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{{for|the English footballer|Jimmy Durrant (footballer)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
|name = James Thom Durrant
| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|CB|DFC}}
|image = Jimmy Durrant.jpg
|caption = Brigadier JT Durrant {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|CB|DFC|commas=on}} SAAF
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1913|05|05}}
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1990|10|15|1913|05|05}}
|placeofburial_label =
|placeofburial =
|birth_place =
|death_place = Parktown North, Johannesburg
|placeofburial_coordinates = 
|nickname = Jimmy
|allegiance = {{flagcountry|Union of South Africa}}
|branch = {{air force|South Africa}}
|serviceyears = 1933{{snd}}1952
|rank = Major-General
|unit =
|commands = {{plainlist|
* 3 SAAF Wing
* No. 205 Group RAF
* No. 231 Heavy Bomber Group, RAF
* Director-General SAAF
}}
|battles =
|awards = {{plainlist|
* {{Medal Display|CB|25px}}
* {{Medal Display|DFC|25px}}
* {{Medal Display|MID1939|25px}}
* {{Medal Display|LOM|25px}}
}}

|relations = Margaret Durrant (wife), two sons and a stepson and stepdaughter
|laterwork = Businessman<br />Johannesburg City Councillor<br />Museum Trustee
}}

Major-General '''James Thom Durrant''' {{Post-nominals|country=ZAR|size=100%|CB|DFC}} (1913{{snd}}15 October 1990) was a highly successful South African [[aviator|pilot]] during [[World War II]] who eventually became the Director-General of the [[South African Air Force]]. In addition to commanding [[South African Air Force|SAAF]] [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]]s and [[Air wing|wings]], he also commanded [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] bomber groups. At the age of 32, he was the youngest Major-General in the Allied forces. He resigned from the SAAF as a result of the de-anglicisation policy instituted by the [[National Party (South Africa)|National Party]] after they took power after the 1948 general election.

==Early life==
James Thom Durrant was born in [[Johannesburg]] and educated at [[St John's College (Johannesburg, South Africa)|St John's College]].<ref name="Museum">{{cite journal|url=http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol017mn.html|journal=[http://samilitaryhistory.org/journal.html the South African Military History Society Journal]|title=Museum News| issue=7| date=December 1970|volume=1| id=SA |issn=0026-4016}}</ref>

==Military career==
He joined the South African Air Force Reserve at the age of 19. In 1933{{snd}}34, he successfully completed a [[Permanent Force]] Cadet Course whereafter he served in the [[South African Air Force]] and qualified as a pilot. He passed a special course at the RAF Photographic School at RAF [[Farnborough Airfield|Farnborough]],<ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1945/1945%20-%201078.html|title=Flightglobal/archive|access-date=25 February 2015|journal=Flight|page=592|date=31 May 1945}}</ref> the school which [[TE Lawrence]] had attended in 1922.

He returned to the Union where he did [[aerial survey]] work. He was [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] as a [[2nd Lieutenant]] in November 1934.<ref name="Museum"/>

He held several posts between this period and the outbreak of war and proved himself to be a most capable Flying Instructor. In 1936, he was promoted [[Lieutenant]] and in 1937 Flight Commander. In 1938, he was promoted [[Captain (land and air)|Captain]] and posted to [[AFB Waterkloof|Waterkloof Air Station]].<ref name="Museum"/>

With the outbreak of World War II he was appointed Officer Commanding, Photo Flight with the rank of [[Major]] and later Officer Commanding of [[No. 40 Squadron SAAF]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/squadrons/34/40-squadron|title=No. 40 Squadron SAAF|access-date=25 February 2015|website=saairforce.co.za}}</ref> which he commanded in [[East African Campaign (World War II)|East Africa]] from May 1940{{snd}}September 1941 when he was promoted [[Lieutenant-Colonel]] and appointed Officer Commanding [[24 Squadron SAAF]]. He commanded this squadron throughout the bitter fighting in the [[Western Desert Campaign]] in 1941-42.<ref name="Museum"/>

He was then promoted [[Colonel]] and given command of 3 (Bomber) Wing SAAF in North Africa, Sicily and Italy.<ref name="Museum"/>

