DEFLECTION SHOOTING IN THE SA AIR FORCE AND SA ARTILLERY 1943-1945

Abstract

Deflection or clay pigeon shooting for air gunners in the South African Air Force (SAAF) and the Royal Air Force (RAF) in South Africa commenced on 12 April 1943.

A precis for clay pigeon instructors contains the following definition: "The object of clay pigeon shooting is to teach you how and where to aim to hit a moving target. The knowledge gained will be of the greatest value later on when it comes to handling machine-guns in the air. There is, of course only one place to aim at; that is where the target will be when the bullet arrives".

The officer selected to introduce clay pigeon shooting in the SAAF and ensure its success was Major Jack Wright of the General Service Corps. Cedric Cecil Vernon Wright was one of the sons of Dr Claude Wright of Wynberg, Cape and was born on 27 May 1899 in Surrey, England. He was educated at Rondebosch Boys' High School and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He was commissioned on 21 December, 1917 and served in the Indian Army during the Great War and for some years thereafter.