Name: |
KESSLER |
Given Name: |
HELMUT ADOLF |
Initials: |
H A |
Rank: |
MajorOther Casualties of this Rank |
Regiment: |
South West African Territory Force |
Date of Death: |
1982-04-10Other Casualties on this
Date |
Date of Birth: |
1930-06-02 |
Age: |
51 |
Cause of Death: |
Killed in action, during Operation Yahoo while flying in support of Koevoet anti-insurgent operations in the Elundu area. His PA28-235 Cherokee Pathfinder aircraft, Registration ZS-EXT had been fitted with 2 x AKM Assault Rifles under the wings that could be operated from inside the cockpit and a grenade launching tube was fitted between the pilots legs. His aircraft suffered engine failure (Bent Valve) while assisting Koevoet in a follow-up operation and he had to carry out a forced landing in a mahangu field. Unfortunately, the aircraft undercarriage dug into the furrows and the aircraft flipped over causing primed grenades inside the aircraft to fall out of their launch tube and explode. Major Kessler was killed instantly. His passenger, Sergeant Frederick Albertus Francois Claasen from the South African Police : Ops-K Division (Koevoet) survived the accident and was pulled from the aircraft wreckage grievously burned. He sadly succumbed to his injuries on 20 April 1982 |
Additional
Information: |
Husband of Irene Ruth Kessler (nee Cyriax). |
This information was last verified for accuracy: 2021-04-21
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