Military Despatches Vol 20 February 2019

Black Hawk down The Battle of Mogadishu A thousand words The stories behind the most iconic war photos E-yih-sih yil-tas World War II Navajo code talkers German ace respected by friend and foe Top Secret Military machines that were once top secret

For the military enthusiast CONTENTS February 2019 Page 14 Click on any video below to view

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Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African Goede interviews former Defence Force used 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, Williams. Afrikaans, slang and A thousand words techno-speak that few The stories behind the photographs outside the military could hope to under- 34 stand. Some of the terms Features were humorous, some A matter of survival 6 This month we look at birds, were clever, while others reptiles and insects as a source were downright crude. Once they were Top Secret of food. While some of these are now obsolete, they were once top Quiz Part of Hipe’s “On the secret. 37 couch” series, this is an 10 26 Modern Assault interview with one of Reserve Force seniority Valentine’s - the real story These are the new kids on the author Herman Charles Citizen Force Units are now Forget what you’ve heard about block - modern assault rifles Bosman’s most famous Reserve Force Units in the St. Valentine’s Day. Here is that are now used by armed characters, Oom Schalk SANDF. Yet who is the oldest the real story, straight from the forces. We show you 15, you Lourens. Hipe spent time in of these units? A taxi driver was shot horses mouth. By St. Valentine. tell us what they are. dead in an ongoing Hanover Park, an area 20 28 war between rival taxi plagued with gang The thing we do for love organisations. violence, to view first- Even those serving in the mili- Thank you ACME hand how Project tary are not immune to the pow- Sea Cadets appreciate Bosun’s Ceasefire is dealing with er of love. Call. the situation. 24 30 Hipe TV brings you videos ranging from actuality to humour and every- GBOBA awards bursary Rank Structure thing in between. Interviews, mini-documentaries and much more. SATS General Botha Old Boy’s This month we look at the Indi- Association awards a bursary. an Army. Check out Hipe TV and remember to like, comment, share and subscribe. 00 3 CONTENTS Page 38

Editor’s PUBLISHER Sitrep Hipe Media EDITOR Matt Tennyson

DEPUTY EDITOR o, here we are in Feb- Everything is done and dust- John Verster ruary, the last month of ed, I sit back and pour myself summer and the shortest a bucket of Bushmills, and then PHOTOGRAPHER Head-to-head - Infantry Fighting Vehicles S Regine Lord month of the year. realise I’ve still got to write my It’s also that time of the year Editor’s Sitrep. Hell, bugger CONTRIBUTORS Famous Figures Battlefield again - Valentine’s. I must con- and tarnation. Raymond Fletcher, Ryan Mur- This month in history fess, I’m not the biggest fan. This month, on 3 February to phy, Matt O’Brien, Matt Ten- 56 Look, don’t get me wrong. be precise, the Border Boy’s Pa- 44 64 nyson, Rev. Ralph Thornley, Lt Battle of Mogadishu I’m not against romance, I’m rade is held in Bergvliet, Cape Cdr Glenn von Zeil. Adolf Galland February against the concept of Val- Town. Is it my imagination or World War II German Luft- The ‘Black Hawk down’ story. Some of the events of military entine’s Day. Truth be told, I’m are there fewer of us marching Military Despatches is pub- waffe general and , importance that happened in a hopeless romantic. every year. lished on-line every month. respected by friend and foe. Gaming January. It’s just that I feel that Val- Then I realise that the Border The articles used in Military entine’s Day has become a War took place between 1966 60 Despatches are copyrighted Forged in Battle Front Cover commercial rip-off. The price and 1989. So that means it has and may not be used without Ghost Recon Wildlands of chocolates, flowers, cards been over for thirty years. It prior permission from the edi- 50 Matt O’ Brien is off to Bolivia An American Sikorsky UH-60 and so on skyrockets come 14 also means that those 18 year tor. The code talkers to sort out a drug cartel. They’re Black Hawk on patrol. Two of February. old boys that fought in 1989 are not sure who should be more these were shot down during The views stated in this mag- Using a language that few could I feel that if you want to be now 48. Those of us that fought afraid - the drug cartel or his the Battle of Mogadishu. azine do not necessary reflect speak, Native Americans devel- romantic then you should be a in the 1970s are now in our late own Special Forces squad. the views of Hipe!, the editor, oped their own code words as a romantic all year around. Not 50s and early 60s. No wonder the staff, or Hipe Media. means of secret communication just on one day of the year. we’re all looking a little rough Movie Review during wartime. Why wait until 14 February around the edges. Hipe! to tell that lady or man how you For many of us that fought in P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 62 feel about them (no matter how the Border War, it was a great . Black Hawk Down old you are)? Why wait until adventure. These days just get- Based on the real-life Battle of then to buy the special person in ting up out of a chair can be an email Mogadishu in Somalia. your life flowers or chocolates, adventure all on its own. [email protected] or give them a gift, make them Until next month. Book Review a special meal, or take them Back Issues 63 somewhere special. Valentine’s To view any back issues of Day should be every day of the Military Despatches, go to Eagle Strike year. www.militarydespatches.co.za Written by Col Jan Breytenbach, I normally leave this part or click here. it tells the true story of the air- of the magazine until last. Matt borne raid on Cassinga. 4 5 Top Ten Top Ten the Szhatie was abandoned, as trucks. It was called the Zil-151 “stealth tank” which is practi- the development and manufac- but not long after the Zil-157 cally invisible to infrared and Military machines that turing of the laser projection took its place. radar detection. system had become too expen- The Zil-157 was a 2 1⁄2-ton The layout of the PL-01 is were once top secret sive and unnecessary. 6x6 cargo truck. It had a crew similar to those of modern While some of these ten military machines are now obsolete, at one stage they were top secret. Two of these “tanks” were of two and could carry between standard main battle tanks. The tested, with one being scrapped 12 and 16 soldiers in the rear. driver is located at the front and the other being displayed in The ZIL-157 was the stand- of the vehicle’s hull, with the here is an old cliché that a helicopter. It was something Then in 1988 the Russians the Army Technology Museum ard Soviet truck until it was commander and gunner also says “Never bring a knife straight out of science fiction. unveiled the Zubr-class hover- near Moscow, but without its replaced by the ZIL-131 and located in the hull and the un- Tto a gun fight.” And the Yet in the early 1960s British craft. With a length of 57 metres laser projector. Ural-375 series that became manned turret mounted in the saying does make sense. Espe- manufacturer Hawker Siddeley and a displacement of 555 tons, the standard Soviet army trucks rear. In addition, there is a rear cially if you’re the side armed was already hard at work devel- it took things to a whole new 7. Zil-157 alongside the GAZ-66. compartment in the hull which with the guns. oping just such a machine. level. It could reach a speed of During World War II the Rus- can accommodate four soldiers. The biggest military organi- On 28 December 1967 the 63 knots and had an operating sians designed and produced 6. PL-01 Stealth Tank The PL-01 will be equipped sations in the world are always Harrier Jump Jet made its first range of 560 kilometres. some of the best tanks and This tank wouldn’t look out with a 940 horsepower diesel trying to stay on top of cut- flight. Nicknamed Pomornik by self-propelled guns of the war. of place in a futuristic video engine that will give the tank a ting-edge technology - and for The Harrier emerged as the NATO, it could carry three tanks Yet when it came to trucks game. maximum speed of 70 km per good reason. only truly successful V/STOL in its huge cargo hold while the and transportation in general It’s called the PL-01 Stealth hour on paved roads and 50km The country that has the design of the many attempted US Navy’s largest hovercraft the Russians were left woefully Tank. It’s a Polish light tank per hour over rough terrain. It most technologically advanced during that era, despite being a can only carry one. lacking. mock-up created by state- will have a maximum operating equipment will always have a subsonic aircraft, unlike most The Russians planned to When they received the first owned defence firm OBRUM, range of 500 kilometres. distinct advantage. of its competitors. build 17 of these massive hov- series of trucks from the United with support from BAE sys- The primary weapon of the The military is always work- It was conceived to operate ercraft but in the end completed States under lend-lease in 1942 tems. PL-01 is a 105mm or 120mm ing on some new invention, from improvised bases, such 15. Ten of these are still active the Russians were amazed at The concept vehicle was first cannon fitted within the un- most of which are kept top se- as car parks or forest clearings, while five were retired and later both the sophistication and re- unveiled at the International manned turret, in accordance cret. Then, when they are final- without requiring large and vul- scrapped. liability of the American trucks. Defence Industry Exhibition in with NATO standards. The can- ly unveiled, the world is often nerable air bases. Later, the de- After the war the Russian Kielce on 2 September 2013. left stunned. Either by the sheer sign was adapted for use from 8. 1K17 Szhatie truck industry build their own This is the world’s brilliance of the project, or at aircraft carriers. This was something straight version based on the American first fifth-generation just how much money they out of a script from Star Wars wasted on a project that just 9. Zubr-class Hovercraft - a self-propelled laser vehicle didn’t work. During the 1980s the Rus- that was able to disable the op- Here are ten such military sians tended to follow the doc- tical-electronic equipment of machines. trine of “think big or go home.” enemy missiles, ground and One only needs to look at the aerial vehicles. 10. Harrier Jump Jet huge Typhoon Class ballistic The 1K17 Szhatie was de- When jets first made their ap- submarines or the menacing veloped by the Russians in the pearance above the skies of Eu- Kirov Class Battle Cruisers to 1970s and 1980s. Although the rope towards the end of World realise that the USSR of the Soviet Union attempted to keep War II they were a massive leap 1980s tended to prefer their the plans secret, the Pentagon in technology from the flimsy military hardware on the mas- managed to obtain drawings balsa wood and canvas biplanes sive side. from defectors. Western intel- that engaged in aerial combat When it comes to hovercraft, ligence services code named it during . the Russians were already using the Stiletto. Now just image a military jet the Aist Class LCAC (Landing With the collapse of the So- that could take off and land like Craft, Air Cushioned). viet Union, the development of PL-01 Stealth Tank 6 7 Top Ten Top Ten non will be able to shoot both composites and a slew of then 3. Sea Shadow (IX-529) bilizer, and inboard hydrofoil. The Nighthawk was the first stroyer built around the Aegis conventional projectiles and cutting-edge technologies with If you can build a stealth The portion of the ship above operational aircraft to be de- Combat System and the SPY- guided anti-tank missiles. It has an emphasis on adaptability. plane, then surely it would be water was connected to the signed around stealth technolo- 1D multifunction passive elec- an autoloader, which ensures It is notable for its advanced possible to build a stealth ship? hulls via the two angled struts. gy. Its maiden flight took place tronically scanned array radar. a shot fire rate of six shots per Pentamaran hull design and That was the concept of the IX- The SWATH design helped in 1981 at Groom Lake, Ne- These warships were de- minute. The vehicle carries 45 sophisticated carbon fibre and 529. the ship remain stable in rough vada, and the aircraft achieved signed as multimission destroy- rounds, 16 of which are locat- advanced material composite Sea Shadow was built in 1984 water up to sea state 6 (wave initial operating capability sta- ers, able to fulfil the strategic ed in slots within the turret and construction, as well as its inno- to examine the application of height of 5.5 metres or “very tus in 1983. The Nighthawk land strike role with Tomahawk ready to fire, with the remain- vative networked architecture. stealth technology on naval rough” sea). The shape of the was shrouded in secrecy until missiles; antiaircraft warfare der stored within the chassis A key feature of this vessel is vessels, and was used in secret superstructure was sometimes it was revealed to the public in (AAW) role with powerful compartment. The tank is also that it can set up a network be- until a public debut in 1993. In compared to the casemate of 1988. Of the 64 F-117s built, 59 Aegis radar and surface-to-air armed with a 7.62 UKM-2000C tween a special forces team by addition, the ship was designed the ironclad ram CSS Virginia were production versions, with missiles; antisubmarine war- with an ammuni- launching an unmanned aerial to test the use of automation to of the American Civil War. the other five being prototypes. fare (ASW), with towed sonar tion supply of 1,000 rounds. vehicle (UAV) that relays infor- reduce crew size. In 2006, the U.S. Navy tried The F-117 was widely publi- array, anti-submarine rockets, All equipment will be elec- mation between the team and The ship was created by the to sell Sea Shadow to the high- cized for its role in the Persian and ASW helicopter; and anti- tronically stabilized, and ob- boat. The Stiletto can also carry Defense Advanced Research est bidder, after the initial offer- Gulf War of 1991. Although it surface warfare (ASuW) with servation and sighting systems surveillance UAVs to provide Projects Agency (DARPA), the ing met with a lack of interest, it was commonly referred to as Harpoon missile launcher. will come with laser rangefind- reconnaissance for the SEAL U.S. Navy and Lockheed. Sea was listed for dismantling sale. the “Stealth Fighter”, it was Their hull and superstructure ers, day-night cameras and team, and, using a clustered su- Shadow was developed and The US government mandated strictly a ground-attack aircraft. were designed to have a re- third generation thermal imag- percomputer on board, will be built at Lockheed’s Redwood that the buyer not sail the ship F-117s took part in the conflict duced radar cross-section. ing, with visual data displayed able to send real-time images to City, California facility, in- and be required to scrap it. The in Yugoslavia, where one was At a cost of $1,8 billion each, on a screen. the team on shore. side the Hughes Mining Barge ship was finally sold in 2012. shot down by a surface-to-air they don’t come cheap. Cur- The Stiletto carried a Rig- (HMB-1), which functioned as Sea Shadow was dismantled in missile (SAM) in 1999; it was rently the US Navy has 66 Ar- 4. M-80 Stiletto id hull inflatable boat and is a floating drydock during con- 2012 by Bay Ship. the only Nighthawk to be lost leigh Burke Class Destroyers, The M80 Stiletto is an Amer- manned by a crew of three. It struction and testing. in combat. The U.S. Air Force with more being built. ican prototype naval ship of a can also carry 12 Navy Seals. Sea Shadow had a SWATH 2. F-117 Nighthawk retired the F-117 in 2008, pri- Military Despatches deputy new generation type of ship uti- The Stiletto is being tested by hull design. Below the water The Lockheed F-117 Night- marily due to the introduction editor John Verster and I were lizing advanced stealth technol- the Navy SEALs were submerged twin hulls, hawk is an American sin- of the F-22 Raptor. lucky enough to get a guid- ogies. and Special Warfare Combat each with a propeller, aft sta- gle-seat, twin-engine stealth at- ed tour of USS Arleigh Burke It was built by Knight & Carv- Crewmen, who operate small, tack aircraft that was developed 1. Arleigh Burke Destroyer when she visited Simon’s Town er, a commercial and private fast craft in the rough littoral by Lockheed’s secretive Skunk The Arleigh Burke class a few years ago. shipbuilder out of San Diego, seas for which the vessel was Works division and operated of guided missile destroy- California utilizing advanced designed. by the United States Air Force ers (DDGs) is the United (USAF). The F-117 was based States Navy’s first on the Have Blue technology class of de- demonstrator.

