About the product

SA Korea SAAF Cheetah Squadron

South African Korea Medal, Leading Aircraftsman J.S. Blignaut, 2 “Cheetah” Squadron, South African Air Force, recipient of the Presidential Unit Citation.

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SKU: J7816 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
Nearly Extremely Fine

Description

South African Korea Medal, Leading Aircraftsman J.S. Blignaut, 2 “The Flying Cheetahs” Squadron, South African Air Force, recipient of the Presidential Unit Citation.

 

Officially impressed: “E13555 J.S. BLIGNAUT”

 

Confirmed on the South Africa Korea Roll, by Colin Owen.

 

L.A.M. Blignaut, served in Korea from 14th March 1952 until 20th May 1953.

 

The roll also records that he was amongst those awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation or Presidential Unit Citation from South Korea.

 

The citation to 2 Squadron Reads:

 

“The President of the Republic of Korea takes great pleasure in citing for exceptional meritorious and heroism.

 

No 2 Squadron, South African Air Force

 

For the reward of

 

The Presidential Unit Citation

 

This unit was dispatched from South Africa in support of the United Nations Forces in Korea. It was equipped with P51 Aircraft and has functioned continually in support of operations of the Eighth Army.

 

Through all gallantry and devotion to duty of its personnel it has earned high praise and its losses in pilots have been heavy.

 

It continued to meet cheerfully all tasks allotted to it, and gives a higher performance than is normal expected.”

 

For further reading, below is a link of the informative article “The History of No 2 Squadron, SAAF, in The Korean War” published in the SAMHS Journal Vol 4 No 3 June 1978, by Col PMJ McGregor, SM.

 

Click here to read the Article by Col McGregor which goes into detail of the period of service the LAM Blignaut served.

 

For further research,

 

The Blignaut family are well documented on the website www.blignaut.co.za, the only likely match born was:

 

It seems that the recipient was Johan Samuel Frederick Blignaut