Rhodesia Parachuting history (Military)

[nigel99 586]

I came across this link http://selousscouts.tripod.com/fire_force__part_one.htm that has a whole history on Fire Force during the Rhodesian war. It is mostly on strategy and helicopters but some background on combat para drops.

It's of personal interest considering I grew up there and my dad was in the RAF and worked on Vampires, Cambera's and Hunters. Most of my jumps are from an ex-RAF Trojan (AL60-B2L).

Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

[lucky508 0]

Nigel,
Here is a link to Rhodesian AF web page featuring Trojans.
http://www.rhodesianforces.org/No4SqnGallery.htm

Here is the link to the Rhodeisan Light Infantry assn page. The RLI made the vast majority of the jumps.

http://www.therli.com/default.asp

There is also a book coming out next year (hopefully) about the Rhodesian parachute school. Many of the PI's were also skydivers.

enjoy,
Cael

[nigel99 586]

Quote

Nigel,
Here is a link to Rhodesian AF web page featuring Trojans.
http://www.rhodesianforces.org/No4SqnGallery.htm

Here is the link to the Rhodeisan Light Infantry assn page. The RLI made the vast majority of the jumps.

http://www.therli.com/default.asp

There is also a book coming out next year (hopefully) about the Rhodesian parachute school. Many of the PI's were also skydivers.

enjoy,
Cael

thanks one of my original instructors was an ex-Rhodesian military PI (Ken ??) and man he was tough on students.

Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

[lucky508 0]

Nigel,
Wow! I would love to talk to a Rhodesian PJI or jumper. At the bottom of this page there is info about the book I mentioned. I'm really looking foreword to it.

http://www.rhodesianmilitaria.com/

ATW,
Cael

[lucky508 0]

I looked around my archives a bit and found this record of Rhodesian combat or Operational jumps as they called them. I cant remember where I found it but it's the best record I've seen.

The RLI history book "The Saints" has some excellent first hand acounts of operational jumps.

ATW,
CK

[Jim_Hooper 4]

Cael -- in the late 70s, Z'hills jumper James Revelle headed for Rhodesia, where he spent almost a year as a PJI. He returned and then moved to Amarillo, and we never heard another word from or about him. If you have any contacts there, you might try to trace him. Good luck.
Hoop
www.jimhooper.co.uk

[riggerrob 643]

Judging from photographs, they wore a mixture of American and French pattern parachutes.

It is rumoured that Parachute Industries of South Africa sewed some of the French-pattern parachutes.

Those helmets look to be British Army, WW2-vintage.

[WGore 0]

Quote

Judging from photographs, they wore a mixture of American and French pattern parachutes.

It is rumoured that Parachute Industries of South Africa sewed some of the French-pattern parachutes.

Those helmets look to be British Army, WW2-vintage.

Not sure about PISA making French parachutes but they supplied military parachutes for the paratroops.
I jumped with some of the Rhodesian skydivers at the world meet in 72 and we hosted the team at our DZ in 73 before the first RW World Meet for training jumps. Unfortunately they weren't allowed to compete at Ft Bragg.
One of the jumpers was a Lt Col.in the RLI and said that the Dakotas would fly around suspected terrorist areas till they drew fire. At that point they would unload and attack the perpetrators. When done helos would come in and take them back to their base. He said that he knew several troopers that made several combat jumps in a single day. Sounds like a tough way to make a living.

GUNFIRE, The sound of Freedom!

[markd_nscr986 0]

If you can track down John Early (formerly of 5th SF???), he might be able to fill in the blanks on some of the para ops taking place in Rhodesia in the 70's. I believe he was active in training some of the units. Dont know which ones though. Whereabouts also unknown.

Marc SCR 6046 SCS 3004

[pauld767 0]

I know a fellow that used to be active in Rhodesia and (last I knew) is still currently jumping in South Africa, his name is Dennis Croukamp. I don't have any email address for him I'm afraid but, if he is still jumping, he'll be active at Skydive Cape Town, and or Skydive Robertson. You may be able to get in touch with him through people there. If I recall correctly, he was also writing a book about his experiences there. I do have a cell number for him, but can not be sure if it is still current (in case anyone is interested).

[jimp 1]

I remember Dennis very well, and am certainly interested in his current whereabouts.

[pauld767 0]

Jim,

PM to follow.

[skydivezimbabwe 0]

Ken Purse - Came for a hop into the Polocrosse showdive at the Showgrounds.

Rob-By
Check it out at http://www.skydive.co.zw Clicky!

[steve1 5]

Bill Newmiester worked in Africa as a Mercenary, somewhere in Africa, during the late 70's. He was an Army S.F. soldier prior to that. He also worked as a smoke jumper, for almost thirty years, in Montana.

Bill's been busted up so many times that he can no longer smokejump. Last I heard he was still working a lookout, during the summer months, in Western Montana. I'm sure the smokejumper base would know of his where abouts. He would be interesting to talk to or use as a source for a book....Bill was made of tough stuff....

[jimp 1]

Dennis Croukamp's book is called "The Bush War in Rhodesia: The Extraordinary Combat Memoir of a Rhodesian Reconnaissance Specialist"

You might also be interested in Dick Gledhill's "One Commando: Rhodesian Light Infantry". This is a "semi-autobiographical" historical novel.

Both are available through Amazon, as are other titles dealing with the same subject.

[lucky508 0]

Dennis Croukamp is on Face book. I accidently found him while doing a search to see how many books he has written. I’m finishing up "The Bush War in Rhodesia: The Extraordinary Combat Memoir of a Rhodesian Reconnaissance Specialist" now and it has been a good read. He mentions his love of skydiving often and his accounts of combat HALO jumps into Mozambique are really enjoyable to read. Although not knowing me he accepted my friend request on FB. I mentioned to him my interest in Rhodesia and jumping etc but have not had any further correspondence with him.

ATW,
Lucky

[pauld767 0]

I just got the book yesterday and started reading it imediately. I have just found out today that Dennis has a Website relating to his book. All his contact details are there if anyone is looking to get back in touch with him.

Paul.

[pauld767 0]

.......and that website is.....www.crouks.co.za

sorry for the omission on my previous post

[nigel99 586]

http://www.crouks.co.za/index.asp

thanks interesting.

Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

[NickDG 23]

I knew John Early and jumped with him a lot in 1983. The last I knew he was living in Laguna Nigel, CA. If you run into him ask about the time he busted out of a South American prison after a U.S. backed freighter full of weapons he was on was captured.

Here's a photo of him I took back then . . .

NickD