USS Arleigh Burke 6 7 tion of 12 days a year. Reserve Force Seniority List. military history. But that is just These days in the SANDF The article also stated, “The my personal view and, after Reserve Force Seniority List there is no more compulsory names of certain of the SA all, the SANDF has the right to Known in the days of the SADF as Citizen Force Units, these days they are known as Reserve military service. There is also Army Reserve Force Units will change things as they see fit. Force Units by the SANDF. Yet who is the oldest of these units? no longer a commando force. be changed shortly in order to Now please remember, this is There is also no longer a cit- ensure that they represent a the list as given by the SANDF. any of our readers fence Force required your ser- January and July every year, the izen force. Many of the citizen balance view of South Africa’s So please don’t have a go at me served in the old vices. The particular act went January intake being the larger force units were disbanded. rich military heritage.” and point out that your old unit MSouth African De- something like this: of the two. Others, however, we retained Now you need to take into ac- is older than that unit, because fence Force (SADF). Others All white male South Afri- The initial full-time service is and became part of the SANDF count that 18 of these units are your unit fought with Joshua at served in the South African Na- can citizens between the ages followed by: Reserve Force. more than 100 years old. Two the Battle of Jericho. tional Defence Force (SANDF). of 17 and 55 years are liable • Twelve years service in the Those that serve in the Re- of them are in fact 164 years All I am doing is giving you Some even served in both. for military service in terms citizen force, divided into serve Force are either perma- old. the list as published by the Many of our readers did com- of the Defence Act (this would six two-year cycles. nent force or volunteers. Personally, I see no reason to SANDF. pulsory military service in the later include the Defence Act • In each cycle a maximum Recently I came across an ar- change the names of these units SADF. It was commonly known Amendment, 1982). of 120 days service is per- ticle from the SANDF on the as they already have a very rich as ‘National Service’. This includes immigrants un- formed, of which no more National service began in der the age of 25 who, in terms than 90 days may be im- 1968 when it was decided that of the Citizenship Act, automat- posed during one year. A to- SA Army all white South African males ically become South African tal, therefore, of 720 days. would be required to do a peri- citizens after five years perma- • After completion of service Reserve Force Unit Date of Establishment Age od of compulsory military ser- nent residence in South Africa in the citizen force, there vice. unless they specifically choose follows a further five years Natal Carbineers 15 January 1855 164 years Note carefully the use of the not to do so and thus lose their in the active citizen force word compulsory. It was not a permanent residence rights and reserve. During this period Cape Town Rifles (Dukes) 28 November 1855 163 years request, it was an instruction work permit. there is no formal service Cape Field Artillery 26 August 1857 161 years and it was backed up by an Initial full-time service: This obligation, other than what act of parliament. Every white lasts for a maximum of 12 may be imposed by the Min- Natal Mounted Rifles 25 September 1862 156 years male who was a South Africa months (in 1978 this was in- ister of Defence in the light citizen or had permanent resi- creased to 24 months) and must of SA Defence Force opera- 18 October 1864 154 years dence was required to register be performed by all medical- tional requirements. with the South African Defence ly fit white male citizens from • After five years in the active Light Infantry 2 April 1873 145 years Force in the year that he turned the year in which they turn 18, citizen force reserve, these First City 7 October 1875 143 years sixteen. subject to exemptions or defer- members are liable for ser- Once you had completed your ments described below. vice in the commando force Kimberley 14 August 1876 142 years schooling or decided to leave The intake dates for full-time until their 55th year, with a school, the South African De- service are at the beginning of maximum service obliga- Prince Alfred’s Guard 8 January 1877 142 years The Buffalo Volunteer Rifles 20 December 1883 135 years

Cape Town Highlanders 24 April 1885 133 years

Natal Field Artillery 4 May 1902 116 years

Light Horse Regiment 12 December 1902 116 years

Transvaal Scottish 12 December 1902 116 years

Witwatersrand Rifles 1 May 1903 115 years

Transvaal Horse Artillery 17 March 1905 114 years Cape Town Rifles (Dukes) South African Irish Regiment 2 Parachute Battalion

10 11 1 October 1905 113 years 31 Field Workshop 22 August 1961 57 years

Pretoria Regiment 1 July 1913 105 years 32 Field Workshop 22 August 1961 57 years

3 Field Engineer Regiment 1 July 1926 92 years Regiment Bloemspruit 1 January 1963 56 years

Vrystaat Artillerie Regiment 1 July 1926 92 years Regiment Noord Transvaal 1 January 1963 56 years

Regiment Botha 1 April 1934 84 years 11 Maintenance Unit 1 January 1963 56 years

Regiment De La Rey 1 April 1934 84 years Regiment Oos Transvaal 1 October 1964 55 years

Regiment De Wet 1 April 1934 84 years 11 Field Postal Unit 1 October 1964 55 years

Regiment Louw Wepener (Dormant) 1 April 1934 84 years 6 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment 1 April 1965 54 years

Regiment President Steyn 1 April 1934 84 years 71 Field Workshop 1 April 1965 54 years

Regiment Westlike Provincie 1 April 1934 84 years 37 Field Workshop 1 June 1967 51 years

South African Irish Regiment 1 November 1939 79 years 26 September 1968 50 years

Regiment Christiaan Beyers 1 May 1946 72 years 19 Field Engineer Regiment 1 December 1970 48 years

54 Signals Unit 1 May 1946 72 years 2 Parachute Battalion 1 June 1971 47 years

71 Signals Unit 1 May 1946 72 years 6 Signals Regiment 1 September 1971 47 years 15 Maintenance Unit 1 May 1946 72 years 18 Light Regiment 1 August 1975 43 years Regiment Potchefstroomse 1 August 1946 72 years 3 Parachute Battalion 1 August 1975 43 years Universiteit (Dormant) 7 Signals Group 1 August 1975 43 years Cape Garrison Artillery 1 August 1946 72 years 84 Signal Unit 1 August 1975 43 years Regiment Oranjerivier 1 July 1952 66 years 19 Transit Maintenance Unit 1 August 1975 43 years Transvaalse Staatsartillerie 1 January 1954 65 years 44 Signal Unit 1 January 1979 40 years Regiment Mooirivier 1 January 1954 65 years 44 Parachute Engineer Regiment 20 April 1979 39 years Regiment Piet Retief 1 January 1954 65 years 44 Anti-Aircraft Regiment 1 January 1985 34 years Regiment President Kruger 1 January 1954 65 years 44 Maintenance Unit 13 December 1975 33 years Regiment Oos Rand 1 January 1960 59 years 7 Field Workshop 14 January 1986 33 years Regiment Vaalrivier 1 January 1960 59 years Regiment Umzimbuvu 9 February 2016 2 years Regiment 1 January 1960 59 years 2 Tactical Intelligence Regiment Being formed N/A Durban Regiment 1 January 1960 59 years

4 Maintenance Unit 22 August 1961 57 years 30 Field Workshop 22 August 1961 57 years 12 13 graphs or video is available for dreds of hours of footage to age as it is happening. the world to see on websites watch. This article looks as some of A thousand words... such as YouTube and Facebook. Many of the new cameras, in- the most iconic photographs of It has been said that a picture paints a thousand words. Yet while this may be true, there is All you need to do is a search cluding those on smart phones, war and, where possible, gives often a story behind the photograph that many are unaware of. on sites such as YouTube and are capable of live-streaming. a bit of background to the pho- you will find hundreds and hun- That means you can watch foot- tograph. hen one thinks of when soldiers did die in battle successful bombing raid on an equipment and tech- they did so with a shout of patri- enemy industrial complex and Wnology that has otism and a smile on their face. put a severe dent in enemy pro- The Battle of Antietam was changed the face of war, one The camera changed all that. duction. perhaps one of the bloodiest of immediately thinks of military The public were exposed to What the statement did not the American Civil War. hardware. the true horrors of war and it mention was that the industrial Andrew (Alexander) Gard- And while there is little doubt began to dawn on them that complex was in the middle of a ner took 70 photographs of the that military hardware and maybe war was not as glorious major city. dead lying in the fields. technology has changed the as the generals and politicians The public would then be This was the first time that way wars are fought, there is claimed it was. exposed to photographs of the dead soldiers had been photo- another device that we seldom From the American Civil War damage caused to the city, and graphed on a battlefield. think about. And it is a device onwards, the camera was pres- of the civilian casualties - men, He later put them on display that has really changed the way ent at nearly every major con- women and children. in New York City and the pub- that war is viewed. flict. It was probably during the lic was horrified. It was the first It’s a device that most of us Certain photojournalist made Vietnam War that the televi- time that the true horrors of war know how to use, and many both their living and their repu- sion camera came into its own. had been brought home to them. of us have one of our own. It’s tation on their conflict coverage. Within hours of an event hap- called a camera. And from World War I onwards pening, the major networks The first known photograph it was not just the still camera were broadcasting footage of ever taken was by Joseph that was capturing images. The the event. And often it was very Nicéphore Niépce in 1826 or movie camera also started com- graphic. 1827, showing a view from a ing into its own. Many people have claimed window of his home in ’s During World War II most of that it was this footage that Robert Capa was probably Burgundy region. the major protagonists had their turned American public opinion one of the most famous conflict In 1839, the first known pho- own film and media units that against the war in Vietnam. photojournalists of the mid- tograph of a person was taken produced stories, took photo- These days the camera is 20th century. in , showing a shoe shiner graphs, and shot film. The ma- everywhere and, with mod- This photograph, taken dur- working on the Boulevard du jority was for propaganda pur- ern digital technology, nothing ing the , was Temple. poses. tends to escape the lens. titled ‘The Falling Soldier’. It was Mathew Brady, known Yet there were also independ- Cameras have become small- Since the 1970s, doubt has as the father of photojournal- ent journalists, photojournalists er while the quality of the pho- been cast on the authenticity ism, and his employee, Andrew and cameramen. Often they tos and video they shoot has be- of the image, with many sug- Gardner, that really changed the would put their lives at risk to come exceptional. gesting that the photograph was way people saw war. get their stories and capture im- Many troops now have small staged. Either way, it remains Brady began shooting pic- ages. cameras mounted on their hel- one of history’s most famous tures of dead American soldiers These independents did not mets that are capable of filming war photographs. on Civil War battlefields. always please the military and transmitting live real-time Prior to the appearance of the though. All too often their sto- footage. camera on the battlefield the ries and images contradicted Just about everyone in a com- only images of war seen by the what the military was telling bat zone, both military and ci- general public was through the the public. vilians, will have a smart phone medium of paintings. For example the military capable of taking high resolu- Paintings more often than not might release a statement tell- tion photographs and video. glorified war. They showed that ing of how they had launched a And within minutes the photo-

14 15 Soviet soldiers plant the Russian flag atop the Reichstag to conclude the Battle of Berlin and, in effect, the end of the war in Europe and their victory over Nazi . The photo was shot by Soviet photographer Yevgeny Khaldei and shows Alyosha Kovalyov and Abdulkhakim Ismailov raising the hammer and sickle. This photograph, taken in 1943, shows the Jewish people of the Warsaw Ghetto in surren- But the truth behind the photo, who was in the photo, and who actually raised the Soviet victory dering to the Nazis. It was likely taken by a Nazi photographer named Franz Konrad. banner, was muddled by the Russian propaganda machine for decades. The nine-year old boy in the photograph may have been Tsvi Nussbaum, who later became a doc- tor in New York. The claim was, however, never proved. What made the photograph so heart-wrenching was that most of those shown in the photographs would die in Auschwitz. World War II was officially over, and people were Probably one of the most re- celebrating the fact. This iconic photograph of an produced photographs ever. American sailor kissing a woman in Time Square be- Five Marines and a Navy corps- came a symbol of the joy and excitement at the end of man plant a US flag on top of the war. Mount Suribachi after the Alfred Eisenstaedt from Life took the photograph, bloody battle for Iwo Jima in but didn’t get the names of the two people. Over the 1945. years several people have claimed to be the kissers. The photograph was taken by A book released in 2015 identifies the pair as George Joe Rosenthal, who also faced Mendonsa and Greta Zimmer Friedman. suspicions that he staged the patriotic scene. Yet the event did happen. What many don’t realise is that this photograph shows the second raising of the flag that day. The first flag, raised hours earlier, was deemed to be too small to be seen from the base of the mountain.

