This year celebrates the centenary of the Royal Air Force. It is therefore fitting to recall a famous South African fighter pilot whose skill and bravery became renowned during the Battle of Britain. By Graham Jooste.
Albert Lewis was born in 1918 in Kimberley, where he attended Kimberley Boys’ High School. An excellent sportsman, he was also passionate about aircraft and flying, and took flying lessons. At the age of 20, he made his way to England and joined the Royal Air Force (RAF).
His instructors noted his ability to convert rapidly to any aircraft type, a skill that was to stand him in good stead. The transition in aircraft design from the two-winged biplane to the faster, one-winged monoplane was well under way, producing such legendary aircraft as the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire. These fighters would face similar formidable foes in the Messerschmitt Bf 109 in Europe, and the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero in the Pacific theatre.
In March 1939, Lewis was awarded his wings and posted to an advanced training school, where he passed with merit. From there he was sent to 754 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm. During this period he flew the Walrus, Magister, Mentor, Sea Fox and Swordfish.
In August of that year, Lewis crashed a big Walrus flying boat after engine failure and was confined to hospital for a period. On his recovery, he was posted to 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron, based at the Doncaster Race Course.
The following month the message went out: “Commence hostilities against Germany at once.” The war had begun.
DUNKIRK AND FIRST BLOOD
Because of his flying skill, Lewis was chosen for a hazardous mission to test a new type of propeller for the Hurricane. The ground staff watched breathlessly as Lewis looped, rolled and screamed down in a dive to level out above the runway. It was a brilliant exhibition of flying that was warmly applauded when he finally taxied to a halt.
Lewis went on to fly 307 hours on convoy patrols in various aircraft. By the time he was posted to 85 Squadron in France, he had honed the skills to become a great pilot.
Bu hikaye Farmer's Weekly dergisinin Farmer's Weekly 17 August 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Farmer's Weekly dergisinin Farmer's Weekly 17 August 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
Syngenta's ambition is to enable their customers' investments to grow in healthy soil from treated seeds to young plants through innovation and collaboration, writes Magda du Toit.
Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
Lindie-Alet van Staden, a garden and olive orchard manager at L’Ormarins Wine Estate in Franschhoek, was crowned as the Western Cape Prestige Agri-Worker of 2024 at a gala event recently held near Paarl.
Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