In 1944, he was seconded to [[RAF Bomber Command]] and placed in command of [[List of Royal Air Force groups|205 Group RAF]] with the rank of [[Brigadier]].<ref name="Museum"/>

In 1945, he was posted to the Far East as [[Air Officer Commanding|AOC]] No. 231 Heavy Bomber Group, RAF, with the rank of [[Major-General]].<ref name="Museum"/> At the age of 32, he was the youngest Major-General in the Allied forces.
[[File:BRIG DURRANT WRITING CANCELLED.jpg|thumb|Last World War II bombing raid by 99, 356 and 321 Squadrons cancelled on 15 August 1945 by Maj-Genl JT Durrant SA Air Force|150px|right]]
In 1946, he became Director-General of the South African Air Force and qualified on a special course at the [[Royal College of Defence Studies|Imperial Defence College]] in 1951.<ref name="Museum"/>

==Warsaw uprising==
{{main|Warsaw airlift}}
At 17h00 in [[Warsaw]] on 1 August 1944, General [[Bor-Komorowski]] ordered the [[Armia Krajowa|Home Army]] to rise against the Germans. The element of surprise aided the AK who after 5 days had captured 70% of Warsaw. Because the promised Russian intervention never materialised, the well armed Germans received reinforcements and gradually stemmed and turned the tide. Food and ammunition ran low but not so much as a reply to the Poles' call for help was received by the AK. Furthermore, Stalin flatly refused landing permission to UK based planes behind Russian lines.<ref name="Polonia">{{cite web|url=http://www.polonia.co.za/WarsawFlights/Harrison08.htm|website=Website for Poles in South Africa|title=Guest Speaker Of The 2008 Commemorations|first1=Bruce|last1=Harrison|access-date=2009-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091110025547/http://www.polonia.co.za/warsawflights/Harrison08.htm|archive-date=2009-11-10|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Warsaw is about {{convert|910|mi|km|abbr=on}} from the UK on the great circle course, but in order to avoid the defences of the Reich a detour would be near to 1100, and a return journey of {{convert|2200|mi|km|abbr=on}} was out of the question. Churchill then ordered<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Moller|first1=Dr Pieter|title=The Warsaw Airlift, A triumph of South African bravery|journal=Military History Journal|date=June 2004|volume=13|issue=1|url=http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol131pm.html|access-date=25 February 2015|publisher=The South African Military History Society|issn=0026-4016}}</ref> that relief be flown to Warsaw from Italy which is a little closer, some {{convert|815|mi|km|abbr=on}} on the great circle thus requiring a return journey of almost {{convert|2000|mi|km|abbr=on}}. This would have led right over heavily defended points but was the most realistic compromise.<ref name="Polonia"/>

Major-General Durrant went to see Air Vice Marshal [[John Slessor]] and was surprised to be admitted to the presence of [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] himself in an adjoining office. He pointed out to Churchill that an airlift of {{convert|1000|mi|km|abbr=on}}, most of it over enemy territory, could hold no hope of military success, and that the loss of airmen and aircraft would be tremendous. Churchill's reply was brief and to the point:<ref name="Polonia"/>

{{blockquote|From a military point of view you are right, but from a political point of view you must carry on. Good Morning.}}

And so Durrant and his volunteer aircrews, accepting all the known risks, made 196 trips to Warsaw, which included 11 hours over the Carparthian Mountains, and then flying at rooftop height to drop canisters packed with guns, ammunition and food.<ref name="Polonia"/>

Of the 80 aircraft that participated, 31 were shot down, 17 of which over the weekend of 13–16 August.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gibson|first=Erika|title="Onmoontlike sending" help Pole terugveg SA heldedade van WO II nie vergete|newspaper=[[Beeld|Die Beeld]]|language=af|publisher=Media24|date=3 September 1999|url=http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/1999/09/03/13/4.html|trans-title="Impossible Mission" helps Poles fight back. SA heroes from WWII not forgotten|access-date=27 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529061944/http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/1999/09/03/13/4.html|archive-date=29 May 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Resignation==
He resigned from the South African Air Force on 29 February 1952<ref name="Museum"/> citing "irreconcilable differences with the Minister of Defence".{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