16 17 Following a crackdown that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of student demonstrators in Bei- jing, a lone Chinese protester steps in front of People’s Liberation Army tanks in Tienanmen Square in 1989. The event was captured by at least five photographers. The identify and fate of the man in the pho- South Vietnamese General Nguyen Ngoc Loan, chief of the National Police, summarily executes tograph is unknown. It is, however, claimed that he wasn’t even one of the student demonstrators, a man on a Saigon street during the 1968 Tet Offensive. The photo was taken by Eddie Adams and merely someone that wanted to show his disapproval at the government’s reaction to the situation. was shown around the world and displayed at anti-war demonstrations in the US. What was perhaps not common knowledge was that the person shot was Nguyen Van Lem (also known as Bay Lop), a Viet Cong intelligence officer. Spies, or soldiers operating in civilian dress, are not covered by the Geneva Convention and can be summarily executed. Taken by Nick Ut, this pho- to shows terrified Vietnamese children running down Route 1 near Trang Bang after an aerial napalm attack on suspected Viet Cong hiding places on 8 June 1972. It was also shown around President Barack Obama and the world and used in anti-war members of his national securi- demonstrations to show the ty team watch anxiously as they atrocities committed by the monitor the raid by US Navy’s Americans in Vietnam. SEAL Team 6 that killed Osa- But it was not the Americans ma bin Laden in 2011. that carried out the raid. A South White House photographer Vietnamese plane accidentally Pete Souza captured the tension dropped napalm on its own sol- of the moment. diers and civilians. The naked girl is nine-year old Kim Phuc. She survived and is now a Canadian citizen, running a foundation that assists children injured and traumatized by war. 18 19 day with you. “My parents lived in Durban The things we do for love and they said that they couldn’t Even those serving in the military are not immune to the power of love. travel nearly 600 km just to spend a few hours with me. I fully understood. s this month is Val- John’ letters, and more than a suicide after receiving a ‘Dear “I had become really good entine’s Day I pon- few conscripts were unfortu- John’ letter. mates with Dave. He was in Adered doing an article nate enough to receive one. James (18) was a corporal the same section as me and his with a romantic twist to it. The It was usually in the third that took conscripts for basic parents lived in Johannesburg, only problem was that romance week of basic training when the training and he explains further. which was only about 45 km and the military are generally ‘Dear John’ letters began to ar- “We were warned to keep away. He asked me if I wanted not mentioned in the same sen- rive. Let’s to go into a bit more an eye on troops that had re- to spend the day with them and tence. detail regarding the ‘Dear John’ ceived a Dear John letter. Some I was more than happy. Still, I did manage to come up type of letter. of them took it very hard and “Dave’s family, consisted One of the things that any soldier ap- with something and trust that It must be remembered that would not accept the fact that GOOD NEWS, OR NOT: preciates are letters from back home. Unless, of course, they of his father, mother, brother, you will enjoy it. the vast majority of the con- they had been dumped. contain bad news such as a ‘Dear John’. and sister, arrived and we went The first thing to look at is scripts were still in their late “It was not uncommon for down to a spot next to the lake. something that most readers teens with the average age be- them to try and go AWOL. They kill himself because of a ‘Dear one in our company and asked They had brought a picnic bas- that did National Service or any ing 18. The age when first love reasoned that if they could just John’ letter. if they could give him a spare ket along and it was the first form of military service will be normally starts to blossom and get back home and speak to their “He went into the showers at photograph of their girlfriend, time since I had arrived in the aware of. The ‘Dear John’ let- high school romances abound. girlfriend everything would be about three in the morning and sister, mother, aunt, any photo- army that I actually ate a good ter. When called up for national sorted out. While we may have tried to hang himself with his graph as long as it was female. meal. A Dear John letter is a letter service many of the conscripts sympathised with them, there toggle rope. Luckily one of the “Ian collected about 40 pho- “The best thing about visitor’s written to a man by his wife or had girlfriends and sweethearts. was no ways that troops could other troops went to the toilet tographs. He posted his girl- day was my friend’s sister. She romantic partner to inform him It was his greatest fear that his just come and go as they liked. and found him. friend’s photograph, along with was really cute and we got on their relationship is over. girlfriend would dump him The SADF took a dim view on “The poor guy was sent to the other 40-odd photos, to her very well that day. Afterwards While the exact origins of the or play the field while he was this. One Military Hospital for ob- with the following note. she wrote to me and we contin- phrase are unknown, it is com- away. “This sometimes caused an- servation. I don’t know what “Dear K……, I’m not sure ued our correspondence for the monly believed to have been On the other hand it was un- imosity towards the SADF. A happened to him, but he never which photograph in this pile is rest of my national service. coined by Americans during reasonable to expect a young guy’s girlfriend would dump returned to our unit.” yours. Please take your photo- “We’ve now been married for World War II. “John” was the girl of 16 or 17 to remain true him and he would deduce that Most of the troops took ‘Dear graph and send the remainder 39 years and have a 37 year old most popular and common baby to a boyfriend whom she could the reason he had been dumped John’ letters in their stride and back to me. Thanks, Ian.” daughter, a 35 year old son and name for boys in America every only expect to see at very in- was because he had been called some went even one step better. “Needless to say he never three grandchildren. single year from 1880 through frequent intervals for the next up for his national service. Vernon (18) underwent basic heard from her again. I wonder “If it wasn’t for national ser- 1923, making it a reasonable year. Score one point against the training at One Parachute Bat- what she must have thought. It vice I never would have met ‘placeholder’ name when de- From 1978 it became even SADF. talion in Tempe. He remembers sure gave us a damn good laugh Dave and, naturally, would nev- noting those of age for military more difficult because now her “Now the SADF wouldn’t how one particular young man though.” er have met the girl that became service. boyfriend would be away for allow him to go home and sort dealt with his ‘Dear John’ letter. Yet there was more to it that my wife.” Large numbers of American two years. the matter out. The guy would “We had a guy by the name of just ‘Dear John’ letters. Take Clive was 18 when he did troops were stationed overseas A ‘Dear John’ letter was usu- now have a very negative atti- Ian in our section and he was a Harry for example. He did his national service and will never for many months or years, and ally sent to a conscript from his tude towards the SADF and his total hooligan. In about the third National Service in 1976 and forget a train trip that he under- as time passed many of their girlfriend and basically said, military training. week of basics Ian’s girlfriend did his basic training at the took. wives or girlfriends decided to “you’ve been dumped”. “Those guys were easy sent him a ‘Dear John’ letter. Army Gymnasium in Heidel- “I was stationed at Ondangwa begin a relationship with a new Naturally this was often very enough to handle though. What “She told him that their rela- berg. and was returning from my sev- man rather than to wait for the traumatic for someone who was used to worry me were the guys tionship was over and that he “After about four weeks of en day pass. Two of my mates, original one to return. already trying to cope with the who became depressed on being must send her photograph back basics we were informed that Brian and Mike, were with me. Most of those that served trauma of national service. It is dumped. Some of them became to her. Ian was a bit miffed with there was going to be a visitors When we arrived at Waterkloof in the South African Defence a sad fact that more than one suicidal and this used to scare her and decided to get her back. day. This meant that parents and Airbase we found that we were Force were aware of ‘Dear national serviceman committed me. I had a troop that tried to “He went around to every- family could come and spend a not booked on the flight back 20 21 to Grootfontein. This was often each night and all your meals cake. Other than that there was “I did basics at 5 SAI in La- the case. People would arrive were paid for. I must say that bugger all to do. dysmith. I lived in Durban, so it and then be told that they were the service on the trains back “We bought some lunch at a wasn’t so bad. not booked on the flight. Even then was great. Lunch was a small cafe. I think I had a Rus- “We spent five months on the though the arrangements and five course meal and supper a sian sausage and chips. It took border and in the first month bookings had been done weeks seven course one. less than half an hour to walk that I was there I received a let- or sometimes months before. “We went through to lunch around the entire town. There ter from a young schoolgirl. “We managed to phone and at about seven that evening was a hotel with a bar but it was “Back then some schools through to our company in On- we had supper in the dining car. off limits to troops. would have an entire class write dangwa and spoke to the com- After that we went to the lounge “We went back to the train at letters to troops on the border. pany adjutant. We told him what car and had a few drinks. We about 3.00 pm and just sat and These would then be distribut- had happened and informed met two girls that were out from waited. Eventually we were ed and they were basically let- him that there was space on a Germany and we spent the time hooked up to the Windhoek ters from the kids telling how flight in two weeks time. So we chatting them up. train and set off. There was much they appreciated what we would book on that and return “Just before 10.00 pm we no lounge car on the train but were doing. then. pulled in to De Aar station and thankfully there was a dining “I got a letter from a 13-year “Nice try,” he told me. we had to return to our coach. saloon. We went through to sup- ROMANCE ON THE RAILS: Clive met the girl of his dreams old girl and there was a re- “We were then booked on a Our coach was then detached per and I met the most beautiful on a train trip to Windhoek. But it was not meant to be. turn address. I wrote back and train and told to go through to from the train and shunted off to girl who was sitting alone at a was our last night together and photograph over and nearly had thanked her for the letter. to collect our tickets a siding. The Trans-Karoo, with table. I asked her if we could we stayed up the whole night. It a heart attack. “She wrote back to me and and meal and bedding vouch- our two hot little German girls, join her and she said yes. was all very innocent mind you. “She had written her name we ended up corresponding for ers. The train would leave from then proceeded on its journey to “If I remember correctly the All we did was kiss and touch. and address on the back with the entire time I was on the bor- Johannesburg station the fol- Cape Town. trip took three days and three It was actually quite romantic. a black marker pen. It was ear- der. lowing morning at 10.00 am. “On our return to the com- nights. She would be on the “We arrived at her station just ly November and as anyone “When I finished my na- “The three of us returned to partment we found that our train for two nights and two before 4.00 pm. Before she left knows that has even been there, tional service we continued to our respective homes and met at beds had been made up and we days before she climbed off. she gave me a photograph of gets hot. I correspond. About a year later 9.30 the following morning. All went to sleep. Our coach would “She was a nurse at some her. On the back she had writ- had been sweating and it had she wrote and told me that she of us had stocked up on booze remain in De Aar until 5.00 pm small place in South West Afri- ten her name, address and tele- caused the ink to run. I couldn’t would be coming down to Dur- for the trip. We were booked the following evening when it ca. The two of us hit it off and I phone number. I was almost make out a single thing that had ban on holiday with her family. into a 2nd class compartment would then be connected to the invited her back to our compart- in tears when she climbed off. been written on the back. I was We arranged to meet. and we had the entire compart- Windhoek train. ment. Each compartment had a I told her that I would write to almost in tears. “I had spoken to her on the ment to ourselves. Normally a “We were up bright and early two-prong socket where you her as soon as I arrived back at “As hard as I tried I couldn’t phone numerous times and I re- compartment could sleep six the next morning but couldn’t could plug in an electric razor. camp and that I would make a remember her surname, the hos- ally liked her. When we met she people with two top bunks, two get breakfast. Naturally you could also plug plan to see her as soon as pos- pital where she worked, or even was 15 and I was 19. She was middle bunks and two bottom “At about 8.00 am we decid- in a radio and Mike had a boom sible. the name of the town where she the most beautiful girl I had bunks. ed to climb off the train and box with a cassette tape, so we “That night, our last night on was. ever seen. “The train we were on was the take a walk about. We used a were able to listen to music. the train, Brian, Mike and I re- “It gutted me to think that “Four years later we got en- Trans-Karoo that ran between pair of thin nosed pliers to lock “We broke out our booze and ally got trashed. she must have sat there waiting gaged and a year later we were Johannesburg and Cape Town. our compartment door but we had a hell of a party. She went “We ended up having a party for a letter or to hear from me, married. We’re still happily It was a normal civvie train and did take our rifles with us. back to her compartment at in the dining saloon with some and never did. She must have married and best of all, we both we were the only army guys “I’m not sure what De Aar about 1.00 am. of the railway staff that worked thought I was an utter bastard. kept all our letters. We often sit on it. It was actually quite cool looks like these days. But back “The next morning we met in the kitchen and dining sa- But it wasn’t my fault and I and look through some of them. because the train had a dining then it was a one-horse town at breakfast and afterwards she loon. don’t think she will ever realise “How many of your readers saloon and a lounge car with a and the horse had died years came back to the compartment “The next morning we arrived how hurt I was about the whole can beat that?” bar. before. There was nothing, and with me. We had a great day in Windhoek and from there we thing. It was without doubt the So I guess that at the end of “When you travelled by train I mean nothing, to do in De Aar. chatting and listening to mu- would travel by railway bus worst experience of my army the day romance can still be you were given meal vouchers We did find a small hall were sic. By the time supper arrived through to Grootfontein. I had days.” found in the strangest of places. and bedding vouchers. This the Dankie Tanies had set up a I had fallen head over heels in the photograph she had given The last story is from Gary, meant that you would get a place for you to get a free cup love with her. And she said she me in my left hand shirt pocket, who did national service in properly made bed to sleep in of coffee or tea and a piece of felt the same way about me. It close to my heart. I turned the 1977. 22 23 African sea Cadets, all of which General Botha Old Boy’s Association embody Honesty, Morality, Loyalty, Responsibility, Ac- awards Lawhill Bursary countability, Self-Respect, Dis- SATS General Botha Old Boy’s Association once again show their commitment to the South cipline and Obedience. African youth. Thus by my actions and words will I strive to encourage By: Lt Cdr Glenn von Zeil, SA Naval Reserves valuable personal attributes and Photographs: Regine Lord high standards of conduct both within myself and in my fellow or the second year run- 13 to 18 years. These units are itime and nautical opportunities Officers, Instructors and Ca- ning the S.A.T.S. General staffed by qualified volunteer offered. dets and any other persons with FBotha Old Boy’s Associ- adult instructors drawn from Able Seaman Muleshi is ac- whom I interact.” ation, under the chairmanship the SA Navy, maritime occu- tive in the Beconridge Meth- Able Seaman Muleshi’s ad- of Capt Tony Nicholas, have pations, ex Sea Cadets and par- odist Church, enjoys netball, vice to the South African youth awarded a Lawhill bursary to ents. hockey and hiking to balance is “to grab every opportunity” in TS Woltemade Sea Cadet to This bursary was award- the other aspects of her life in order to develop the nation and THANK YOU:TS Woltemade Sea Cadet is awarded prestig- ious S.A.T.S. General Botha Old Boy’s Association bursary for further their maritime studies at ed to Able Seaman Jody Terri her spare time. to “never be scared to achieve Lawhill Maritime Centre in Si- Muleshi who is an active mem- Initially Able Seaman Muleshi Lawhill Academy, Simon’s Town High School. what you want.” Left to Right: Mr H. James, Capt Tony Nicholas, Chairman mon’s Town. ber of the TS Woltemade ship’s researched career options and Thank you to the S.A.T.S. This demonstrates the company living in Table View wanted to become a urologist as S.A.T.S. General Botha Old Boy’s Association, Lt Cdr (SCC) Genera Botha Old Boy’s Asso- Paul Jacobs, Officer Commanding TS Woltemade, Able Sea- long term association which where she is at high school. She she was studying maths and sci- ciation group of “old salts” who S.A.T.S. General Botha Old is the eldest of two children and ence and had learnt that the na- man Jody Muleshi, Mr Peter Coetzee Vice Chairman S.A.T.S. have again proven that they General Botha Old Boy’s Association, Capt K. Cox. Boy’s have established with the has a younger 9 year old broth- tion needed urologists. As her are committed in assisting the Sea Cadets Corps to provide er. On Saturdays she attends high school and sea cadet activ- South African youth with their suitable maritime training for TS Woltemade activities where ities provided more insight and seafaring dreams whilst keep- scholars. she has grown to enjoy the mar- opportunities she changed and ing the values of their old train- The S.A.T.S General Botha focussed her mind on seaman- ing ship alive. was a decommissioned British ship, sailing and boating oppor- Cruiser which was purchased by tunities at TS Woltemade. This Should you wish to assist the Capt TB Davis, a Master Mari- convinced her that she wanted S.A.T.S. General Botha Old ner, entrepreneur, yachtsman to be a ship’s Captain. Not just Boy’s Association please con- and philanthropist as a training any ship’s Captain, but the best tact: platform for the Cape Town she could be. Captain Tony Nicholas – Naval Cadet Corps in 1920. It She recited the Sea Cadets cptchairman@generalbotha. was sailed to Simon’s Town by code of conduct flawlessly co.za / www.generalbotha.co.za Naval Cadets under the guid- with confidence at the an- ance of experienced of- nual prize giving parade. For more information or as- ficers. As a result there is The Sea Cadet Code sistance to the South African a strong bond between of Conduct reads: Sea Cadets please contact: the Sea Cadets and “Through Honour Captain (SCC) Ian Loubser – the S.A.T.S. General and Skill, I shall dili- [email protected] Botha Old Boy’s. gently strive to uphold TS Woltemade is the core Values of In- For information or assistance one of several Sea tegrity, Excellence and to Lawhill Maritime Centre Cadet units through- Service of the South contact: out South Africa who www.lawhill.org provide nautical and maritime training to Able Seaman MAKING A CHOICE:Able Seaman Jody Muleshi with, Nelson the youth between Jody Muleshi and Abrahams, from TS Woltemade Sea Cadets choosing An- swer Series study guides from the ship’s library. 24 25 Valentine’s - the real story

me to know that they also be- lieved in love. All very sweet, but I wish they could have thrown Forget what you’ve heard about St. up a roast chicken or two. The Valentine’s Day. Here is the real sto- food in prison was crap. ry, straight from the horses mouth. One of the youngsters that By St. Valentine. came to visit me often was the daughter of the chief prison ey there, let me kick off they want, then the raise a mas- reason not to volunteer for the guard. Her old man allowed her by introducing myself. sive army and go out and take army. Hello! to visit me in the cell. HMy name is Valentine, what they want. So Claudius passes a law She was a cute little thing and but my mates call me Val. So I And I’m sure that, like most which basically says: “Thou made me seriously regret the guess you can as well. dictators, Claudius wouldn’t be shalt not get married and have vows of chastity I had taken. My crib was in Rome. You at the front of his army leading legal nooky”. The people went I thought; “Up thoust Claudi- light on my feet as I used to be. We would often sit and talk for know, the big place in with it. No, he would be sitting safe- ballistic. Especially the young us thou dickhead”. If people still Okay, okay, too many good hours and she kept my spirits the Coliseum and people that ly back in Rome telling them guys. How could Claudius be wanted to get shackled, I would wedding receptions, I know. up. She said that I did the right drive like lunatics. But I lived to capture this, pillage that and harsh enough to pass a law like perform the ceremony. Natural- Don’t rub it in. thing by ignoring the emperor there a long, long time ago. Dur- generally kill and maim all be- that? ly this had to be done in secret. So I get dragged off and and by going ahead with the se- ing the third century to be exact. fore them. Now something that I may not Claudius wasn’t known for his thrown into the slammer. As ex- cret marriages. All very well for I think Moses was still playing I’m sure that Claudius thought have mentioned up until now is sense of humour and I have no pected, Claudius was not in the her. She wasn’t going to feature goalkeeper for Israel back in that everyone else was as mad as the fact that I was a priest. Yeah, doubt that he would have been a least amused. He sentenced me as the main event at the Colos- those days. he was. He expected all the men I know it’s hard to believe, but I bit miffed if he found out I was to death. Look, I knew that he seum. Still, she was very sweet Anyway, the main dude back to volunteer to join the army. was a man of the cloth. Good old breaking his law. would be a bit upset with me, and touching. in Rome in those days was a Can you credit it? This yo-yo re- Val was a devil dodger, a soul It was kind of exciting though. but I hadn’t seen that one com- On the day I was to die, I left guy by the name of Claudius. Or ally expects men to sign on the mechanic, a sky pilot. One of Imagine the scene: a small can- ing. Death! This guy was mad- her a note thanking her for her Emperor Claudius as he liked dotted line, get shoved in a uni- my favourite activities was mar- dlelit room with just the bride, der than I thought. friendship and loyalty. I signed to call himself, ruler of Rome. form, and go out and get killed. rying people. Back in those days the groom, and myself. I would Now back in those days, a it: “Love from your Valentine.” Now I didn’t dig Claudius one What was Claudius smoking? they really knew how to throw whisper the words of the cere- death sentence in Rome was no I believe that note started the little bit. Neither did anyone for Of course not many men were a wedding reception. Not like mony, listening at all times for laughing matter. They had some custom of exchanging love mes- that matter. He was a bit of a nut stupid enough to join the army. these days where you’re lucky if the footsteps of soldiers. pretty cruel ways of carrying sages. It was written on the day I job if you ask me and he was Most of them were married and you get a plate of snacks. Back It was all rather stimulating, out the sentence. One of their died. February 14, 269 AD. about as popular as a nest of ants let’s be honest, who wants to then they would really go all although I must confess that I favourites was to throw you to Now this day is called Val- at a Sunday School picnic. leave some hot chick to go off out. A couple of sheep on the did miss the big receptions. the lions. And I was not looking entine’s Day - named after me of Although Claudius was em- and play soldiers? Naturally old spit and enough barrels of beer One night I’m busy marrying forward to providing lunch to a course. Now every year on this peror of Rome, this was not Claudie baby was not happy and wine to float a navy. this cute little couple when I do pack of mangy lions. day people remember me. They enough. No, this basket case with this. He threw his toys out There was nothing that I liked hear footsteps. I tried to look on the bright all give Claudius the finger and wanted to rule the world. To do of the cot. Big time! more than a good wedding re- As a man of the cloth I was side of things. As if there was a let him know that love can never this he needed a big army, didn’t So what did he do? You won’t ception. Now even though Em- expected to be cool, calm and bright side of things. But I must be beaten. he? After all, he couldn’t just go believe the crazy idea he came peror Claudius had passed his collected. admit that it wasn’t all doom out by himself and pick fights up with. He must have been mad law, I was not about to stop Forget that my pal. I wet my and gloom. While sitting in my *With humble apologies to with other countries. He would up all night smoking his dope performing marriage ceremo- cloth. Thankfully the couple I cell waiting for sentence to be St. Valentine. The above story is have had the crap knocked out again. Claudius decides that if nies. Hey, I never could listen was marrying took off like a carried out, many young people based on fact. But it’s probably of him. the men were not married there to authority. That’s how I ended couple of cats with a pit bull af- came and visited me. not quite the way St. Valentine Claudius was like so many would be no hot chicks for them up in the priesthood in the first ter them. I was not so lucky and They threw flowers and notes would have told it. Still, who dictators, If they can’t get what to go home to, and therefore no place. But that’s another story. I was busted. I was not quite as up to my window. They wanted knows? 26 27 Thank you ACME Sea Cadets appreciate Bosun’s Call. By Lt Cdr Glenn von Zeil, SA Naval Reserves.

he Bosun’s Call or Bo- sun’s Pipe was used in Tdays of sail to communi- cate commands on board ships, especially to those men in the rigging who were adjusting the sails. In modern navies it fulfils a functional ceremonial purpose used to announce daily evo- lutions, including sunset, col- ours, call the hands at “wakey wakey”, summons the officer of the day, announce meals, rounds and pipe down. It is also the symbol of office of a Master a Arms or Cox’n ROMANCE ON THE RAILS: Sea Cadets from TS Woltemade, lakeside Cape Town, practice piping as part of their formative and is displayed on a silver training under instruction of their Officer Commanding, Lt Cdr chair worn around the neck. (SCC) Paul Jacobs. As in the SA Navy the Sea Bush War Books has probably one of the finest Cadets use Bosun’s Calls for the same purposes and you Ca- Unit, TS Matebele, based in collections of military titles available. Especially dets are taught the art of “pip- Bulawayo. on the . ing” early on in their cadet ex- The Officers Commanding perience. and Sea Cadets from the South There is nothing like the African Units are appreciative piercing sound of a Bosuns Call of this kind gesture as it ensures piping “Wakey Wakey, rise and that Sea Cadets will have Bo- Click here to visit their website. shine, heavo, heavo, lash up sun’s Calls to practice their pip- and stow” or other humorous ing as well as fulfil the ceremo- variations at 0500 to rouse the nial functions within the units. hands. This will ensure that Na- As Bosun’s Calls are not man- val and Nautical traditions are ufactured in South Africa these maintained and that South Afri- are valued items in both the SA can Sea Cadets can participate Navy and Sea Cadet Corps. equally with other Sea Cadets The ACME Whistle Com- on an international platform. pany in , and Thank you to ACME whistle benefactors, Michael Pinner in Company and Michael Pinner, London with another mystery in London, and the mystery benefactor, purchased and do- South African benefactor for nated two Bosun’s Calls to each making this possible. PIPE OFF: Sea Cadets from South African Sea Cadet Unit. TS Tiburon, Durban, hold a “pipe off” in order to establish Two were also procured and Photographs: Lt Cdr Glenn who is the best qualified to “War does not determine who is right - only who is left” are available to the Zimbabwe von Zeil, S/Lt Denis Gouws. use a Bosun’s Call. 28 00 Havildar (Infantry) Rank Structure Daffadar (Cavalry and Armoured ) Promotion is by selection. Over the next few months we will be running a series of articles looking at the rank structure of Retirement – After 26 years service or at the age of 49, whichever is earlier. various armed forces. This month we look at the Indian Army.

he Indian Army is the third largest standing Quarter Master Havildar (Infantry) Tarmy in the world, with Quarter Master Daffadar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments) over 1,325,000 active troops and 2,143,000 reserve troops. Promotion is by selection. Their ranks structure is based on that of the British Army. Retirement – After 26 years service or at the age of 49, whichever is earlier.

