When he recovered in July 1941, he was sent to command 5 Squadron SAAF, leading them into Egypt in early 1942. On 31 May he was posted to 233 WIng as a staff officer but Andy Duncan, who had taken his place at 5 sqn., had been killed the same day by Otto Schulz so Jack was sent back to command 5 Squadron again. Frost was shot down on 16 June 1942, near Bir Hakeim, Egypt, by Me109s of JG27, possibly by Hans Marseille but Gunther Steinhausen also made claims in that area on that day so no one knows for sure. Rod Hojem, one of the South African pilots involved in this combat commented: "There was one hell of a dogfight, and after it was over I can clearly remember Jack calling up the squadron on the R/T, 'Form up chaps I am heading North', and that was the last we heard of him." Although some say he was seen to be walking towards enemy lines after his crash, neither his plane or body was ever recovered. He remains, to this day, as the South African Air Force's leading scorer. His name is inscribed on the Alamein Memorial, Column 265. |
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 3 notable pilots of 3 Sqn. SAAF at Addis Ababa. Left to right - Capt. "Jack" Frost, Lt. RHC Kershaw, who won the DSO for saving Jack from the enemy after being shot down, & Capt. "Serv" Theron, DSO, who later served in Normandy. |
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DFC - No Info
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Air Ministry, 27th July, 1943
ROYAL AIR FORCE
The King has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards:
Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross
Major John Everitt FROST, D.F.C. (P. 102641), South African Air Force, No. 5 Squadron (deceased), awarded with effect from 2nd June, 1942.
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MiD - No Info
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Jack getting into a 3 Squadron SAAF Hurricane which reads "Semper Pugnans" or "Always Fighting", the 3 Squadron motto.
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Victories Include :
2 Feb 1941 3 Feb 1941 15 Mar 1941 24 Mar 1941 29 Mar 1941 30 Mar 1941 4 April 1941 5 April 1941 6 April 1941 10 April 1941 13 April 1941 16 April 1941 30 April 1941 11 Mar 1942 27 May 1942 28 May 1942 29 May 1942 31 May 1942 3 June 4 June 7 June 9 June 14 June |
one Ca133 one CR42 3 Ca133s one CR32 one S79 one S79 one CR42 one CR or Ro one S79 one sm bi plane one CR42 one S79 one CR42 one 1.5 Ca133s one S79 two Capronis 3 Savoias two CR42s two S79s two Ca133s sh Ca133 1/2 CR42 one Caproni one CR32 or 42 one Ro37 one Caproni one CR32 two CR42s one S79 one CR32 1/2 He111 one 2/e e/a 1/3 Me109 one MC202 1/2 Ju87 1/2 Ju87 one Ju87 3 Ju87s one Me109 one Me109 one Ju87 one Me109 |
destroyed OTG destroyed destroyed [1] destroyed destroyed OTG damaged OTG destroyed OTG damaged OTG destroyed OTG damaged OTG destroyed damaged probable damaged OTG destroyed OTG destroyed OTG destroyed OTG destroyed OTG destroyed OTG destroyed OTG damaged OTG destroyed destroyed OTG destroyed OTG destroyed OTG destroyed OTG destroyed OTG destroyed OTG destroyed destroyed OTG probable destroyed destroyed destroyed probable damaged destroyed destroyed probable probable destroyed damaged |
14.83 / 4 / 2.5
plus
23 / 0 / 4.5+ On The Ground
[1] Shot down in full view of the soldiers on the ground that the bombers had been sent to attack. A mighty good feeling no doubt and with a DFC to follow!
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Thanks go out to
R P Frost for the photos & infos !
On these pages I use Hugh Halliday's extensive research which includes info from numerous sources; newspaper articles via the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (CMCC); the Google News Archives; the London Gazette Archives and other sources both published and private. |
All content on this site is probably the property of acesofww2.com unless otherwise noted.
