Johannes was known as Boet Franzsen. The following information of which most was substained by documentation was supplied by John Dunn Franzsen. Boet was deployed as a volunteer soldier (Red Lapels) during the 2nd world war to Egypt as a despatch rider with a tank corps. His force number was 15471V. He drove a Harley Davidson motor bike which was so heavy that when he fell in the desert sand he required assistance to get going again. He contracted malaria and was in isolation for 6 - 9 months during which time he had no contact with his family in South Africa. He was then allocated as a driver for Issie Smuts in Cairo. During that time he mentioned that his wish was to be a pilot. He returned to South Africa but unfortunately his eyesight was not good enough for him to train as a pilot but he qualified as a Wireless Operator on 20 March 1943 at Unit N 64 Air School. He also qualified as an Air Gunner/Photographer on 23 Oct. 1943 at 43 Air School, Port Alfred. He was trained in Morse Code and Lamp communication at 45 Air School, Oudtshoorn and attained a total of 98 % first Class pass. During the time he also did general flying training until Dec. 1943. He started flying/training in Shandur, Egypt on 10 Jan 1944. He was stationed in the following areas: Shandur in Egypt and Gambut in Libya Mar-Jun 1944, Nicorsia in Cyprus, Pescara in Italy and lesi in italia between 1944 and 1946. He crewed with many pilots, the most famous being Lt Col Margo who became a welknown Judge in South African history. Amongst Judge Margos investigations into air accidents were welknown SAA Windhoek crash and the Helderberg crash near Mauritius. After WW2 Boet worked as an inspector for the Cape Divisional Council in Stellenbosch. During the late 1940s he opened a general dealer store named Andriga Stores which was a typical famliy run enterprise in Andriga Street, Stellenbosch. He closed the shop down when the new era of self help shopping emerged. Boet was a dedicated amature Ham Radio operator. His son Alan took over his call sign and was a keen fisherman spending many hours on the rocky coast between Gordons Bay and Hangklip.

Johannes Stockenström Franzsen In South Africa, Dutch Reformed Church Registers, 1660-1970

• Birth: May 2 1916
• Baptism: July 2 1916 Cape Town, Cape Of Good Hope, South Africa
• Father: Johannes Leonard Scholtz Franzsen
• Mother: Dina Margaritha Stockenström
• Parents' Residence Place: Cape Town
• Entry Number: 1
• GS Film number: 2214205
• Digital Folder Number: 004434424
• Image Number: 00704