Sepoy Junior Commissioned Officers The Sepoys identify themselves according to the Corps that they serve in. For example, a sepoy from Signals will identify him as Signalman, from Infantry as Naib Subedar (Infantry) Rifleman and from the Armoured Corps as Gunner. Naib Risaldar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Promotion by selection.

Retirement – After 28 years service or at the age of 52, whichever is earlier. Non-Commissioned Officers

Lance Naik (Infantry) Subedar (Infantry) Acting Lance Daffadar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments) Risaldar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Promotion is by selection. Promotion by selection.

Retirement – After 22 years service or at the age of 48, whichever is earlier. Retirement – After 30 years service or at the age of 52, whichever is earlier.

Naik (Infantry) Subedar Major (Infantry) Lance Daffadar (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments) Risaldar Major (Cavalry and Armoured Regiments)

Retirement – After 24 years service or at the age of 49, whichever is earlier. Promotion by selection.

Retirement – After 34 years service or at the age of 54, whichever is earlier

30 31 Commissioned Officers Brigadier Brigadiers are promoted by selection (after 25 years of commissioned ser- Lieutenant vice).

Rank achieved on commissioning into Indian Army as an Officer. Retirement – At the age of 56.

Major General

Major Generals are promoted by selection (after 32 years of commissioned Captain service).

Timebound promotion on completion of two years commissioned service. Retirement – At the age of 58.

Lieutenant General

Lieutenant generals are appointed only by selection (after 36 years of com- Major missioned service) and may hold the position of a Vice Chief of Army Staff or Army Commanders. Timebound promotion on completion of six years commissioned service. Retirement – At the age of 60.

General

Apart from the honorary rank of Field Marshal, this is the highest rank held Lieutenant Colonel by an Army officer. It is only the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) who holds this rank. Timebound promotion on completion of 13 years commissioned service. Retirement – After three years as COAS or at the age of 62, whichever is earlier.

Field Marshal

The Field Marshal rank is the highest rank in the Indian Army. It is a cere- monial or wartime rank and Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw and Field Marshal Colonel KM Cariappa have been the only two officers to be elevated to the rank of Field Marshal. Colonels may be promoted by selection (after 15 years of commissioned ser- vice) or may be promoted (time-scale) after 26 years of commissioned service. Time-scale Colonels may, however, only hold the portfolio of a Lt. Colonel.

Retirement – At the age of 54.

32 33 crocs or catch them on a line their heads, so you will proba- They have warty skins and may A matter of survival - Finding Food IV with a stick wedged in the bait bly have to stab into it with a be found far from water. Most to lodge in the gullet. Kill with stick. Roast ungutted in em- have highly toxic skin secre- Over the next few months we will be running a series of articles looking at survival, something that has always been important for those in the military. This month we look at birds, reptiles and a sharp blow between the eyes. bers, when the shell splits they tions. insects as a source of food. are ready to eat. Lizards Tracks: Females coming Snakes he dictionary defines Traps: The easiest birds to trap Treat them with caution. An All lizards can be eaten. Most ashore to lay eggs leave a trac- A snake is a stake. Overcome survival as “the state or are birds of prey, such as eagles ostrich can deliver bone-break- are timid and not easy to catch. tor-like trail on the sand. They your fear of them and learn their fact of continuing to live and hawks, carrion eaters such ing kicks and they can become Some of them, such as iguanas will lead you to where the eggs habits. T and monitors can inflict a bad are buried, but you’re probably Listen, no matter how hungry or exist, typically in spite of an as vultures, and inquisitive very aggressive. accident, ordeal, or difficult cir- scavengers such as crows and bite and have powerful claws. going to have to dig deep to un- you are, do not try and catch cumstances.” gulls. Reptiles Try to catch lizards by the cover them. Boil the eggs and one if you know it is highly One of the important factors Cage traps, deadfalls and These actually make pretty tail, but small ones can move they will keep for a couple of poisonous, that is too large, or in survival is finding a source of spring snares can be used for good eating. Just remember that really fast. They can sometimes days. if you’re ill equipped. food. And by food we are often birds that take bait. Nooses on some can be extremely danger- be trapped in a pit, so look out The African python can grow talking about the kind of thing branches may catch roosting ous. for them in a solar still. You can Amphibians up to 10 metres in length. They that will not be included in your birds. You can bait traps with set traps for larger ones. Frogs are all edible, from tiny are easy to catch, but do not monthly grocery list. meat, fruit or berries. Crocodiles tree frogs to African giants, tackle large ones. While they Birds, reptiles and insects are You can also use pole-noos- They can be found in most Turtles and tortoises with legs as large as a chicken. are not poisonous, their back- a good source of food. Normal- es, lines with baited hooks and subtropical and tropical re- These make good eating. Tur- Some frogs have poisons un- raked teeth can give a serious ly they are readily available, gullet jammers. gions. Those under 1.3 metres tles spend their lives mostly in der the skin, so remove the skin bite. But there are certain factors that Small birds are easy to lime are potential food. salt or fresh water, emerging to before cooking. Snakes have excellent cam- need to be taken into consider- and can be attracted by bait. Large crocs should be avoid- lay eggs, but a few are terres- Frogs are usually found near ouflage and often only move- ation. Tracks and signs: Most tracks ed. They are virtually ar- trial. water and they are active at ment will give them away. are broadly similar and indicate mour-plated and some are cun- Use a stick to turn them onto night. Their croaking will help Use a forked stick just behind Birds only the size of the bird, except ning and aggressive. In areas their backs. This makes them you locate them. Dazzle them the snake’s head to pin it down. The good news is that all birds for those with webbed feet. where they are known to live, defenceless. Just watch out for with light, such as a torch or Use another stick to club it be- are edible, but some taste a damn Nesting birds: Eggs are easily always assume that they are their jaws. even a firebrand will do, then hind the head. side better than others. available from ground nesters, about. Kill with a sharp blow to the club them. Never pick a snake up, or While most of us would enjoy a and many nest in colonies. They have excellent camou- back of the head. Cut through During the day hunt them even go close to it, until you good chicken curry or some fried Approach carefully, crawling flage and can lie underwater for the belly and discard the guts with a hook and line and an in- are sure that it is dead. A few, chicken, not many of us would be and not walking. You may even hours waiting for a meal to step and remove the head and neck. sect-like lure. The legs of large including poisonous ones, can than keen on eating boiled crow. get close enough to throw a within range. Make sure that The best method of cooking is frogs are delicious and taste feign death convincingly. Birds occur everywhere - open stone or club a bird on the nest. you’re not on their menu. to boil it. like chicken. sea, deserts, high in mountains Just remember that some Their tales can inflict a scyth- The meat is very rich, so eat Warning: Do not eat toads. and even in polar regions. They birds, such as gulls, guard their ing blow that is almost as dam- in small amounts. The blood is thing is that they are not always nests tenaciously. If you enter a aging as their teeth. even richer. Eggs found inside that easy to catch. colony be prepared Talking about tails, the best females can be eaten. Game birds make the best eat- to be attacked. meat is from the tail which Tortoises can retract ing: pheasants, grouse, partridge, Flightless is firm and very tasty. ducks, geese and guinea fowl are birds: A good Traps: Set by delicious if you can find them. example of this water for Many of them are wary and not in Africa is the small easy to catch. Ostrich. They are Birds of prey need to be thor- large and flightless. oughly boiled to both tenderise Their eggs will them and destroy parasites. Sea feed a large group birds can be oily and fishy-tast- and they make ing. useful containers.

34 35 duce skin irritation when han- the digestive tract. Insects Quiz Welcome to your most reliable dled. Fine hairs on caterpillars can source of animal food. Although Brightly coloured insects - cause a rash. If you want to the are usually very small you including their caterpillars - are eat a hairy caterpillar, squeeze can find them almost anywhere usually poisonous. Their bright it to extract the innards. Don’t Modern Assault Rifles and there are almost always colours are the warning sign. eat the skin. Take the armoured hese are the new boys on the block, modern assault rifles that are currently being used by enough of them to quickly gath- Do not eat insects feeding on casing off beetles. Armed Forces around the world. We show you 15 of them, you tell us what they are. You’ll find the answers to the quiz on page 84. er a meal. refuse, carrion, or dung. They Smaller insects such as ants T Weight for weight they give are likely to carry infection. and termites can be mashed to a Avoid grubs found on the un- paste and then either cooked or more food value than vegeta- 3 bles. Rich in fat, protein and derside of leaves. They often dried to a powder. 1 2 carbohydrates, they are lifesav- secrete poisonous fluids. Bad Use this powder to thicken ers. smelling and slimy to the touch, other foods or for storage - it they can be used as fish bait. will keep for some time. Gathering Beware of large beetles. They People who cannot abide the The most useful are termites, often have powerful jaws and idea of insects in their food will ants, beetles, grasshoppers, lo- can give a nasty bite. find a powder easier to eat, es- custs, crickets, honey bees, cat- pecially in soups or mixed with erpillars and various aquatic in- Preparation other food. 4 5 6 sects. Most insects are edible raw Look for insects in nooks and and they’re usually more nu- Bees, wasps and hornets crannies of trees and behind tritious that way. But they are All are edible - pupae, larvae their bark, in the tissues and more palatable cooked. and adult - but the honeybee also seed pods of plants, in any moist Boiling is the safest method provides honey. This is the finest shady spots, and on the bed of as it destroys harmful bacteria of all natural foods, easily digest- pools and streams. Ant and ter- and parasites. Roasting is eas- ible and highly nutritious - but mite nests are often immediate- ier if you don’t have the prop- not easy to collect, as bees guard 7 8 9 ly recognisable mounds. er containers to boil. Just place their nest tenaciously. Take care when foraging for your dinner on hot stones or in During the day worker bees insects. Their hiding places the embers of a fire and you’re venture far from the nest, but all may also harbour unwelcome good to go. gather there at night. This is the visitors such as scorpions and Remove legs and wings from best time to strike. Make a torch spiders or, in larger crannies, larger insects such as locusts, from a bundle of grass and hold it snakes. grasshoppers and crickets. Fine very close to the entrance so that Collect only living insects. hairs can irritate or even block the next fills with smoke. Then 10 11 12 Avoid any that look sick or seal the hole. This kills the bees, dead, have a bad smell or pro- providing an immediate meal, and making their honey safely available. Remove the wings, legs and sting from bees, wasps and hor- nets before eating. Be careful as all can sting and 13 14 15 the hornet in particular can deliv- er a really painful sting. Next month we will looking at making traps and trapping food.

36 37 head to head head to head Infantry Fighting Vehicles 9. Warrior () This month ten of the best infantry fighting vehicles go head-to-head. This analysis is based on the combined score of protection, firepower, mobility and passenger capac- The Warrior entered service ity. with the British Army in 1988. ince war was first waged were often used to transport in- provided armoured protection The Warrior IFV has an you will normally always fantry close enough to the bat- to the infantry. The main prob- all-welded aluminium armour find the infantry in the tle. The term ‘motorised infan- lem with APCs is that they hull and laminated steel armour S turret. It provides all-round thick of the action. try’ began to be used. lacked firepower. One of the problems faced by During World War II half- Then came the Infantry Fight- protection against 14.5 mm Af- commanders was how to get the tracks were a popular method ing Vehicle (IFV). Not only did ter-piercing rounds. Font arc is infantry to the battlefield. Long of moving troops. They soon they provide protection to the likely to withstand 25 mm ar- route marches with heavy kit became known as ‘mechanised infantry, they were more than mour-piercing rounds. During could see the infantry arrived infantry’. capable of defending them- military conflicts vehicles are on the battlefield exhausted. Armoured Personnel Carriers selves. fitted with extra passive armour During World War I trucks (APC) became popular. They panels for protection against • Width: 2.8 metres 7.62mm co-axial machine RPG rounds. • Height: 2.28 metres gun • Crew: 2 + 8 passengers • Engine: Perkins V-8 Con- Specifications • Main armament: 30 mm dor Diesel; 550 hp (410 kW) 10. Freccia cannon • Operational range: 660 km (Italy) • Weight: 15 t • Length: 5.25 metres • Secondary armament: • Speed: 75 km/h

The Freccia (Italian: Arrow) is an Italian 8x8 wheeled Infan- 8. Piranha V try fighting vehicle in use with (Switzerland) the . The Freccia is an up-ar- moured and revised variant of The Piranha V Infantry Fight- the wheeled Centauro tank de- ing Vehicle (IFV) is one variant stroyer fitted with the Hitfist of the fifth generation of the Plus turret (an evolution of that Mowag Piranha family of ve- used on the Dardo), which is hicles. It was designed by Gen- armed with an Oerlikon KBA eral Dynamics European Land 25mm automatic cannon and Systems - Mowag GmbH. carries 200 rounds of 25mm am- • Height: 3.0 metres chine gun, 8 smoke genera- munition. Two 7.62mm NATO • Crew: 3 crew (commander, tors Specifications machine guns are also fitted. gunner, driver) + 8 passen- • Engine: IVECO Diesel 5HP-1500 V6 405 kW • Weight: 33 t Additionally, a pair of Spike gers • Length: 8 metres MR/LR anti-tank missiles can • Main armament: KBA • Operational range: 1,000 km • Width: 2.99 metres be fitted on the turret. 25mm automatic cannon • Height: 2.34 metres (200 rounds) • Speed: 105 km/h • Crew: 3 + 8 passengers gun km Specifications • Secondary armament: • Main armament: 30mm • Weight: 28 t 7.62mm co-axial machine • Engine: MTU 6V199 TE21 • Speed: 100 km/h chain gun or Scania DC13 • Length: 7.6 metres gun (4,000 cartridges), op- • Secondary armament: • Width: 2.9 metres tional 7.62mm anti-air ma- • 430–480 kW (577–644 hp) 7.62mm co-axial machine • Operational range: 1,000 38 39 head to head head to head 7. BMP-3 5. Kurganets-25 (Russia) (Russia)

The BMP-3 is a Soviet and Developed as a successor to Russian infantry fighting vehi- the BMP-3, the Kurganets-25 cle, successor to the BMP-1 and was still being tested in 2018. BMP-2. It went into service in It is better protected than the 1987. older BMP-3 and is fully am- Originally designed as a light phibious. tank. The BMP-3 is among the few modern IFVs that are ful- Specifications ly amphibious. The abbrevia- • Weight: 28 t tion BMP stands for Boevaya • Length: Unknown Mashina Pehoty. • Width: Unknown • Height: Unknown Specifications • Crew: 3 + 7 passengers • Engine: UTD-29M diesel • Crew: 3 + 8 passengers rnet-EM anti-tank guided • Engine: 800 hp • Weight: 18.7 t • Main armament: 100 mm • 500 hp (375 kW) • Main armament: Bu- missiles • Operational range: Un- • Length: 7.14 metres gun/launcher 2A70 • Operational range: 600 km merang-BM remote weapon • Secondary armament: known • Width: 3.2 metres • Secondary armament: 2 × • Speed: 72 km/h (road), 10 station turret with 30 mm 12.7 mm machine gun re- • Speed: 80 km/h (road), 10 • Height: 2.4 metres 7.62 mm PKT machine guns km/h (water) automatic cannon, 4 x Ko- mote turret, km/h (water) 6. ZBD-04 4. M2 Bradley (China) (United States)

The ZBD-04 or Type 04 is a The M2 Bradley is designed Chinese infantry fighting ve- for reconnaissance and to trans- hicle. It bears some external port a squad of infantry, provid- resemblance to the BMP-3, ing them protection from small particularly with regards to arms fire, while also providing its turret and main armament; firepower to both suppress and however, the chassis and inter- eliminate most threats to friend- nal subsystems possesses a dif- ly infantry. ferent layout. It is designed to be highly The ZBD-04 is believed to manoeuvrable and to be fast be fitted with a collective NBC enough to keep up with heavy protection system, with its air armour during an advance. The filter located behind the turret Bradley entered service with • Main armament: 25 mm 903T 8-cylinder diesel to the right. Like the BMP-3 it • Height: 2.5 metres • Engine: 670 hp diesel the US Army in 1981. M242 Bushmaster Chain • 600 hp (447 kW) is also amphibious. • Crew: 3 + 7 passengers • Operational range: 500 km Gun (900 rounds), 2 × TOW • Operational range: 483 km • Main armament: 100 mm • Speed: 75 km/h (road), 4.3 Specifications Anti-Tank Missile (7 mis- • Speed: 56 km/h Specifications rifled gun km/h (water) • Weight: 27.6 t siles) • Weight: 24 t • Secondary armament: • Length: 6.55 metres • Secondary armament: • Length: 7.2 metres 7.62 mm coaxial machine • Width: 3.6 metres 7.62 mm coaxial M240C • Width: 3.2 metres gun and 4 x HJ-8 anti-tank • Height: 2.98 metres machine gun (2,200 rounds) missiles • Crew: 3 + 6 passengers • Engine: Cummins VTA- 40 41 head to head head to head 3. CV90 1. Puma (Sweden) (Germany)

