ERASMUS Derek Fl Sgt 266 Sqn

SQN LDR CHARLES DEREK ERASMUS
RAF No. 160102

Derek was born in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. He joined the RAFVR in Rhodesia in June 1941and was posted to 266 Sqn in England in 1943. Derek acheived promotion from flight sergeant to flying officer on 31st Jan 1944. In March 1944, while flying at low altitude, he struck a tree but managed to bring his aircraft back to base although badly damaged.
Derek received a DFC on the 3rd Sept 1944 and was credited with two victories;(15th August 1943 FW190 and 1 damaged FW190, 2nd Sept 1944 ME109)
In Nov 1944, he took command of 193 Sqn as flight commander. However, on the 9th March 1945, his Typhoon RB381 was hit by the debris of the target he had just destroyed on the ground at Raatle. His aircraft crashed and Derek was killed.