'SAILOR' MALAN, freedom fighter, the inspirational story of a Spitfire Ace

251pp., illus., hardback, d.w., Barnsley, 2021

Foreword by Dr Yvonne Malan.

Adolph Gysbert Malan (1910-1963) was born in Wellington in the Cape. When he was 25 years old he joined the Royal Air Force. During WWII he commanded 74 Squadron and fought in the Battle of Britain. In 1941 he became the first Wing Commander (Flying) at Biggin Hill and led the Spitfire wing during operations over northern France. After leaving left the RAF in 1945 he returned to South Africa to work for the Oppenheimer family and was later elected President of the ‘Torch Commando’, an organisation of ex-servicemen who opposed the National Party's apartheid policy.

Dilip Sarkar MBE is the author of Battle of Britain 1940, The 'Real' Spitfire Pilot and Arnhem 1944.