H.O.M; Hendrik, Oswald, Meyer, ‘Tank’ Odendaal enlisted in the South Africa Air Force (SAAF) in January 1940. Upon completion of his training, he served as a flight instructor during the first years of the war.

In July 1943, he volunteered to serve North in the Desert Air Force and attended 73 OTU in August and September. His first assignment was to deliver aircraft at No. 3 ADU, a posting he kept until November. At the end of December, after a short refresher course at No. 239 Wing Training Flight, he was posted to No. 5 Squadron SAAF with the rank of Captain, and took over a flight commander position.

The Squadron, based in Italy, was flying the P40 Kittyhawk IV, that had been recently introduced into the RAF.

Capt Odendaal in his Kittyhawk-GLO

During this tour he was involved in Operation "Bowler", the only attack on Venice harbor in WW2. He was also engaged in the battle of Monte Cassino, flying close air support for allied ground forces. He left in June 1944, having completed his tour and was awarded the DFC in September 1944. He returned to the Union and instructed again.

In January 1945, he returned to do his second operational tour with 5 Squadron, as a flight commander. He was given command of the squadron at the end of March 1945. However, two weeks later, he was shot down over Slovenia (Yugoslavia) by ground fire in his P51 Mustang IV-(KH805/GL-V)

He had just destroyed an anti-aircraft train in the Dravograd station. He managed to evade capture and joined the partisans, led by Tito. He was involved in the battle to liberate the Slovenian town of Litija, from Nazi occupation

He rejoined the Squadron on 12 May 1945. In July, he added a Bar to his DFC. He continued to command 5 squadron until October and was sent back to the Union.

‘Tank’ Odendaal continued to serve in the SAAF after the war, he participated in the Korean War in 1950. He flew with 2 Squadron, SAAF, receiving a US DFC in 1954.

In 1963 he was tasked to test and select a new jet trainer for the SAAF. He selected the Italian Aermacchi MB326B. This aircraft was manufactured in South Africa and was commonly known as the "Impala".

‘Tank’ Commanded Light Aircraft Command and was instrumental in developing close air support tactics which were used in the Rhodesian, Namibian and Angolan bush wars.

He retired from active service in June 1976 with the rank of Brigadier General , as Inspector General of the SAAF.