J. P. ‘Jessie’  VERSTER, 2-Lieut., SAAF

Killed in Action, Korea, 1 July, 1951

Lieutenant Jessie Verster was part of an interesting mission in late June, ’51, in which he accompanied John Howe and Larry Eager on a dangerous close-support flight led by Gus Marshall.

They had taken off from Seoul’s K-16, airstrip, set course for a planned interdiction mission north-east of Kaesong. While enroute they heard a Mosquito controller desperately calling for help, whereby Marshall diverted his flight to respond to the Mosquito, who guided them to a large concentration of Communist troops on the south bank of the Imjin River.  The enemy was entrenched in difficult terrain, and armed with automatic weapons and anti-aircraft batteries.

Marshall led the flight on a number of skillfully guided, coordinated attacks, through flak so heavy that they expected certain casualties amongst the SAAF flight, and instructed a USAF flight to standby to cover any rescue operations that might become necessary.  Both Verster and Howe were amazed at their successful survival, and all four were later decorated for their splendid performance on that particular mission.  Gus Marshall received the US Distinguished Flying Cross, and the other pilots received well-earned Air Medals for their efforts.

Just a very few days later, on 1 July, 1951, Jessie Verster was to ferry a Mustang from K-10 to K-16 at Seoul, but failed to arrive as scheduled.  On the following day No. 2 Squadron was advised that the wreckage of his Mustang, No. 328, had been found north-east of Sosan.  A Korean eyewitness said he had seen the aircraft pouring black smoke, come to within 100 feet of the ground when it suddenly dove nose first into the ground.  According to witnesses, Lt. Verster had attempted to jump, but was too late. The Koreans made a coffin and buried the body.  After as service they placed a cross and two wreaths on the grave.  Jessie Vester’s body was  later recovered and reburied in the United Nations Cemetery at Pusan, South Korea.     .