The Swedish version of the The Puma went into service Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90) is with the German army in 2010. fitted with a turret from Bofors It is currently the most pro- that is equipped with a 40 mm tected production IFV in the Bofors autocannon. Export ver- world. sions are fitted with Hägglunds With maximum level of pro- E-series turrets, armed with ei- tection the Puma is even heavi- ther a 30 mm or a 35 mm Bush- er than a T-72 main battle tank. master auto-cannon. Specifications Specifications Bofors L/70 auto cannon litres diesel V8 engine • Weight: 31.45 t • Weight: 35 t • Secondary armament: • Operational range: 320 km • Length: 7.6 metres • Length: 6.55 metres 7.62 mm Ksp m/39 machine • Speed: 70 km/h • Width: 3.9 metres • Width: 3.1 metres gun, 6 × 76 mm grenade • Secondary armament: sel 800 kilowatts (1,100 hp) • Height: 3.6 metres 5.56 mm HK MG4 machine • Operational range: 460 km • Height: 2.7 metres launchers • Crew: 3 + 6 passengers • Crew: 3 + 8 passengers • Engine: Scania DS14 14 gun • Speed: 70 km/h • Main armament: 30 mm • Engine: MTU V10 892 die- • Main armament: 40mm litres diesel I6 or DC16 16 MK30-2/ABM auto-cannon 2. K21 (South Korea) Shall we remember what war is? Submitted by Rev Ralph Thornley, this moving poem asks the simple, yet complex, question The K21 entered service - What is war? with the South Korean Army in Shall we remember what war is? So shall we 1991. honour war? With the Battle Management What is war? and shall we System (BMS), the vehicle In the human psyche now praise crew and passengers inside the It is the fatal flaw, troubled men? vehicle can be instantly notified A perversion of the human mind, Or shall we re- about the environment around using our greatest brains to create member what them, improving their situation- outrageous threats to all man- war is al awareness. Specifications • Engine: Doosan D2840 kind. and give true A 38 cm screen is installed War is the profoundest disrespect meaning • Weight: 25.6 t LXE diesel 740 hp inside the passenger compart- for the sanctity to “Never • Length: 6.9 metres • Operational range: 500 km ment, which provides various of human life, again” ? • Width: 3.4 metres • Speed: 70 km/h (road), 7 data from the BMS. The vehi- the ultimate in racism, • Height: 2.6 metres km/h (water) Candles are lit on crosses cle is mounted with an external the collapse of morality. This poem is copyright but used • Crew: 3 + 9 passengers among graves of Americans, CCD camera, and the passen- War is with permission of David Rob- • Main armament: K40 40 who died during the Libera- gers inside can survey the envi- The ultimate in criminality, erts mm auto-cannon, 2 x Hyun- tion of Sicily in 1943 and ronment using the same screen. The ultimate obscenity, Author and Editor www.warpo- gung ATGM launchers campaigns leading to the Lib- The K21 is fully amphibious. The ultimate crime against hu- etry.co.uk • Secondary armament: eration of Rome in 1944, on manity. www.rememberingwar.com 7.62 mm M60 GPMG 22 January. 42 43 Famous figures in military history Famous figures in military history

sent home, and he applied to Stuttgart to Barcelona in Spain, fit certificate was discovered. Adolf Galland join the German Army. In the via Geneva and Marseilles. In Major Rheital was rumoured to meantime, he carried on with his December 1933, Galland was have undergone a court-martial, A World War II German general and flying ace, Adolf Galland flew 705 com- flight training. Galland did not recalled to the ZVS headquar- but the investigators dropped bat missions and was credited with 104 aerial victories. He was respected by both receive a reply from the Army ters and offered the chance to the charges. Galland, however, friend and foe alike. and settled down to continue his join the new Luftwaffe. was grounded. training. By Christmas 1932, he Galland found the choice hard He admitted having frag- commercial pilot, a His father promised to buy Reichswehr set up ten schools, had logged 150 hours flying and as he wanted the adventure of a ments of glass in his eye, but fighter ace, holder of the him his own glider if he also at least one in each of the seven had obtained a B2 certificate. military flying career, but as an convinced the doctors he was AKnight’s Cross of the passed his matriculations exam- military districts of Germany. Early in 1933, along with airline pilot, Galland had en- fit for flying duty. Galland was Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and inations, which he succeeded in several other pilots, he was or- joyed the life style of flying and ordered to undergo eye tests to Swords, the youngest general in doing. Pilot training dered to attend an interview at visiting exotic places and was validate his claims. Before the the German armed forces, and a Under the Treaty of Ver- In February 1932, Galland the Zentrale der Verkehrsflieger reluctant to give it up. Never- testing could begin, one of his legend - Adolf Galland was all sailles, Germany was denied an graduated from Hindenburg Schule (ZVS—Central Airline theless, he decided to officially brothers managed to acquire of these and more. air force. They were however Gymnasium (high school) in Pilot School). join the Luftwaffe. the charts. Adolf memorised the allowed gliders and it became Buer and was among 20 person- Here the group were inter- After basic training in the charts passing the test and was Early life the way for fledgling pilots to nel who were accepted to the viewed by military personnel Army, he was discharged from permitted to fly again. Adolf Josef Ferdinand Gal- begin their flying career. The aviation school of Germany’s in civilian clothing. After being his barracks in Dresden in Oc- land was born on 19 March 1912 sport became so popular that the national airline, Luft Hansa. informed of a secret military tober 1934. In February 1935 Condor Legion in Westerholt (now Herten), During the final years of the training program being built Galland was posted to Jagdg- During the Spanish Civil War, Westphalia. Weimar Republic, jobs were that involved piloting high per- eschwader 2 (Fighter Wing 2). Galland was appointed Staf- He was the second of four scarce and life was hard for formance aircraft, all the pilots In October 1935, during aero- felkapitän of a Condor Legion sons of Adolf Galland (senior) the Galland family eco- accepted an invitation to join batic manoeuvre training, he unit, 3. Staffel of Jagdgruppe and his French wife Anna, née nomically. Adolf had the organisation. crashed a Focke-Wulf Fw 44 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group), Schipper. some experience of flying In May 1933, Galland was or- biplane and was in a coma for which was sent to support the Galland developed a lifelong gliders so he applied to dered to a meeting in Berlin as three days, other injuries were Nationalist side under Franco at interest in flying which began in the Deutsche Verkehrs- one of 12 civilian pilots among a damaged eye, fractured skull Ferrol from mid-1937. Galland 1927 when a group of aviation fliegerschule or DVS 70 airmen who came from clan- and broken nose. flew ground attack missions in enthusiasts brought a glider club (German Commercial destine programmes, meeting When Galland recovered, he Heinkel He 51s. to Borkenberge. Flying School) which Hermann Göring for the first was declared unfit for flying In Spain, Galland first dis- It was here that the Gelsen- was heavily subsidised by time. Galland was impressed by the doctors. A friend, Ma- played his unique style: flying kirchen Luftsportverein (Air Luft Hansa. by and believed Göring to be a jor Rheital, kept the doctors in swimming trunks with a ci- Sports Club of Gelsenkirch- He was one of 100 suc- competent leader. report secret to allow Adolf to gar between his teeth in an air- en) created an interest in flying cessful applicants out of In July 1933, Galland trav- continue flying. The expansion craft decorated with a Mickey among young Germans. Galland 4,000. After ten days of evalua- elled to Italy to train with the of the Luftwaffe and his own Mouse figure. When asked why travelled by foot or horse-drawn tions, he was among just 18 se- Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Geschwader (wing) flooded the he developed this style, he gave wagon 30 kilometres until his lected for flight training. Ado- Force). Initially the Germans administration officers and Gal- a simple answer: father bought him a mo- lf was then assessed were treated as inferior by the land’s medical report was over- “I like Mickey Mouse. I al- torcycle to help pre- on performance. Italians, but after Galland had looked. Within a year, Galland ways have. And I like cigars, pare the gliders Those that did not flown some daring and impres- showed no signs of injury from but I had to give them up after for flight. reach the standard sive low-level manoeuvres, the his crash. the war.” Galland be- were sent home. German contingent won their In October 1936 he crashed Galland flew his first of 300 came an outstand- His early ca- hosts’ respect. an Arado Ar 68 and was hospi- combat missions in Spain. Fol- ing glider pilot; reer went badly. As a part of his training, be- talised again, aggravating his in- lowing the Nationalist victory he became an in- So badly he was ginning in October 1933, Gal- jured eye. It was at this point his was awarded the ‘Spanish Cross structor at the age convinced he land flew Lufthansa airliners. previous medical report came in Gold with Swords and Dia- of 19. would soon be Flying the Junkers G24 from to light again and Galland’s un- monds’ for his contributions. 44 45 Famous figures in military history Famous figures in military history

Before leaving he made ten ond Class. France. During the Battle of schmitt Bf 109Es. On 19 July for the growing bomber losses. the award from . flights in the Bf 109; deeply im- Dunkirk, after encountering the 1940, he was promoted to Ma- In a front line General Officer On 9 August 1941, RAF ace pressed with the performance of for the first jor and JG 26 moved to the Pas briefing on Luftwaffe tactics, bailed out over the aircraft, it persuaded him to On 10 May 1940, the Wehr- time, Galland was impressed de , where they were to Göring asked what his fighter St Omer, France. Bader was change from a strike pilot to a macht invaded the Low Coun- with these aircraft and their pi- remain for the next 18 months pilots needed to win the battle. well known to the Luftwaffe fighter pilot. tries and France under the lots. with III./JG 26 based at Caffiers. Werner Mölders replied that and at the time of his capture codename Fall Gelb. JG 27 As Galland noted, the nature As the battles over the Chan- he would like the Bf 109 to be had been credited with 22 aerial Invasion of Poland supported German forces in the and style of the air battles over nel continued, Galland shot fitted with more powerful en- victories. Just before the outbreak of Battle for Belgium. On the third the beaches should have provid- down Spitfires on 25 and 28 gines. Galland and JG 26 entertained war, Galland was promoted to day of the offensive, 12 May ed a warning as to the inherent July, bringing his total to 17. Galland replied: “I should Bader over the next few days. Hauptmann (Captain). 1940, Galland claimed his first weaknesses of the Luftwaffe’s On 1 , Galland was like an outfit of Spitfires for my Owing to the significant stature During the invasion of Poland aerial victories, over two Royal force structure. awarded the Knight’s Cross of squadron.” which left Göring of the prisoner, Galland permit- from 1 September 1939 onward, Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hurri- By the end of the campaign the Iron Cross. By 15 August, in speechless with rage. Galland ted Bader, under escort, to sit in he flew with 4 Staffel, II./Lehrg- canes. Galland claimed his third Galland has 12 victories to his two weeks’ fighting over Brit- still preferred the Bf 109 for of- the cockpit of a Bf 109. Appar- eschwader 2. Equipped with the Hurricane later that same day credit. On 6 June 1940, Galland ain, Galland had increased his fensive sweeps, but he regarded ently, despite losing one of his Henschel Hs 123, nicknamed over Tienen. took over the command of III./ own tally to 21. the Spitfire as a better defensive tin legs in the aircraft, Bader, the “biplane Stuka,” supporting On 19 May, Galland shot 26 “Schla- Galland was summoned to fighter, owing to its manoeuvra- in a semi-serious way, asked if the German Tenth Army. down a French Potez aircraft. geter” (III./JG 26—3rd group of Karinhall, Herman Göring’s bility. they wouldn’t mind if he took Galland ceased combat oper- He continued flying and the the 26th Fighter Wing) with the country residence, on 18 Au- During the , it on a test flight around the air- ations on 19 September 1939, next day, claimed another three position of Gruppenkomman- gust 1940, and missed the in- the question of killing enemy field. Galland replied that he having flown 87 missions. Af- more aircraft, making a total of deur. tense air battle that day, known pilots while in their parachutes feared Douglas would attempt ter flying nearly 360 seven. For this he was awarded as The Hardest Day. During the was raised. In another conver- to escape and they would have missions in two wars the Iron Cross First Class from Battle of Britain meeting, Göring insisted that, in sation with Göring, Galland re- to give chase and shoot at each and averaging two Erhard Milch on 22 May. From June 1940 on, Galland combat, Bf 109 fighters escort called: other again, and declined the re- missions per day, With the effective defeat of flew as the Gruppenkomman- Bf 110s, which could not sur- Göring wanted to know if quest. on 13 September Belgium JG 27 was moved deur of III./JG 26 (JG vive against single-engine fight- we had ever thought about 1939, Galland into forward airfields 26), fighting in the ers. this. “Jawohl, Herr Re- High Command was award- to support the Battle of Britain As high-scoring aces, both ichsmarschall!” In November 1941, he was ed the Iron invasion of with Messer- Galland and Werner Mölders He looked me straight in the chosen by Göring to command Cross Sec- shared their concerns that close eyes and said, “What would you Germany’s fighter force asGen - escort of Bf 110s and bombers think of an order to shoot down eral der Jagdflieger, succeed- robbed fighter pilots of their pilots who were bailing out? “I ing Werner Mölders who had freedom to roam and engage the should regard it as murder, Herr just been killed in an air crash enemy on their own terms. They ”, I told him, en route to attend the funeral of also pointed to the fact that Ger- “I should do everything in my Ernst Udet. Galland was not en- man bombers flew at medium power to disobey such an or- thusiastic about his promotion, altitudes and low speed, the best der”. “That is just the reply I had seeing himself as a combat lead- height area and speed for the expected from you, Galland”. er and not wanting to be “tied to manoeuvrability of the Spitfire. On 23 September, Galland a desk job”. He was the young- Galland resented his pilots hav- became the third member of est General in the armed forces. ing to carry out a task unsuited the Wehrmacht to receive the Galland was outspoken, to their equipment but Göring Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross something that was not often would not move from his posi- with Oak Leaves for achieving tolerated by Göring. Yet, by tion. his 39th and 40th aerial victo- earning and cultivating the sup- During the battle, the fighter ries. On 25 September, he was port of other powerful person- pilots were criticised by Göring summoned to Berlin to receive alities in the Luftwaffe, like Er-

