A Second War D.F.C. group of ten awarded to Captain D. A. Ruiter, Cheetah Squadron, South...

A Second War D.F.C. group of ten awarded to Captain D. A. Ruiter, Cheetah Squadron, South African Air Force, who was killed after his aircraft was forced to ditch in the sea in Korea on 2 March 1951 Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1944’; South African Korea Medal (Capt. D. A. Ruiter); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, North Africa 1942-43; Italy Star; War Medal, these all unnamed; Africa Service Medal, erased; U.N. Korea 1950-54 (Capt. D. A. Ruiter); United States of America, Air Medal, bronze, unnamed; South Korea, Korea Medal, bronze, mounted for wear in this order, the Second War medals unnamed or erased replacements for those lost in Korea, nearly extremely fine and rare (10) £2,000-£2,400 --- Provenance: Dix and Webb, March 1996. D.F.C. London Gazette 7 July 1944. The original Recommendation states: ‘Captain D. A. Ruiter, who is now engaged on his second tour of operational flying, has completed 166 operational sorties, totalling 259 hours. He has personally destroyed three enemy aircraft in aerial combat and has led a large number of extremely successful low-level dive-bombing and strengthening attacks which have resulted in the destruction of considerable numbers of enemy motor transport vehicles, Railway trucks and engines as well as enemy armoured fighting vehicles. He has also led a attack on marshalling yards and enemy lines of communication and took part in the recent attack on the enemy held landing grounds in Yugoslavia. His coolness, courage and devotion to duty and his exceptional abilities as a pilot and leader have been an inspiration to his fellow pilots. Denis Aidan Ruiter flew with No. 2 (Cheetah) Squadron in the Middle East during the Second World War and was awarded the D.F.C. He accompanied the squadron to Korea as one of the original contingent of 49 officers and 157 men, leaving Durban on 27 September, 1950. They arrived at Yokahoma on 5 November, from where they were transferred to Johnson Air Base near Tokyo where, for the next 10 days, the squadron was kept busy converting to the F-51 Mustangs which they were to fly in Korea. The squadron primarily flew interdiction missions, but the Cheetah pilots were often diverted, sometimes in mid-flight, to lend close support to the U.N. forces as the struggle on the ground see-sawed continuously. On 1 March, 1951, the squadron flew a record 32 sorties in support of a general U.N. offensive which had steadily gained momentum during February. Seven vehicles, one village, two tanks and an unknown number of troops were destroyed. The following day Ruiter, whilst leading a mission of four aircraft on an armed reconnaissance flight, experience engine trouble and was forced to ditch his aircraft in the sea close to Yo Do Island; the aircraft covering him reported that his aircraft sank within three seconds, and that Ruiter was not observed leaving the aircraft. During the course of the Korean War Cheetah Squadron lost 34 pilots, killed or missing. Sold with a photographic image of the recipient; and copied research.