Cause of Death: |
Died of wounds, received on 10 April 1982 during Operation Yahoo while flying as a spotter and air co-ordinator in support of Koevoet anti-insurgent operations in the Elundu area. He was flying as the spotter in a 1 SWA Squadron PA28-235 Cherokee Pathfinder aircraft, Registration ZS-EXT flown by Major H.A. Kessler from 1 SWA Commando Squadron. The aircraft suffered engine failure due to a bent valve while assisting in a follow-up operation and carried out a forced landing in a mahangu field. Unfortunately, the aircraft undercarriage dug into the furrows and the aircraft flipped over. Primed hand grenades that Major Kessler had placed into the launching tube fell back into the cockpit area when the aircraft flipped over and exploded. Major Kessler was killed instantly and although Claasen was rescued from the wrecked aircraft, he was grievously burned and succumbed to his injuries on 20 April 1982 |