46 47 Famous figures in military history Famous figures in military history hard Milch and Günther Korten, land had a mutual dislike, and tact with eventually released on 28 April was a best-seller in 14 languag- wargame at and personalities in the industri- after Galland had removed the forces to negotiate the surrender 1947. es and sold three million copies. Sandhurst in the United King- al sector such as Albert Speer Austrian from his personal staff of his unit. The act itself was It was well received by the RAF dom, replicating the planned and even Adolf Hitler, Galland in September 1944, Gollob dangerous. SS forces roamed Post-war and USAF. German invasion of Britain in was able to survive in his posi- started to gather evidence to use the countryside and towns exe- After his release, he travelled Galland returned to Ger- 1940 (which the German side tion for three years. against Galland, detailing false cuting anyone who was consid- to Schleswig-Holstein to join many and was approached by lost). In 1975, he was a guest at Galland’s position as General accusations of his gambling, ering capitulation. Baroness Gisela von Donner, Amt Blank, a commissioner for the RAF Museum Hendon, dur- der Jagdflieger brought him into womanising, and alleged pri- The Americans requested an earlier acquaintance, on her Chancellor Konrad Adenauer ing the unveiling of the Battle of gradual conflict with Göring as vate use of Luftwaffe transport that Galland fly his unit and Me estate and lived with her three for the purpose of joining the Britain Hall, where he was en- the war continued. Galalnd was aircraft. 262s to a USAAF controlled children. During this time, Gal- new Bundeswehr now that West tertained by Prince Charles. often with odds with Goring The official reason for his be- airfield. Galland declined cit- land found work as a forestry Germany was to join NATO as a In 1980, Galland’s eyesight and Hitler on how to prosecute ing relieved of command was ing poor weather and technical worker. There he convalesced military power. became too poor for him to fly the air war. his ill health. Göring suspected problems. In reality, Galland and came to terms with his ca- In 1955, General Nathan and he retired as a pilot. How- Göring’s influence was in de- Galland of organising the rebel- was not going to hand over Me reer and Nazi war crimes. Twining, the chief of staff of the ever, he continued to attend nu- cline by late 1944 and he had lion, and wanted all the ring- 262 jets to the Americans. Gal- Galland began to hunt for the USAF, sent a secret telegram merous aviation events, to in- fallen out of favour with Hit- leaders to face Court-martial. land had harboured the belief family and traded the kills in to General William H. Tunner, clude being a periodic guest of ler. Göring became increasingly For his own safety, Galland that the Western Alliance would the local markets to supplement commander of United States the U.S. Air Force for their an- hostile to Galland, blaming him went to a retreat in the Harz soon be at war with the Soviet meagre meat rations. Soon Gal- Air Forces in Europe. Claim- nual “Gathering of Eagles” pro- and the fighter pilots for the sit- Mountains. where was effec- Union, and he wanted to join land rediscovered his love of ing Galland’s alleged “strong gram at the Air Command and uation. tively under house arrest. Hit- American forces and to use his flying. Kurt Tank, the designer neo-Nazi leanings”, associa- Staff College at Maxwell AFB, On 17 January, a group of sen- ler, who liked Galland, had not unit in the coming war to free of the Fw 190, requested that he tion with prominent neo-Nazis Alabama, USA. ior pilots took part in a “Fighter heard of the events. Germany from Communist oc- go to his home in Minden to dis- such as Hans-Ulrich Rudel, and By the 1980s, Galland was Pilots Revolt”. Galland’s high However, when he learned of cupation. Galland replied, mak- cuss a proposal. Tank had been his known service to the Perón regularly attending the funer- standing with his fighter pilot them he ordered that “all this ing his whereabouts known to asked to work for the British dictatorship, which was not als of friends like Tuck, and peers led to a group of the most nonsense” [the treatment of the Americans, and offering his and Soviets, and had narrow- on good terms with the United also Douglas Bader, who had decorated Luftwaffe combat Galland], was to stop immedi- surrender once they arrived at ly avoided being forcibly kid- States, Twining asked that Tun- died on 5 September 1982 after leaders loyal to Galland (in- ately. the Tegernsee hospital where he napped by the latter. ner communicate to the Ger- speaking at a dinner for Arthur cluding Johannes Steinhoff and Hitler had been informed by was being treated. Tank, through a contact in man government that although Harris. In June 1983 he attended Günther Lützow) confronting Albert Speer, who in turn had Galland then ordered his unit, Denmark, informed Galland the United States made it clear the funeral of Gerhard Barkhorn Göring with a list of demands been informed of events by one which had then moved to Salz- about the possibility of the Ar- the appointment was entirely (Germany’s second highest ace for the survival of their service. of Galland’s close friends. burg and Innsbruck, to destroy gentinian Government employ- the choice of the Germans, they after Erich Hartmann) and his Göring initially suspected In the end, Göring contacted their Me 262s. At the time of ing him as a test pilot for Tank’s disapproved of Galland for the wife Christl, who had died in a Galland had instigated the un- Galland and invited him to Ka- his surrender, Galland had filed new generation of fighters Gal- position of Inspektor (chief of traffic accident. rest.Heinrich Himmler had rinhall. In light of his service to claims for 104 Allied aircraft land accepted and flew to - Ar staff) to the German Air Force. In early February 1996, Gal- wanted to put Galland on trial the fighter arm, he promised no shot down. His claims included gentina. He settled with Gisela In 1969, he served as techni- land was taken seriously ill. He for treason himself; the SS and further action would be taken seven with the Me 262. in El Palomar, Buenos Aires. cal adviser for the film Battle of had wanted to die at home and Gestapo had already begun in- against him and offered com- On 14 May 1945, Galland For his services to , Britain, in which the character so was released from hospital vestigations into who he associ- mand of a unit of Me 262 jets. was flown to England and in- Galland was awarded a pilot’s Major Falke is based on Gal- and returned to his own house. ated with. The Oberkommando Galland accepted on the under- terrogated by RAF personnel wings badge and the title of the land. He became good friends With his wife Heidi, son and der Luftwaffe (OKL) appointed standing that Gollob had no ju- about the Luftwaffe, its organ- Honorary Argentine Military with ex-RAF pilots such as Rob- daughter present, he was given the more politically acceptable risdiction over him or his unit. isation, his role in it and techni- Pilot. Later that year[when?] ert Stanford Tuck and Douglas the last rites. Adolf Galland died Gordon Gollob, a National So- cal questions. Galland returned Galland left South America. By Bader. at 01:15 in the morning of Tues- cialist supporter, to succeed him to Germany on 24 August and that time, he had begun writing Galland took part in many en- day, 9 February 1996 at the age as General der Jagdflieger on Surrender was imprisoned at Hohenpeis- his autobiography, The First and gagements throughout the 1960s of 83. His body was buried at St 23 January. By late April, the war was ef- senberg. On 7 October, Galland the Last (Die Ersten und die and 1970s. In 1974, he was part Laurentius Church, Oberwinter Although professional con- fectively over. On 1 May 1945, was returned to England for fur- Letzten), that was published in of the remaining German Gen- on 21 February. A memorial ser- temporaries, Gollob and Gal- Galland attempted to make con- ther interrogation. Galland was 1954 by Franz Schneekluth. It eral Staff that took part in the vice was held on 31 March. 48 49 Forged in that could recognise and speak Choctaw language. thirty anthropologists to the the language, it was in code. Upon further investigation, he United States to learn Native battle It was during World War I that found eight Choctaw men serv- American languages. the Americans came up with a ing in the battalion. Eventually, However, the task proved too solution. Most Native Amer- 14 Choctaw men in the Army’s difficult because of the array of icans had their own language 36th Infantry Division trained languages and dialects. None- E-yih-sih yil-tas and dialects that few people to use their language in code. theless, the U.S. Army, learning could speak. They helped the American Ex- of the Nazi effort, opted not to The Code Talkers The first known use of Native peditionary Forces in several implement a large-scale code Americans in the United States key battles in the Meuse-Ar- talker program in the European Using a language that few could speak, Native Americans developed their own code words as a means of secret communication during wartime. military to transmit messages gonne Offensive in France, dur- Theater. under fire was a group of Cher- ing the final large German push 14 Comanche code talkers okee troops used by the Ameri- of the war. did take part in the Invasion of ommunication has al- electro-mechanical rotor ci- that messages often have to be can 30th Infantry Division serv- Within 24 hours of the Choc- Normandy, and continued to ways been an integral phers, and the Germans believed sent and responded to quickly. ing alongside the British during taw language being pressed serve in the 4th Infantry Divi- Cpart of human life. the code to be unbreakable. There is not enough time to first the Second Battle of the Somme into service, the tide of the bat- sion in Europe. Comanche sol- Communication is also vital Unfortunately for them, the encode them. in World War I. According to tle had turned. In less than 72 diers of the 4th Signal Company during times of war. Orders, re- British did finally manage to What was needed was for the Division Signal Officer, this hours, the Germans were re- compiled a vocabulary of over ports and messages need to be break the code. This was un- messages to be sent in plain lan- took place in September 1918. treating and the Allies were in 100 code terms using words or both transmitted and received. known to the Germans and the guage. Naturally, these messag- Their unit was under British full attack. phrases in their own language. The problem is that communi- information gleaned was vital to es could be intercepted by the command at the time. Before the outbreak of World Using a substitution method cations can often be intercepted the Allied war effort. enemy. During World War I, company War II the Germans knew about similar to the Navajo, the Co- by the enemy. This is why the The problem with codes is But what if the messages commander Captain Lawrence the use of code talkers during manche code word for military goes to great lengths to that most of them can eventually were in a language that the ene- of the U.S. Army overheard World War I. They sent a team transmit secret and important be broken. Another problem is my could not understand. And, Solomon Louis and Mitchell of some communications in some form even if the enemy did man- Bobb conversing in the of code. age to find someone During World War II the Ger- mans used Engima machines to code and decode communi- cation. The machine used

