DOUG R. LEAH, 2-Lieutenant, SAAF

Killed in Action, Korea, 7 February 1951

2-Lt. Doug R. Leah was a member of a flight of four Mustangs led by Commandant Theron on 7 February, 1951, on a reconnaissance the Wonsan - Hamhung area on the East Coast of North Korea. Lt. Leah flew No. 2 position. The flight had found three camouflaged vehicles on the road just north of Yonghong. The only weapons they had left at that time were their machine guns, as they had used up their bombs on an attack on a supply dump. Leah carried out two strafing attacks. During the second strafing run, he pulled out sharply to the right and his starboard wing struck the ground, causing the aircraft to cartwheel and burst into flames. The wreckage was spread over a wide area. Commandant Theron circled the area a few times, but no sign of Leah could be observed.

There had been no evidence of flak observed, but it was surmised that a flak-trap cable could possibly have been emplaced to ensnare attacking aircraft.