In Memory Of

DUNCAN, ANDREW

Service Details
Age:
 22
Date of Birth:
 1920-05-16
Service No:
 103023
Rank:
 Major
Unit:
 5 Sqdn.
Regiment:
 South African Air Force
Date of Death:
 1942-05-31
Cause of Death:
 Killed in action, Curtiss Tomahawk Mk IIB #AK523, missing from bomber escort near El Adem, shot down south of Acroma by Oberleutnant Otto Schulz of II/JG27
Commemoration
Grave Reference:
 Column 265.
Cemetery:
 ALAMEIN MEMORIAL
Country:
 Egypt
Additional Information
Decorations:
 D F C
Citations:
 LG 1 April 1941 pg. 1903 - "One day in February, 1941, this officer was detailed to carry out an offensive reconnaissance accompanied by another aircraft. On alighting at an advanced landing ground to refuel, his aircraft was damaged and rendered unserviceable. He immediately took off in the other aircraft and flew on, alone, for more than 100 miles to his objective, where he machine gunned the aerodrome, set fire to a large mail plane and blew up its hangar. A few days earlier, during an attack on an enemy aerodrome, his commanding officer's aircraft was attacked from behind by an enemy fighter. Lieutenant Duncan went to his aid and shot down the attacker. He has displayed the greatest keenness to engage the enemy at all times."
Son of Sir Patrick Duncan, Governor General of South Africa, and Alice Duncan. After qualifying as a pilot with the Active Citizen Force in December 1939, he was posted to 1 Squadron SAAF and fought in East Africa. He returned to the Union in April 1941 as a Captain, and joined 5 Squadron in June as commander of 'A' Flight. Duncan succeeded Jack Frost as the Squadron Commander on 31 May, only to be shot down and killed that evening, south of Acroma, after shooting down his sixth victim earlier. ***Reg. # might be 103203