50 51 tank was “turtle,” bomber was Pacific Fleet, and his staff. Each letter of the alphabet had would likely have been broken “pregnant airplane,” machine Johnston staged tests under as many as three code words. if a native speaker and trained gun was “sewing machine,” simulated combat conditions For example be-la-sana was the cryptographers could have and Adolf Hitler was referred which demonstrated that Nava- word for apple, or the letter A. worked together effectively. to as “crazy white man.” jo men could encode, transmit, Various organisations had The Japanese had an opportu- Two Comanche code talkers and decode a three-line English their own code words. Din- nity to attempt this when they were assigned to each regiment message in 20 seconds, versus neh-ih was the Navajo word for captured Joe Kieyoomia in the while the rest were assigned to the 30 minutes required by ma- ‘clan’. This was also the code Philippines in 1942 during the 4th Infantry Division headquar- chines at that time. word for the Marine Corps. Bataan Death March. ters. Shortly after landing on The idea was accepted, with Has-clish-nij translated as Kieyoomia, a Navajo sergeant Utah Beach on 6 June 1944, the Vogel recommending that the ‘mud’, the code for ‘platoon’. in the US Army, but not a code Comanche began transmitting Marines recruit 200 Navajo. There were also code words talker, was ordered to interpret messages. Some were wounded The first 29 Navajo recruits at- for various officer ranks, coun- the radio messages later in the but none killed. tended boot camp in May 1942. tries, months of the year, air- war. However, since Kieyoomia There were only 168 Meskwa- This first group created the craft,and ships. had not participated in the code ki in Iowa and in January 1941, Navajo code at Camp Pendle- There were also individu- training, the messages made no 27 of them enlisted together in ton, Oceanside, California. al codes for 551 words that sense to him. When he reported the US Army. They used their ranged from abandon to zone. that he could not understand the language against the Germans Talking the code This meant that the code talkers messages, his captors tortured during fighting in North Africa. CRYPTIC COMMS: A Navajo code talker in action somewhere The Navajo code was formal- had to have exceptional powers him. In World War II, native Cree in the Pacific during World War II. ly developed and modelled on of recall to memorise all 551 The Japanese Imperial Army speakers were used as code the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic words. and Navy never cracked the talkers for the Canadian Armed line operations during World tries. It was our responsibility Alphabet that uses agreed-upon Uninitiated Navajo speakers spoken code. In fact the Navajo Forces. Due to oaths of secre- War II. to defend her.” English words to represent let- would have no idea what the code is the only spoken military cy, and official classification Philip Johnston, a civil engi- Because Navajo has a com- ters. code talkers’ messages meant; code never to have been deci- through 1963, the role of Cree neer for the city of Los Angeles, plex grammar, it is not mutu- As it was determined that they would hear only truncat- phered. speakers has gone unacknowl- proposed the use of Navajo to ally intelligible enough with phonetically spelling out all ed and disjointed strings of in- The Navajo code talkers were edged by the Canadian govern- the United States Marine Corps even its closest relatives within military terms letter by letter dividual, unrelated nouns and commended for the skill, speed, ment. at the beginning of World War the Na-Dene family to provide into words – while in combat verbs. and accuracy they demonstrated II. meaningful information. – would be too time-consum- Non-speakers would find throughout the war. At the Bat- Navajo Johnston, a World War I vet- At the time, it was still an un- ing, some terms, concepts, tac- it extremely difficult to accu- tle of Iwo Jima, Major Howard Perhaps the most well known eran, was raised on the Navajo written language, and Johnston tics, and instruments of modern rately distinguish unfamiliar Connor, 5th Marine Division code talkers of all time were the reservation as the son of a mis- believed Navajo could satisfy warfare were given uniquely sounds used in these languag- signal officer, had six Navajo Navajo Native Americans. sionary to the Navajo and was the military requirement for an formal descriptive nomencla- es. Additionally, a speaker who code talkers working around the The US Marine Corps recruit- one of the few non-Navajo who undecipherable code due to it tures in Navajo. has acquired a language during clock during the first two days ed between 400 and 500 hun- spoke the language fluently. only being spoken on the Nava- For example, the word for their childhood sounds distinct- of the battle. These six sent and dred Navajo to serve in standard Some in authority wondered jo lands of the American South- “shark” referred to a destroyer, ly different from a person who received over 800 messages, communications units in the whether the Navajo, who had west. Its syntax and tonal qual- while “silver oak leaf” indicat- acquired the same language all without error. Connor later Pacific Theatre. been treated poorly by the US ities, not to mention dialects, ed the rank of lieutenant colo- in later life, thus reducing the stated, “Were it not for the Nav- Their primary job was to government, would want to fight made it unintelligible to anyone nel. chance of successful impostors ajos, the Marines would never transmit secret tactical mes- for the U.S., but many Navajo without extensive exposure and A codebook was developed to sending false messages. have taken Iwo Jima.” sages. Code talkers transmitted enlisted shortly after Pearl Har- training. teach the many relevant words Navajo was an attractive To ensure a consistent use of these messages over military bour and eagerly contributed to One estimate indicates that and concepts to new initiates. choice for code use because few code terminologies throughout telephone or radio communi- the war effort. at the outbreak of World War The text was for classroom pur- people outside the Navajo had the Pacific Theatre, representa- cations nets using formal or “What happened to the Nav- II, fewer than 30 non-Navajo poses only and was never to be learned to speak the language. tive code talkers of each of the informally developed codes ajo were social conflicts”, could understand the language. taken into the field. The code Almost no books in Navajo had U.S. Marine divisions met in built upon their native languag- said Navajo code talker Al- Early in 1942, Johnston met talkers memorized all these var- been published. Outside of the Hawaii to discuss shortcomings es. Their service improved the bert Smith. “But this conflict with Major General Clayton iations and practiced their rapid language, the Navajo spoken in the code, incorporate new speed of encryption of commu- involved Mother Earth being B. Vogel, the commanding use under stressful conditions code was not very complex terms into the system, and up- nications at both ends in front dominated by foreign coun- general of Amphibious Corps, during training. by cryptographic standards. It date their codebooks. 52 53 These representatives, in turn, trained other code talkers who Navajo Code could not attend the meeting. As the war progressed, addition- Here are some of the code • Communication : Ha-neh- hi : Sitting gun. al code words were added and words used by the Navajo dur- al-enji : Making talk. • Negative : Do-ya-sho-da : incorporated program-wide. In ing World War II. The actu- • Condition : Ah-ho-tai : No good. other instances, informal short- al word is given first, then the How it is. • Number : Beh-bih-ke-as- cut code words were devised for Navajo code word, followed by • Demolition : Ah-deel-tahi : chinigh : What’s written. a particular campaign and not the literal translation. Blow up. • Pontoon : Tkosh-jah-da-na- disseminated beyond the area of • Desperate : Ah-dah-dah- elt : Floating barrel. operation. • Alternative : Na-kee-go- ho-szah - Down to last. • Problem : Na-nish-tsoh : Many code talkers would be ne-nan-dey-he : Second • Dispatch : La-chai-en-seis- Big job. accompanied by a Marine that Position. be-jay : Dog is patch. • Pyrotechnic : Coh-na- • Amphibious : Chal : Frog. • Flare : Wo-chi : Light chanh : Fancy Fire. acted as a body guard. The ru- PAYING TRIBUTE: US President Donald Trump pays tribute to mour that the body guard’s job three Navajo code talkers at a ceremony in the Oval Office of • Armour : Besh-ye-ha-da- streak. • Reconnaissance : Ha-a-cidi was to shoot and kill the code the White House. di-teh : Iron protector. • Fragmentation - Besh- : Inspector. talker if there was a danger of • Artillery : Be-al-doh-tso- yazzie : Small metal. • River : Toh-yil-kal : Much them being captured was not August 1982, as “Navajo Code dent George W. Bush, recog- lani - Many big guns. • Grenade : Ni-ma-si : Pota- water. true. Talkers Day”. nizing every Native American • Bomb : A-ye-shi : Eggs. toes. • Rocket : Lesz-yil-beshi : “With their skin tone and On 21 December 2000, Pres- code talker who served in the • Bunker : Tsas-ka : Sandy • Hospital : A-zey-al-ih : Sand boil. facial features, many Native ident Bill Clinton signed Public United States military during hollow. Place of medicine. • Sailor : Cha-le-gai : White Americans looked Japanese,” Law 106-554, 114 Statute 2763, World War I or World War II • Cable : Besh-lkoh - Wire • Intelligence : Ho-ya : caps. said an unofficial source. “The which awarded the Congres- (with the exception of the al- Rope. Smart. • Scout : Ha-a-sid-al-sizi-gih bodyguards were there to pro- sional Gold Medal to the orig- ready-awarded Navajo) with • Casualty : Bih-din-ne-dey : • Machine gun : A-knah-as- : Short raccoon. tect them from being shot by our inal 29 World War II Navajo a Congressional Gold Medal. Put out of action. donih : Rapid fire gun. • Sniper : Oh-behi : Pick ‘em own troops.” code talkers and Silver Medals The act was designed to be dis- • Cemetery : Jish-cha : • Minute : Ah-khay-el-kit- off. The last of the original 29 Nav- to each person who qualified as tinct for each tribe, with silver Among devils. yazzie. • Tank : Chay-da-gahi - Tor- ajo code talkers who developed a Navajo code talker (approxi- duplicates awarded to the in- • Code : Yil-tas : Peck. • Mortar : Be-al-doh-cid-ha- toise. the code, Chester Nez, died on 4 mately 300). dividual code talkers or their June 2014. In July 2001, U.S. President next-of-kin. As of 2013, 33 Click on the photograph below to take a virtual tour of Warrior’s Gate According to CNN, one of the George W. Bush personally pre- tribes have been identified and and find out more about the MOTH Order. last of the Navajo code talkers sented the medals to four sur- been honoured at a ceremony at used in the military, Alfred K. viving original code talkers (the Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Newman, died on 13 January fifth living original code talker Capitol Visitor Centre. One 2019, at the age of 94. was unable to attend) at a cer- surviving code talker, Edmond The deployment of the Navajo emony held in the Capitol Ro- Harjo, was present, . code talkers continued through tunda in Washington, D.C. Gold On 27 November 2017, three the Korean War and after, until it medals were presented to the Navajo code talkers, along with was ended early in the Vietnam families of the deceased 24 orig- the president of the Navajo Na- War. inal code talkers. tion, Russell Begaye, appeared On 17 September 2007, 18 with President Donald Trump Post- War Recognition Choctaw code talkers were post- in the Oval Office in an official The Navajo code talkers re- humously awarded the Texas White House ceremony. They ceived no recognition until the Medal of Valour from the Adju- were there to “...pay tribute to declassification of the operation tant General of the State of Tex- the contributions of the young in 1968. as for their World War II service. Native Americans recruited by In 1982, the code talkers were On 15 November 2008, The the United States military to given a Certificate of Recogni- Code Talkers Recognition Act create top-secret coded messag- tion by U.S. President Ronald of 2008 (Public Law 110-420), es used to communicate during Reagan, who also named 14 was signed into law by Presi- [World War II] battles.” 54 55 The Americans called it ‘The Mog’ - Mogadishu, the captive targets a few minutes the time it would take to do so, Cliff “Elvis” Wolcott and CW3 capital of Somalia. In October a raid planned to capture after the operation’s beginning, leaving the helicopter too ex- Donovan “Bull” Briley, was key members of Mohamed Farrah Aidid militia went but it ran into delays. posed, Chalk Four intended to shot down by an RPG. Both battlefield horribly wrong. The subsequent battle become known Somali citizens and local mi- move down to the planned po- pilots were killed in the result- litia formed barricades along sition, but intense ground fire ing crash and two of the crew as ‘Black Hawk Down’. Mogadishu’s streets with rocks, prevented them from doing so. chiefs were severely wounded. he Battle of Mogadishu took place on 3 longer than one hour. wreckage, rubbish and burning The ground convoy arrived S/Sgt Daniel Busch and Sgt Jim and 4 October 1993 in Mogadishu, So- tires, blocking the convoy from ten minutes later near the Olym- Smith, both Delta snipers, sur- malia. It was fought between forces of The plan reaching the Rangers and their pic Hotel and waited for Delta vived the crash and began de- B T captives. and Rangers to complete their fending the site. the United States - supported by UNOSOM II On Sunday 3 October 1993, United Nations Operation in Somalia II) - and Task Force Ranger, U.S. special Aidid militiamen with mega- mission (target building). An MH-6, callsign Star 41 a Somali militiamen loyal to the self-proclaimed operations forces composed phones were shouting, “Kasoo- During the operation’s first and piloted by CW3 Karl Maier president-to-be Mohamed Farrah Aidid, who mainly of Bravo Company 3rd baxa guryaha oo iska celsa moments, Ranger PFC Todd and CW5 Keith Jones, landed t had support from armed fighters. Battalion, 75th Ranger Regi- cadowga!” (“Come out and de- Blackburn, from Chalk Four, nearby and Jones left the heli- The battle was part of Operation Gothic Ser- ment, 1st Special Forces Oper- fend your homes!”). fell while fast-roping from his copter and carried Busch to the t pent and is also referred to as the First Battle of ational Detachment-Delta (bet- Black Hawk Super 67 while it safety of the helicopter while Mogadishu, to distinguish it amongst the nine ter known as “Delta Force”) The raid was hovering 21 metres above Maier provided cover fire from major Battles of Mogadishu during the dec- operators, and the 160th Spe- At 15:42, the MH-6 assault the streets. Blackburn suffered the Little Bird’s cockpit, repeat- l ades-long Somali Civil War. cial Operations Aviation Reg- Little Birds carrying the Del- an injury to his head and back edly denying orders to lift off The battle resulted in the loss of 21 US/UN iment (Airborne) (“The Night ta operators hit the target, the of his neck and required evac- while his co-pilot was not in the e troops, including 19 American, 82 wounded, Stalkers”), attempted to capture wave of dust becoming so bad uation by Sgt Jeff Struecker’s Bird. He nearly hit Chalk One’s and one captured. The Somali’s lost between Aidid’s foreign minister Omar that one was forced to go around column of three Humvees. Lt DiTomasso arriving with 2,000 and 4,000 militia and volunteers. Salad Elmi and his top politi- again and land out of position. While taking PFC Todd Rangers and Delta operators to cal advisor, Mohamed Hassan Next, the two Black Hawks Blackburn back to base, Sgt secure the site. Jones and Maier o Background Awale. carrying the second Delta as- Dominick Pilla, assigned to Sgt evacuated S/Sgt Busch and Sgt Task Force Ranger was created in August The plan was that Delta op- sault team led by DELTA of- Struecker’s Humvee, was killed Smith, though SSG Busch later 1993, and deployed to Somalia. It consisted erators would assault the target ficer Capt Austin “Scott” Miller instantly when a bullet struck died of his injuries, having been f of various elite special operations units from building (using MH-6 Little came into position and dropped his head. shot four times while defending Army, Air Force and Navy special services: U.S. Bird helicopters) and secure the their teams as the four Ranger When Sgt Struecker’s Hum- the crash site. Army Rangers from Bravo Company, 3rd Bat- targets inside the building while chalks prepared to rope onto the vee column reached the base A Combat Search and Res- talion 75th Ranger Regiment; C Squadron, 1st four Ranger chalks (sticks or four corners surrounding the and safety, all three vehicles cue (CSAR) team, led by Delta M Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta sections) would fast rope down target building. were riddled with bullet holes Operator Capt Bill J. Coultrup (1st SFOD-D), better known as “Delta Force”; from hovering MH-60L Black Chalk Four being carried by and were smoking. and Air Force Pararescueman o helicopters flown by 1st Battalion, 160th Spe- Hawk helicopters. Black Hawk callsign Super 67, Master Sgt Scott C. Fales, were cial Operations Aviation Regiment; Air Force The Rangers would then cre- piloted by CW3 Jeff Niklaus, Black Hawk down able to fast rope down to Super Combat Controllers; Air Force Pararescuemen; ate a four-corner defensive pe- was accidentally put a block At about 16:20, one of the 61’s crash site despite an RPG g and Navy SEALs. rimeter around the target build- north of their intended point. Black Hawk helicopters, call- hit that crippled their helicop- As a multi-disciplinary joint special forces ing to isolate it and ensure that Declining the pilot’s offer to sign Super 61 piloted by CW3 ter, Super 68, piloted by CW3 a operation, Task Force Ranger reported to Joint no enemy could get in or out, move them back down due to Special Operations Command, led by Major while a column of nine HM- d General William F. Garrison. MWVs and three M939 five- On 3 October 1993, Task Force Ranger began ton trucks would arrive at the i an operation that involved traveling from their building to take the entire as- compound on the city’s outskirts to the center sault team and their prisoners with the aim of capturing the leaders of the back to base. The entire oper- s Habr Gidr clan, led by Mohamed Farrah Aidid. ation was estimated to take no The assault force consisted of nineteen aircraft, longer than 30 minutes. h twelve vehicles (including nine Humvees), and The ground-extraction con- u 160 men. The operation was intended to last no voy was supposed to reach the 56 57 Dan Jollota. Dycus realised that there was of several of the conflict’s US Despite the damage, Super 68 no room left in the vehicles for casualties (Black Hawk Super did make it back to base. The them and were forced to depart 64’s crewmembers and their CSAR team found both the pi- the city on foot to a rendezvous defenders, Delta Force sol- lots dead and two wounded in- point on National Street. This diers Master Sgt Gordon and side the crashed helicopter. Un- has been commonly referred to SFC Shughart) were dragged der intense fire, the team moved as the “Mogadishu Mile”. through Mogadishu’s streets by the wounded men to a nearby In all, 19 U.S. soldiers were crowds of local civilians and collection point, where they killed in action during the bat- SNA forces. built a makeshift shelter using tle or shortly after, and anoth- Through negotiation and Kevlar armour plates salvaged er 73 were wounded in action. threats to the Habr Gidr clan from Super 61’s wreckage. The Malaysian forces lost one leaders by Special Envoy for There was confusion between Mohamed Farrah Aidid soldier and had seven injured, Somalia, Robert B. Oakley, all the ground convoy and the as- while the Pakistanis also lost the bodies were eventually re- sault team. The assault team cantly complicated and delayed. one soldier and suffered two covered. The bodies were re- and the ground convoy waited Determined to protect all of injured. Somali casualties were turned in poor condition, one for 20 minutes to receive their TECHNICAL: One of the challenges faced by the Americans in the rescue convoy’s members, heavy, with estimates of fatal- with a severed head. Mogadishu was the Somali ‘Technical’. These are Toyota pick- orders to move out. Both units General Garrison made sure ities ranging from 315 to over Michael Durant was released ups armed with anything from a 106 recoiless to 12,7 mm that the convoy would roll out in were under the mistaken im- heavy machine guns. 2,000 combatants. The Soma- after 11 days of captivity. On pression that they were to be force. When the convoy finally li casualties were a mixture of the beach near the base, a me- first contacted by the other. pushed into the city, it consisted militiamen and local civilians. morial was held for those who inserted were denied, but they mously awarded the Medal of of more than 100 U.N. vehicles Somali civilians suffered heavy were killed in combat. Another Black Hawk down were finally granted permission Honour, the first awarded since including Malaysian forces’ casualties due to the dense ur- A total of two Medals of Hon- During the wait, a second upon their third request. They the Vietnam War. German-made Condor APCs, ban character of that portion of our, seven Silver Stars, and 11 Black Hawk helicopter, callsign inflicted heavy casualties on the Repeated attempts by the So- four Pakistani tanks (M48s), Mogadishu. Bronze Stars were awarded to Super 64 and piloted by CW3 approaching Somali mob. to mass forces and over- American Humvees and several On 6 October, a mortar round those that took pare in the bat- Michael Durant, was shot down Super 62 had kept up their fire run the American positions in M939 five-ton flatbed trucks. fell on the U.S. compound, tle. by an RPG-7 at around 16:40. support for Master Sgt Gordon a series of firefights near the This two-mile-long column making Delta Operator SFC At the time the battle was the Most of the assault team went and SFC Shughart, but an RPG first crash site were neutralized was supported by several other Matthew L. Rierson the 19th bloodiest involving U.S. troops to the first crash site for a rescue struck Super 62. Despite the by aggressive small arms fire Black Hawks and Cobra assault U.S. soldier killed in the battle since the Vietnam War, and it operation. Upon reaching the damage, Super 62 managed to and by strafing runs and rock- helicopters stationed with the while injuring another twelve. remained so until the Second site, about 90 Rangers and Del- land at New Port safely. When et attacks from AH-6J Little 10th Mountain Division. Mean- That same day, a team on spe- Battle of Fallujah in 2004. ta Force operators found them- Master Sgt Gordon was even- Bird helicopter gunships of the while, Task Force Ranger’s cial mission to Durant’s Super On 25 March 1994 the Unit- selves under heavy fire. Despite tually killed, SFC Shughart Nightstalkers, the only air unit “Little Birds” continued their 64 helicopter had two wounded. ed States withdrew all of their air support, the assault team picked up Gordon’s CAR-15 equipped and trained for night defense of Super 61’s downed Two weeks after the battle, troops from Somalia. Just over was effectively trapped for the and gave it to Super 64 pilot fighting. crew and rescuers. General Garrison officially ac- a year later, on 28 March 1995, night. With a growing number CW3 Michael Durant. The American assault force cepted responsibility. the United Nations also with- of wounded needing shelter, SFC Shughart went back Relief column sustained heavy casualties, in- In a handwritten letter to Pres- drew from Somalia. they occupied several nearby around the helicopter’s nose A relief convoy with elements cluding several killed, and a ident Clinton, Garrison took full On 24 July 1996, Mohamed houses and confined the occu- and held off the mob for about from the Task Force 2–14 In- Malaysian soldier died when responsibility for the battle’s Farrah Aidid was wounded dur- pants for the battle’s duration. 10 more minutes before he was fantry, 10th Mountain Division, an RPG hit his Condor vehicle. outcome. He wrote that Task ing a firefight between his mi- Outside, a stiff breeze stirred up killed. accompanied by Malaysian and Seven Malaysians and two Paki- Force Ranger had adequate in- litia and forces loyal to former blinding, brown clouds of dust. The Somalis then overran Pakistani U.N. forces, arrived stanis were wounded. The battle telligence for the mission and Aidid allies, Ali Mahdi Mu- At the second crash site, the crash site and killed all but at the first crash site at around was over by 06:30 on Monday, that their objective (capturing hammad and Osman Ali Atto. two Delta snipers, Master Sgt Durant. He was nearly beaten 02:00. No contingency plan- 4 October. U.S. forces were fi- targets from the Olympic Hotel) He suffered a fatal heart at- Gary Gordon and SFC Ran- to death, but was saved when ning or coordination with U.N. nally evacuated to the U.N. base was met. tack on 1 August 1996, either dy Shughart, were inserted by members of Aidid’s militia forces had been arranged prior by the armored convoy. during or after surgery to treat Black Hawk Super 62 - piloted came to take him prisoner. For to the operation; consequently, While leaving the crash site, his wounds. The following day, by CW3 Mike Goffena. their actions, Master Sgt Gordon the recovery of the surrounded a group of Rangers and Delta Aftermath General Garrison retired. Their first two requests to be and SFC Shughart were posthu- American troops was signifi- operators led by S/Sgt John R. After the battle, the bodies 58 59 Gaming Matt O’ Brien is off to Bolivia to sort out a drug cartel. They’re not sure who should be more afraid - the drug cartel or his own Special Forces squad.

s I’ve mentioned in the with their CIA contact, Karen cessories. This could be larger past, we don’t normal- Bowman, who was also a close magazines, different barrels, Aly review First Person friend to Sandoval. They meet sights, silencers, and items Shooter games in this maga- Pac Katari, leader of the Kataris such as an under-barrel grenade zine. In fact we’ve only done 26, the only resistance against launcher. three FPS reviews since the Santa Blanca. Pac Katari re- Weapons include assault ri- magazine started. quests they rescue Amaru, fles, sniper rifles, , That being said, Tom whose ideologies inspired the light machine guns, sub-ma- Clancey’s Ghost Recon Wild- Kataris 26, from Santa Blanca. chine guns and pistols. lands is just so much fun to play. Once this mission is complet- One of the cool gadgets at Anyway, it’s not a classic FPS ed you are free to tackle the car- your disposal is the drone. This gling. sneak into areas, using silenced targets. but more of a tactical shooter. tel as you see fit. small drone can be used to Each branch has a head as weapons to take out any guards. Ghost Recon Wildlands is a The game is set in 2019 in The game is open world, check out an area and spot and well as an underboss. Or you can go in guns blazing. really challenging and enjoya- Bolivia. The country has be- meaning you can go anywhere mark targets. Each of the 21provinces on Some bases have alarm sys- ble game. You can also play co- come increasingly unstable as a you want. It is large, 400 kilo- At the start your drone has a the map is controlled by a bu- tem and if you are detected the op online with up to three other Mexican drug cartel known as metres square to be exact. The very short range and even short- chon, who is also associated alarm will summon reinforce- human players in your team. the Santa Blanca Cartel gains map consists of nine different er battery life. It can, however, with one of four divisions of ments. Other large bases may more power and influence with- types of terrain, such as: moun- be upgraded. You earn skill the cartel’s operations: Influ- even have a drone jammer, in the country and turns Bolivia tains, forests, desert, salt flats, points and these are then used ence, Security, Production and making your drone useless. To into the world’s largest produc- and also introduces a dynam- for upgrades. It can be equipped Smuggling. Clearing missions counter this you will have to er of cocaine. ic weather system as well as a with nigh vision and even ther- in an area and collecting key take out the base’s generator. The United States govern- day-night cycle. mal vision. intel unlocks missions where This will also have the advan- ment is compelled to act when a You can get around the map Better upgrades can give your players can target a buchon and tage of plunging the base into bomb targets the American em- using cars, trucks, dirt bikes, drone an EMP capacity that is eliminate him or her by killing darkness at night. bassy in La Paz and undercov- boats, light aircraft and helicop- able to knock out alarms and or capturing the target (with Another factor you have to er DEA agent Ricardo “Ricky” ters. vehicles. It can also be fitted some exceptions). take into consideration is Uni- Sandoval is executed by the At the start of the game you with an explosive or a noise- Eliminating enough buchones dad. This is the official Boliv- cartel. create and name your charac- maker that will attract enemy to in an operations division allows ian Army. The are well trained, You play the role of ‘No- ter. You determine their look the area. players to target that division’s well armed, and very aggres- mad’ a member of the 5th Spe- and then kit them out with Talking about skills, you can underboss, and eliminating that sive. Getting into a punch-up cial Forces Group. You are the everything from clothing to also upgrade various skills such underboss and all of the bu- with them will normally see team leader of a combined task head gear, backpacks to assault as weapon skills, physical skills chones in an operations divi- you on the losing side. force made up of CIA, DEA vests. You can change your gear squad skills and item skills. sion leaves the division head One of the good things is that and JSOC (Joint Special Oper- at any time during the game. The Santa Blanca Cartel is vulnerable. Capturing this divi- you can mark up to three targets ations Command) known as the You are able to carry three headed by El Sueño and you ul- sion head cripples and destabi- via the drone or by using your ‘Ghosts’. With you are vehicle weapons - two main weapons timate goal is to kill or capture lizes the division and makes the binoculars. Your three squad Publisher - Ubisoft and assault specialist “Midas”, and a side arm. him. cartel boss more vulnerable. members will then get into po- Genre - Tactical Shooter hacker and tactical engineer As you progress through the The cartel is divided up into You can tackle missions in sition and report when they Score - 8/10 “Holt”, and sniper “Weaver”. game you can discover addi- four branches - security, influ- whichever way you choose. have the target in sight. Order The Ghosts enter Bolivia tional weapons and weapon ac- ence, production and smug- You can use stealth and try to them to fire, and down go the Price - R399 (on Steam) 60 61 Movie Black Hawk Down Book Review Review Released: 2001 Running time: 144 minutes Directed by: Ridley Scott Eagle Strike!

