H.T.R.'Theo' JOYCE, 2-Lieutenant, SAAF

Killed in Action, Korea, 29 October, 1951

2 Lieut. 'Theo' Joyce was No. 2 to Lt. Pretorious, who led a rail interdiction mission at TD4893. At about 20 miles north of the bomb line, Lt. Beamish, the No. 3, reported he had a coolant problem and he and No. 4 were instructed to return to K-46. Shortly thereafter Joyce reported that his engine was smoking and Pretorious decided to return to base at K-46.

Not long after, Joyce reported that his engine was again running normal, and Pretorious decided to bomb Inchon, the secondary target, and directly on their route back to the base. Pretorious instructed Joyce to select and arm his bombs, which instructions he acknowledged and they went in for the attack. After Pretorious had climbed away steeply from the target, he observed a brilliant explosion on a hillside south of Inchon, that was definitely not a bomb explosion. He repeatedly called to Joyce on the R/T, but without success.

Pretorious came to the conclusion that Joyce had crashed into the hill while on his bombing run. He returned later that day with a flight of four aircraft and after flying low over the crash site could find no sign of the pilot. The crash occurred on Lt. Theo Joyce's first combat mission.