On a clear day in 1960, a conversation took place between the pilot of a South African Airways passenger aircraft and Heathrow Airport’s ground control. The pilot had a special request. He wanted to do a low-level circuit in London. In turn, the tower asked the reason for the special request. The pilot simply replied, ‘I wish to show the Sailor his London’.

Also seated in the cockpit was a man. His piercing blue eyes were overshadowed by the creeping symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. His thin, stark body showed no signs of its former strong presence. ‘Sailor’ Malan was nearing 53. The age at which he would die.

This episode was written by Clifford Thompson.

Cliff is an award-winning copywriter and Creative Director living in Canada. Born and raised in South Africa, he has always held a keen and deep interest in aviation and history. Looking to develop film and documentary projects, these interests led him to discover more about some of South Africa’s most famous WW2 pilots like Marmaduke Pattel, Dutch Hugo and Adolph ‘Sailor’ Malan. Malan, in particular, piqued his interest. This is an excerpt from his documentary outline about Adolph Sailor Malan titled ‘King of The Few’.

His research has led him in many directions, from a simple farmhouse in Kimberley to archives in the heart of South Africa and the United Kingdom. It has taken several years and includes first-hand interviews with veterans, friends, and family of Malan. He grew up hearing about Malan but never thought that one day he would hope to create a documentary of the man’s life.