Education
Attended Grey College, Bloemfontein. He attended Military College in 1948 and joined the SAAF in 1950.
commandant military commander chief
Attended Grey College, Bloemfontein. He attended Military College in 1948 and joined the SAAF in 1950.
After qualifying as a pilot served in of Korea with 2 Squadron SAAF. He was forced to bale out over enemy territory and was a Prisoner Of War for 23 months. Released in September 1953, he was posted to 1 Squadron till January 1957. Then he spent two years as an instructor at Central Flying Service Dunnottar before being appointed as a pilot attack instructor at the Air Operations School.
In 1964 he spent time in England converting to Canberra light bombers and on his return served as a pilot at 12 (Canberra) Squadron at Waterkloof Air Force Base.
In December 1967 he returned to 2 Squadron as commanding officer Eighteen months later he was appointed Commandant Flying at Air Force Base Pietersburg and after that Senior Staff Officer (Air) of the Joint Combat Forces.
His career took an unusual turn when he converted to helicopters and became Officer Commanding 17 Squadron at Air Force Base Waterkloof. After that he became Senior Staff Officer Operations at SAAF Headquarters, then Director Operations from June 1 of 1976 to 1978 and Director General Operations at Defence Headquarters in the rank of Major General from June 19 of 1978.
He served as Chief of the Air Force from 1984 to 1988 North American P-51 Mustang Honours and
General Earp received the following Awards and Decorations: 1987 – Star of South Africa (Social Security Administration) 1986 – Star of South Africa, Silver (SSAS) 1976 – Southern Cross Decoration (South Dakota) 1973 – Southern Cross Medal (Master of Science) n.d. – South African Police Star for Outstanding Service (SOE) 1953 – of Korea Medal n.d. – United Nations Service Medal for of Korea n.d. – Korean War Service Medal 1952 – of Korea – Order of Military Merit (of Korea) (Chungmu Cordon) with Silver Star (of Korea, 1952) 1952 – United States of America – Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster (United States of America) 1987 – Order of the Cloud and Banner - with Grand Cordon (2nd Grade) (ORB)(Taiwan) n.d. – Chile – Gran Cruz First Rate (at Lloyd's) Merito Aeronautico n.d. – Paraguay – First Rate (at Lloyd's) Merito Miltar.