Gauteng has produced global icons—but some of our finest heroes remain unknown. Johannes “Chris” le Roux, born in Heidelberg and raised near Springs, began his life working in the mines. But by 1944, he’d become one of South Africa’s greatest—and most unsung—fighter aces of WWII.

Le Roux joined the RAF in 1939 and rose swiftly through its ranks, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross three times. Over hundreds of sorties, he was officially credited with 18 confirmed kills, two probables, and eight damaged—a tally that places him among the top South African aces .

His daring peaked on 17 July 1944, when, while commanding No. 602 Squadron over Normandy, he strafed a German staff car. The car went off the road, and its passenger—Field Marshal Erwin Rommel—was severely injured. Rommel’s abrupt exit from command at such a critical moment arguably shifted the course of the D‑Day invasion.

Then, in a twist worthy of legend, on exactly 29 August 1944, Le Roux climbed aboard his Spitfire loaded with champagne, bound for England to share a celebratory toast with his squadron. He took off—but never arrived. He simply vanished.

His body was never found, and his final fate remains etched in mystery.

Photos: Wikipedia

Listen to Al Prodgers’ report below, honoring the man who flew into history, then into legend.