Denis Earp

Lieutenant General Denis John Earp SSA SD SOE SM (Bloemfontein, born 7 June 1930) was a South African military commander, who held the post of Chief of the South African Air Force.

He attended Military College in 1948 and joined the SAAF in 1950. After qualifying as a pilot served in Korea with 2 Squadron SAAF. He was forced to bale out over enemy territory and was a POW for 23 months. Attended Grey College, Bloemfontein. His son was a helicopter pilot who was killed in the Border War in 1982

He served as Chief of the Air Force from 1984 to 1988

Aircraft Flown

 * North American P-51 Mustang

Honours and Awards

 * Order of Military Merit (Korea) (Chungmu cordon) with Silver Star (Korea, 1952)
 * Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (USA 1952)
 * Southern Cross Medal (1973)
 * Southern Cross Decoration (1976)
 * Star of South Africa Silver 1986
 * Star of South Africa Gold 1987
 * Order of the Resplendent Banner with Grand Cordon (Taiwan 1987)
 * Gran Cruz Al Merito Aeronautico (Chile)
 * Al Merito Miltar (Paraguay)