Jack Wight - RAF, SAAF...?

**Antipodean Andy** · 11-13-2008, 09:49 PM

The book I'm reading at present, Bush Pilots Do It In Fours by Roy Watson, has the author starting to fly DC-4 freighters up the east coast of Africa. His colleague and mentor is a Captain Jack Wight who "flew Spitfires in 1941". No other detail given but I am intrigued.

Can anyone add anything?

I am of course assuming the name is correct and not altered for the book. All accurate so far.

**Kyt** · 11-14-2008, 02:46 PM

If he was a Captain then he was SAAF, as they didn't use the other Commonwealth air force's ranks. But will have a look around

**Antipodean Andy** · 11-14-2008, 04:44 PM

That's what I was thinking, Kyt, but the Captain could also have related to him being in charge of the DC-4. I kinda jump between both thoughts at the moment.

**liverpool annie** · 11-14-2008, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Antipodean Andy

That's what I was thinking, Kyt, but the Captain could also have related to him being in charge of the DC-4. I kinda jump between both thoughts at the moment.

I have hunted high and low Andy for your man ... but nothing ( except references to the book

) as it's a novel ... do you think maybe he's a mix of more than one man ?? ... or poetic license ??

**liverpool annie** · 11-14-2008, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by liverpool annie

I have hunted high and low Andy for your man ... but nothing ( except references to the book

) as it's a novel ... do you think maybe he's a mix of more than one man ?? ... or poetic license ??

Unless he was a Canadian .........

1927, May/June -- With help from his old friend, pilot Jack Wight, airman Roland Groome began another business venture, the grandly named Universal Air Industries at the "Lakeview Aerodrome". on the site of what is now Regina’s Golden Mile shopping centre. Newspaper reports also circulated about the formation of a local flying club.

For their firm, Groome and Wight bought JN-4 (G-CAAL) from Western Aeroplane Company in Moose Jaw, where it had been sitting in a defunct flax mill. They brought it to Regina, rebuilt it, and also brought a Swallow aircraft from Wichita in 1927. The aircraft were used for barnstorming and flying local charters

cahsregina

**Kyt** · 11-14-2008, 07:37 PM

Can't find anything matching, mate - but may need more info. Like the unit that Watson was in etc. Time, context etc

**Antipodean Andy** · 11-14-2008, 08:17 PM

I saw that as well, Annie. Thanks for posting it. I have managed to work out some dates even though the book (autobiography) doesn't specifically mention any.

The author, after 30 years of flying GA, ends up with a freight business run by a Russian but based in Jo'burg. Their new office is stated as being in the newly finished Sandton Square area. Coincidentally, this is where I stayed last year when I was in Jo'burg for work. Anyhoo, the Square was completed in 1994 so that gives a date stamp.

The author has just mentioned, during a short ferry flight with Wight in a DC-4 (and definitely after several years of freight ops in Angola etc) that Wight is in his 70s. This would fit for him being in his mid-late 80s now.

So many Spit squadrons in 1941!

There's a thought. Of all the C'th nations represented here by members, am I right in saying we don't have any South Africans?

PANDAMATENGA · 01-30-2009, 03:37 AM

Andy

I have joined this forum so that I can tell you what I know about Jack Wight!!
I was searching under his name and all I came across was this site and your post.

Jack Wight taught me to fly at Rand Airport Johannesburg in 1972. At the time he owned and ran a flying school called Astral Aviation.His son John was a pilot at SAA who got involved in some dodgy business on the side and ended up in jail in Madagascar. I know Jack was involved in a prison breakout/rescue attempt that failed but that eventually he did get his son out.

Jack had a fascinating life and career.He flew in the Biafran War I think on the side of the Biafrans in DC3,DC6,DC7 and anything with wings, he also flew for Jack Malloch with Air Trans Africa doing sanction busting flights for Rhodesia. After I knew him in the 70's he flew for InterOcean Airways in Beira,Mozambique.This would have been 1985-1992(approx) and he must have been well into his 70's by then.

I left SA in 1993 and never heard anymore but have just read an entry on the Pilots website Pprune(Where are they now forum) which says Jack died in a C-172 crash. It does not say where or when but I think safe to assume he would have been well into his 80's by then.

I hope this helps and would ask that if you uncover anything else you could Email me.

Kind Regards

Gavin

**Kyt** · 01-30-2009, 06:15 AM

Welcome to the forum, Gavin. And thank you for sharing some details with us.

Originally Posted by PANDAMATENGA

.His son John was a pilot at SAA who got involved in some dodgy business on the side and ended up in jail in Madagascar. I know Jack was involved in a prison breakout/rescue attempt that failed but that eventually he did get his son out.

I wonder whether this is his son:

University of Minnesota Human Rights Library

**Antipodean Andy** · 01-30-2009, 06:50 AM

Hi Gavin

Many thanks for your information and welcome aboard! To be honest, I kept hitting dead-ends while looking for information so, for want of a better explanation, gave up and moved onto the next shiny thing that drew my attention. I really should run a book on the various things I need to follow up more.

I am amazed at what you have provided as it fills some holes. Do you know what the SAAF records are like? Is it possible to research a particular person's details easily or...?

What do you do for a crust? I guess if you're on Pprune and still flying, you're probably commercial?

Many thanks again, if I come across anything at all, I'll let you know.