
He served as a trustee of the South African National War MuseumSouth African National Museum of Military History
The South African National War Museum in Johannesburg was officially opened by Prime Minister Jan Smuts on 29 August 1947 to preserve the history of South Africa's involvement in the Second World War. In 1975 the museum was renamed the South African National Museum of Military History and its...
from October 1946-December 1950.
Upon leaving the Air Force, he made his mark in the commercial and business world.
He was elected as a Councillor in the Johannesburg City Council. and served on the Council from 1969-1977. In 1970, he was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the South African National War Museum
South African National Museum of Military History
The South African National War Museum in Johannesburg was officially opened by Prime Minister Jan Smuts on 29 August 1947 to preserve the history of South Africa's involvement in the Second World War. In 1975 the museum was renamed the South African National Museum of Military History and its...
as one of the Johannesburg City Council representatives.
Brigadier Durrant had a deep-rooted regard for all matters military. In this regard, he was extremely active as a member of the War Histories Advisory Committee responsible for the writing of the series of histories recording the part played by the South African forces during World War II. Two volumes in this series were published.
Family life
He died at his home in Parktown North, Johannesburg, after a short illness, on 15 October 1990 aged 77. He was buried with full military honoursMilitary funeral
A military funeral is a specially orchestrated funeral given by a country's military for a soldier, sailor, marine or airman who died in battle, a veteran, or other prominent military figures or heads of state. A military funeral may feature guards of honor, the firing of volley shots as a salute,...
from the Parktown
Parktown
Parktown is a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa, the first suburb north of the inner-city. It is affectionately known as one of the Parks, others including Parkview, Parkwood, Westcliff, Parktown North, Parkhurst and Forest Town...
Presbyterian Church on 19 October.
He was survived by his wife, Margaret, two sons and a stepson and stepdaughter.