Arthur Penver

Tribute page: WW2 SAAF pilot Arthur Penver

I made contact with Tony who is Arthur Penver's son. He kindly sent me scans of Arthur's log book and war photographs. Thanks to Tony for getting the scans done and sent it to me.

Arthur William Penver was born 1^st August 1918 in Cape Town and educated at Rondebosch Boys Primary and High School.

He relocated to London and was studying for an Electrical Engineering Degree at Faraday House when Germany declared war on Great Britain in 1939.

Arthur William’s father, Mr Arthur Harold Penver, recalled his son back to South Africa to join the armed services. Arthur returned to SA and joined the SAAF and started training as a pupil pilot in January 1941 and received his wings and commissioned on his birthday 1^st August 1941.

He saw active service from late August 1941 to July 1942 in East and North Africa being a member of the 41^st Squadron flying Hawker Hartbees aircraft.

On the 12^th November 1941 Arthur and his rear-gunner Sargent Viljoen came under Italian fire and force landed 100 miles from base in Abyssinia. Local tribesmen were befriended and enlisted to assist with the hacking and clearing of a runway 532 yards long and after being found by other Squadron 41 searching aircraft, food and supplies were dropped and they were able to take off again after 12 days of being grounded.

After the end of the war Arthur returned to London and completed his degree and married Joan Edith (called Lynne) Carter where after he returned with his bride to settle and live in South Africa.

Arthur and Lynne had two children, Jill and Tony, and after a successful career in the electrical business Arthur and Lynne retired to Onrus River in the Cape where Arthur passed away in 1989 and Lynne in 2014.

Tony Penver

Wings portrait 1941

his is a living web site. Any input and/or participation will be much appreciated regarding additional information, correctness, information from relatives of members who served with Arthur, photographs, stories etc. Please e-mail me.

If you perhaps have a family member who served as a SAAF fighter pilot during WW2 and you would want to find out more about his war service please contact me, hopefully I can be of some help.

Tinus le Roux

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ARTHUR'S LOG BOOK

Arthur receiving wings

WW2 Arthur & Neville Fischer – Became friends during active service. Neville’s (also a pilot) aircraft caught fire resulting in very bad facial burns. Survived to become a Doctor (Urologist) in Durban.

Arthur William Penver with his father Mr Arthur Harold Penver taken in Cape Town

Arthur with a bombed up Hawker Hartebees aircraft, East Africa.

Arthur and Sgt Viljoen at Dabat /Alomata base

Arthur and Sgt Viljoen with a Hartebees aircraft

Arthur and Sgt Viljoen at Dabat /Alomata base

Arthur is seated front row, second from far right.

WW2 Arthur story in newspaper – Story appearing in Cape Odyssey, a local Overstrand newspaper – also with some reference to Lt. Penver in a book by James Ambrose Brown titled Gathering of the Eagles.