Hi and welcome to this site.
I made contact with Chris Metelerkamp, the son of ww2 SAAF fighter pilot Peter Metelerkamp. (Thanks to Yuri Maree)
Chris gave me the photo album, flying log book and scrap book of Peter to copy. These documents of Peter Metelerkamp are very special including some unique photographs never been published before. Peter's flying log book is one of the best I have ever came across with comprehensive descriptions of his flights.
The purpose of this web site is to present and share these photographs and documents to enthusiasts, historians and family. Also included to this site are excerpts from SAAF 1 squadron war diary, photographs of fellow pilots and other memorabilia.
This web site is also a symbol of homage to our SAAF ww2 pilots who's devotion and bravery were not recognized by the past SA governments and hence mostly forgotten/unknown to the public.
Peter Carl Rex Metelerkamp Joined the SAAF in 1936 and eventually went "up North" in 1942 to join 1sqdn as a flight leader. In this operational tour he shot down 5 enemy aircraft, got promoted to squadron leader but was killed in action on 13 December 1942, a few months after his son (Chris) was born.
During Peter's war duty he became a famed and a very efficient OC of 1 sqdn. Peter's only and younger brother, Santie Metelerkamp, also became a SAAF pilot only to be killed in 1944.
Memorial plate at Belvedere church in Knysna. Thanks to Warwick Hojem for this photograph.
This is a living web site. Any input and/or participation will be much appreciated regarding additional information, correctness, information from relatives of members who served with Peter in his squadron, photographs, stories etc. Please e-mail me. Most welcome will be any photographs of 1 squadron while Peter was with them.
If you have a family member who served as a SAAF fighter pilot during ww2 and you want to find out more about his war service please contact me and maybe I can be of assistance.
Tinus le Roux
April 2012
Military Career
02/03/1936 Join SSB as a cadet
01/09/1936 SA Military College
01/06/1938 Promoted 2/Lt
01/06/1938 Obtain wings
23/03/1942 Posted to North Africa 1sqdn as Captain
03/06/1942 Damaged a Ju-88
03/07/1942 Shot down 2xJu-87's
03/07/1942 Damaged a Ju-87
04/07/1942 Shot down a Bf-109F
04/07/1942 Assigned temporary OC 1 sqdn
22/07/1942 Damaged a Bf-109F
23/07/1942 Shot down a Ju-87's
23/07/1942 Damaged a Ju-87's
04/08/1942 Promoted to Major, OC of 1 sqdn
01/09/1942 Wounded in battle, went to hospital
10/11/1942 Flew captured Bf-109
27/11/1942 Shot down a Bf-109F
13/12/1942 Hit by Ju-88 rear gunner, last seen alive
22/01/1943 Body washed out on beach near Bengahzi
Memorable meeting in February 2012. : Chris Metelerkamp visiting Stuart "Bomb" Finney in Cape Town. Bomb Finney was a 1 sqdn pilot flying with Peter back in 1942. Many stories were shared with Chris regarding his late dad that he never knew. See the web site of Bomb Finney HERE.
North Africa 1942
Peter's grave at Benghazi. Pics taken presumably just after the war
Benghazi cemetery 2011 (since then 200 tomb stones being vandalized in 2012)
Pic thanks to Yuri Mare.