He stated that, despite [[Minister of Defence|Ministerial]] assurances that there were no politics in the [[South African Defence Force|UDF]], a senior officer on his own staff had said to the Chief of the General Staff (at that time Lt-Genl Christiaan du Toit) in his presence: ''"I want you to understand that I am 100 percent Nationalist, and that anything I am reputed to have said or done has been in the interests of my Minister."'' When Brigadier Durrant had objected to this statement, the Chief of the General Staff ruled that such a declaration of politics could be made if so desired.<ref>{{cite book|last=Bunting|first=Brian|title=The Rise of the South African Reich|publisher=Mayibuye Books|date=December 1986|url=https://archive.org/details/riseofsouthafric00bunt|isbn=0-904759-74-1|url-access=registration}}</ref>

==Honours and awards==
It was for his participation in the Abyssinian campaign that he gained the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|DFC]].<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1941/1941%20-%201792.html RAF and RNAS newspaper ''Flight Service Aviation'' dated 7 August 1941]</ref>

He was created a Companion of the [[Order of the Bath]], CB.

In August 1946, Air Chief Marshal [[Sir Keith Park]] {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|GCB|KBE|MC|DFC}}, Allied Air Commander-in-Chief, South East Asia included the following in his report, ''Air Operations in South East Asia 3 May 1945 to 12 September 1945'', to the [[Secretary of State for Air]] commenting on the successful sinking of a 10 000 ton Japanese tanker by the air forces of 231 Group:

<blockquote>For this outstanding success I sent a message of congratulation to Major-General JT Durrant, SAAF, who, on June 15th, had assumed Command of 231 Group.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=39202|pages=2130–2140|date=13 April 1951}}</ref></blockquote>

In 1994, the [[Polish people|Polish]] [[Ambassador]] to South Africa, Mr S Cieniuch presented the ''Warsaw Insurrectionary Cross'' to Durrant's widow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://70.84.171.10/~etools/newsbrief/1994/news0911|title=Unknown}}{{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Kinnear|first1=Cameron|title=The SAAF and the Warsaw flights|url=http://saafmuseum.org.za/398/|website=SAAF Museum|access-date=25 February 2022}}</ref>

He was also awarded the American [[Legion of Merit]].

* {{Medal Display|CB}}
* {{Medal Display|DFC}}
* {{Medal Display|MID1939}}
* {{Medal Display|LOM}}

==Other roles==
He served as a trustee of the [[South African National Museum of Military History|South African National War Museum]] from October 1946{{snd}}December 1950.<ref name="Museum"/>

Upon leaving the Air Force, he made his mark in the commercial and business world.<ref name= "Museum"/>

He was elected as a Councillor in the [[Johannesburg]] City Council.<ref name="Museum"/> and served on the Council from 1969{{snd}}1977.<ref name="Beeld"/> In 1970, he was appointed to the board of trustees of the [[South African National Museum of Military History|South African National War Museum]] as one of the Johannesburg City Council representatives.<ref name="Museum"/>

Brigadier Durrant had a deep-rooted regard for all matters military. In this regard, he was extremely active as a member of the War Histories Advisory Committee responsible for the writing of the series of histories recording the part played by the South African forces during World War II. Two volumes in this series were published.<ref name="Museum"/>

==Death==
He died at his home in Parktown North, Johannesburg, after a short illness, on 15 October 1990 aged 77.<ref name="Beeld">{{cite news|url=http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/1990/10/18/4/22.html|newspaper=[[Beeld|Die Beeld]]|language=af|title=Kubus-geld moet terug|access-date=25 February 2015|date=18 October 1990|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304022516/http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/1990/10/18/4/22.html|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He was buried with [[Military funeral|full military honours]] from the [[Parktown]] [[Presbyterian Church]] on 19 October.<ref name="Beeld"/>

He was survived by his wife, Margaret, two sons and a stepson and stepdaughter.<ref name="Beeld"/>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Harold Willmott]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Director-General of the [[South African Air Force]]|years=1946{{snd}}1952}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Harold Willmott]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Durrant, Jimmy}}
[[Category:1913 births]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:White South African people]]
[[Category:Western Desert campaign]]
[[Category:South African World War II pilots]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:South African Air Force generals]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:People from Johannesburg]]
[[Category:Alumni of St John's College (Johannesburg)]]

Jimmy Durrant - Revision history

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