his is the story of an au- gations that this assault was a lack Hawk Down is a ments, while the UN forces are The Somali militia erects road- dacious, airborne assault, brutal attack on a refugee camp, 2001 war film produced powerless to intervene directly. blocks and a vicious firefight Ton 4 May 1978, on a did much to detract from the in- and directed by Rid- Outside Mogadishu, Rangers erupts. SWAPO fortified base contain- credible victory the SADF had B ing its military headquarters, claimed. ley Scott from a screenplay by and Delta Force capture Os- The column relinquish their Ken Nolan. It is based on the man Ali Atto, a faction leader attempt to reach Six-One’s logistical support, reserves and Was it a refugee camp, a 1999 non-fiction book of the selling arms to Aidid’s militia. crash site and return to base training facilities. SWAPO HQ and strategic mili- same name by journalist Mark While in custody, Atto attempts with their prisoners and the ca- The assault was supported tary establishment, or a mixture Bowden. to convince Major General Wil- sualties. The men prepare to go by a very strong air strike by of both. As an embedded journalist, liam Garrison that the Somali back to extract the Rangers and bombers and fighters as well as This is the only personal ac- he covered the 1993 raid in Civil War is a Somali matter, the fallen pilots. by air transport to drop the par- count ever written by somebody Mogadishu by the U.S. mili- not one of international impor- As night falls, Aidid’s militia atroopers into battle in one of on the SADF side who ‘was ac- tary, aimed at capturing faction tance to the United Nations and launch a sustained assault on the major, post World War para tually there’ and who was the leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid. the United States, but Garrison the trapped Americans at Super drops, 250kms deep behind en- commander of the paratroopers. The ensuing firefight became tells him off, reminding him of Six-One’s crash site. emy lines, swarm of helicop- It also brings to light much known as the Battle of Moga- the genocide of 300,000 plus The film stars Josh Hart- ters to extract the paratroopers more than this brief outline, es- dishu. civilian casualties that have re- nett, Ewan McGregor, Tom back to safety, this execution pecially the dangerous nature the whole ‘bush war’ era through Following the ousting of the sulted from the civil war. The Sizemore, Orlando Bloom and of the whole intricate operation of the whole enterprise through uncalled for meddling by an out- central government in 1993 US plans a mission to capture Sam Shepard. through a joint HQ deployed personal experiences, by para- sider who should not have been amid a civil war that had start- Omar Salad Elmi and Abdi Although not 100% accurate, in the field. Unfortunately the troopers and air crews, and how there. ed in 1991, the United Nations Hassan Awale Qeybdiid, two of it’s still a decent movie. subsequent uproar in the inter- and why it nearly became the Softcover, 640 pages Security Council authorized a Aidid’s top advisers. national media, based on alle- most disastrous undertaking of Cost: R800 military operation in Somalia The operation begins and with a peacekeeping mandate. Delta Force operators capture After the bulk of the peace- Aidid’s advisers inside the tar- keepers were withdrawn, the get building, while the Rangers Mogadishu-based militia loy- and helicopters escorting the al to Mohamed Farrah Aidid ground-extraction convoy take declared war on the remaining heavy fire. Blackburn is severe- UN personnel. In response, ly injured when he falls from the U.S. Army deployed three one of the Black Hawk heli- of its special operations forc- copters, so three Humvees led es – 75th Rangers, Delta Force by Staff Sergeant Jeff Struecker counter-terrorist operators, and are detached from the convoy 160th SOAR - Night Stalkers to return Blackburn to the UN- aviators – to Mogadishu to cap- held Mogadishu Airport. ture Aidid, who has proclaimed Things begin to go wrong himself president of the coun- when a Black Hawk helicopter try. is shot down by a Somali RPG To consolidate his power rocket. Later a second Black Border War 1966 - 1989 Platoon 3 The Saints and subdue the population in Hawk is shot down. R425 R330 R480 the south, Aidid and his mili- The ground forces are rerout- Click on the box cover to tia seize Red Cross food ship- ed to converge on the crash site. watch a trailer of the film. All books are available from Bush War Books 62 63 This month in military history ... February This month in military history ... February Some of the significant military events that happened in February. From this month we will also be publishing the Roll of Honour of members of the SADF that lost their lives. These will be high- 32 Battalion were Killed in at Mauthausen concentra- zyview. He was 19. lighted in blue. Action during a first light tion camp. • 1984 - Rifleman Joshua Si- attack on a PLAN camp in • 1957 - The United Nations tarara from 202 Battalion the Cassumbi area east of SWATF was Killed in Ac- • 1960 - Extreme right-wing hardus Johannes Visser from (UN) adopts a resolution 1 February Cassinga during Operation tion during a contact with rebels in Algiers surrender. 1 SSB was killed instantly in calling for Israeli troops to • 1862 - Julia Ward Howe’s Kakebeen. Lance Corporal PLAN Insurgents. He was • 1961 - Minuteman ICBM the explosion. He was 19. leave . “Battle Hymn of Republic” Joao and Rifleman Tolo- 24. is successful in its first full • 1976 - Rifleman Nico- • 1971 - Idi Amin assumes is published. si the MAG Gunner were • 1986 - Leading Seaman scale test. laas Pretorius from Regi- power in Uganda following • 1920- The South African Air killed instantly when a So- Cavan Rennie Boyd from • 1968 - Saigon: Nguyen ment Springs was critically a coup that ousted President Force is established, the first viet 82mm Mortar Bomb SAS President Pretorius ac- Ngoc Loan summarily exe- wounded by an accidental Milton Obote. of the Commonwealth air landed and exploded be- cidentally drowned whilst cutes a Viet Cong murderer. weapon discharge in South- • 1972 - Irate Dubliners torch forces. Lt-Col. Pierre van tween them while the other restrained in an overturned • 1968 - The Canadian Forc- ern on 31 Jan 1976. the British Embassy to pro- Ryneveld is appointed as two suffered fatal gunshot paddle ski off Blouberg- es are formed, through the He was evacuated to 1 Mili- test ‘Bloody Sunday’ in Der- Director of Air Services. wounds during the fire-fight. strand. He was 25. merger of the Army, Navy, tary Hospital in Pretoria ry. • 1943 - Marshal Paulus sur- The casualties were: Lance • 1989 - Rifleman Christian and Air Force, an “experi- where he succumbed to his • 1973 - Captain Leslie John renders the German Sixth Corporal Evaristo Joao (32). Le Wack from Group 39 was ment” that is ended in 2011. wounds the following day Marshall from Flying Train- Army at Stalingrad. Rifleman Gonsalves Anto- killed in a Military Vehicle • 1971 - Two members from on 1 February 1976. He was ing School Langebaanweg • 1944 - Japanese learn Aus- nio (22). Rifleman Kambala Accident, at . the Armoured Corps were 29. was Killed when his At- tralia has formed a war Tolosi (22). Rifleman Do- He was 29. accidentally Killed or Died • 1981 - France sells 60 Mi- las MB326M Mk I, crimes commission. mingoes Zua (31). • 1989 - Soviet troops leave of Wounds when a 90mm rage fighters to Iraq. Serial No 485 crashed near • 1951 - Alfred Krupp & 28 • 1988 - Gunner Stephanus Afghanistan, ending nine High Explosive Anti-Tank • 1986 - Sergeant Gerhardus Darling while he was prac- other German war criminals Petrus Stoop of 14 Artil- years of war. round exploded in the gun Frederick Nortje from 5 Re- ticing low level aerobatics. are freed. lery Regiment, attached to • 1992 - Rifleman Benjamin breech of their armoured car connaissance Regiment was He was 26. • 1957 - Field Marshal Frie- “P” Battery, 32 Battalion Boorman from 3 SAI was during live firing exercises Killed in Action during a • 1975 - Rebels begin an of- drich Paulus, dies at the age accidentally drowned while accidentally shot and killed at De Brug, Bloemfontein. contact with enemy forces fensive in Eritrea, Ethiopia. of 66. swimming somewhere in by a fellow Unit member The casualties were: 2nd in Southern Angola. He was Ethiopia’s military govern- the Operational Area. He during riot control opera- Lieutenant Johannes Jaco- 29. ment orders bombers, ar- was 20. tions at Mpophoweni Town- bus Bester from the School • 1987 - Four members from moured units and troops into • 1991 - Rifleman Joao An- ship. He was 23. of Armour Died of Wounds operations against them in drade from 201 Battalion • 2004 - Max Schmeling, in 3 Military Hospital in Eritrea Province. SWATF died of natural former world heavyweight Bloemfontein. He was 19. • 1978 - Chief Matanzima causes in Hospital. He was boxing champion and WW • 1976 - Trooper Jasper Ger- announces that all South 42. Africans seconded to the II Fallschirmjaeger, dies at Army will leave the age of 99. 2 February Transkei by 31 March 1978. • 1848 - The war between the • 1980 - Rifleman Willem Jo- 3 February U.S. and Mexico ended with hannes Gerhardus Uys Ol- • 1838 - Piet Retief, seventy the signing of the Treaty of ivier from 7 SAI was killed burghers and thirty mount- Guadalupe Hidalgo. when the Buffel Troop Car- ed servants arrive at Din- • 1901 - The U.S. Army Nurse rier in which he was a pas- gaan’s kraal Ungungund- Corps was formed on this senger, overturned at On- lovu (Home of the Elephant) Nguyen day. dangwa. He was 19. for the signing of the Re- Ngoc Loan • 1942 - US ceases production • 1982 - Lance Corporal tief-Dingane treaty. of private cars to convert to Johnny Attilla Nemith from • 1903 - Britain conquers war production. 7 SAI was killed in a mili- Kano from Nigerian rebel • 1945 - Mass escape attempt tary vehicle accident at Ha- forces.

64 66 This month in military history ... February This month in military history ... February

• 1915 - Battle of the Suez Leopold Albert Craem- • 1939 - The “Ossewabrand- las Raymond Fincham from were: Special Sergeant S. mer Chief of the South Af- Canal: a Turkish attempt to er from 8 SAI was Killed wag” (OB) is founded as an 82 Mechanised Brigade ac- Kandyongu (29). Special rican Defence Force, is born cross the canal is defeated. in Action when the Buffel Afrikaans cultural and polit- cidentally drowned in the Sergeant V. Noemuweda in Kroonstad. • 1922 - General Christiaan Troop Carrier he was driv- ical organisation in Bloem- Vaal River at Barkley West. (32). • 1943 - Germans deport Rudolph de Wet, well- ing, detonated three boosted fontein, under leadership of He was 24. • 1989 - The Citizen reveals 12,000 Jews from Bialystok known leader of Boer forces Yugoslavian TMA-3 An- Col. J. Laas. • 1983 - Private Jan Gabriel that Miss Olivia Forsyth to death camps. in the Second Anglo-Boer ti-Tank cheese mines that • 1944 - Japanese launch ma- Johannes van der Berg from who arrived at the British • 1958 - A B-47 & F-86 col- War, dies on his farm at the were triggered by a Soviet jor offensive against British 201 Battalion SWATF was Embassy in Luanda, Ango- lide at 36,000 feet off the age of 67. PMN “Black Widow” An- in the Arakan, Burma. accidentally killed when his la, seeking sanctuary from Georgia coast, causing the • 1933 - Hitler informs his ti-Personnel Mine on the • 1961 - Civil war erupts in Buffel Troop Carrier over- the ANC, which, she al- loss of an H-Bomb, which is generals to prepare for war road between Oshigambo Angola. turned during follow-up op- leged, has kept her in con- still missing. to secure Lebensraum. and Ondangwa. He was 20. • 1964 - The number of men erations in Southern Angola. finement for months and • 1970 - Captain Johannes • 1943 - An extraordinary act • 1988 - Lance Corporal Mar- required for military train- He was 20. severely tortured her, was Jacobus Lombard from 4 of heroism occurred in the ius John Lecuona from 2 ing in 1964 is to increase • 1986 - Private Ronnie Marx indeed a South African spy. SAI was deliberately shot icy waters off Greenland af- SSB attached to 61 Mech by 60%, i.e. from 10,368 to from 1 Maintenance Unit Her claim to be a SA agent dead by a disgruntled sol- ter the U.S. Army transport Battalion was killed during 16,537. was killed instantly when he was formerly rejected by SA dier in the mess at Katima ship Dorchester was hit by Operation Hooper in South- • 1967 - Crew of the US carri- was struck by lightning dur- authorities. Mulilo. He was 29. a German torpedo and be- ern Angola. er FDR are refused leave in ing a thunderstorm. He was • 1990 - Nine Israeli tourists • 1973 - Funeral for Lt Col gan to sink rapidly. When it South Africa because of the 18. and two Egyptian guards are William Nolde, last US sol- became apparent there were 4 February laws. • 1987 - Sapper Shawn Engel- killed and twenty tourists dier killed in Vietnam. not enough life jackets, four • 1861 - Apache Chief • 1980 - Three members from brecht from 25 Field Squad- wounded when masked as- • 1976 - The Defence Amend- U.S. Army chaplains on Cochise was arrested in Ar- 6 SAI were Killed in Action ron was Killed in Action sailants open fire on a bus en ment Bill, making provision board removed theirs, hand- izona by the U.S. Army for when their patrol was am- when his Buffel Troop Car- route to Cairo. for the employment of South ed them to frightened young raiding a ranch. Cochise bushed around mid-morn- rier detonated a landmine in African conscripted troops soldiers, and chose to go then escaped and declared ing near Nkongo by PLAN Northern Owamboland. He 5 February anywhere outside South Af- down with the ship while war, beginning the period Insurgents using heavy cal- was 20. • 1840 - Hiram Stevens Max- rica, is approved. praying. known as the Apache Wars, ibre weapons, mortars and • 1988 - Two members of 101 im, inventor of the first prac- • 1976 - Sapper Jonathan • 1943 - Troop transport which lasted 25 years. RPG-7 Anti-Tank Rockets. Battalion Romeo Mike were tical machine gun, is born Aschman from 21 Field En- ‘Dorchester’ torpedoed & • 1874 - British forces under The casualties were: Rifle- Killed in Action near Mupa on this day. gineer Squadron, South Af- sunk off Greenland with Garnet Wolseley burn Ku- man Michael Derek Loubser in Southern Angola when • 1900 - General Redvers rican Engineer Corps was great loss of life. masi, Ghana, ending Ashan- (20). Rifleman Jacobus Jo- their Casspir drove into an Buller conquers Vaalkrans Killed in Action during a • 1977 - General Tafari Ban- ti War. hannes Maritz (20). Rifle- ambush and was struck by at the Tugela river, but shell- contact with enemy forces ti (Teferi Benti), Ethiopia’s • 1899 - The Philippine-Amer- man Jacobus Johannes van a Czechoslovakian RPG-75 ing from both sides contin- in Central Angola during chief of state, is killed in gun ican War (Philippine Insur- der Star (20). Anti-Tank Rocket. The casu- ues and the British forces Operation Savannah. He battle that breaks out around rection) begins with heavy • 1980 - Rifleman Anthony alties were: 2nd Lieutenant have to evacuate their posi- was 19. Addis Ababa headquar- fighting at Manila. Michael Scholtz from 41 Michael Sean McCann (21). tions two days later. • 1976 - Trooper Willem Jo- ters of the nation’s feuding • 1904 - Herero Revolt in Battalion was Killed in Ac- Sapper Michael Colin Suter • 1915 - General Louis Botha hannes Cronje from Reg- military leaders. Lieuten- : tion during a contact with (20) from 25 Field Engineer leaves for South West Africa iment Oranje Rivier was ant-Colonel Haile Mariam Omaruru is relieved after a PLAN Insurgents in North- Squadron attached to 101 to take control of the Union Killed in Action in Central Mengistu replaces him. fierce battle between Franke ern Owamboland. He was Battalion Romeo Mike. troops who would conquer Angola during Operation • 1978 - Rifleman Afonso Da and the Ovaherero. 17. • 1988 - Two members of the the area from Germany. Savannah. He was 26. Silva from 32 Battalion was • 1911 - Pieter Arnoldus • 1981 - Corporal Daniel Jo- South West Africa Coun- • 1918 - Stephen W Thomp- • 1980 - Two members from Killed in Action during a Cronjé, Boer general during hannes van Wyk from Sector ter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K son becomes the first US 6 SAI were Killed in Action contact with the enemy forc- the Second Anglo-Boer War, 20 Headquarters was killed () were Killed in pilot to down an enemy air- when their Temporary Base es at Mamuandi during Op- dies in . in a military vehicle acci- Action during a contact with plane. at Nkongo was attacked by eration Seiljag. He was 22. • 1938 - Hitler assumes direct dent near Rundu. He was 19. PLAN insurgents in North- • 1935 - Johannes Jacobus PLAN insurgents. The casu- • 1983 - Lance Corporal Carl control of the German Army. • 1982 - 2nd Lieutenant Doug- ern Owamboland. They Geldenhuys (Jannie), for- alties were: Rifleman Chris- 66 67 This month in military history ... February This month in military history ... February to Swanepoel (19). Rifleman • 1992 - Rifleman Daniel for the sinking of two Israeli ern Owamboland. He was • 1994 - National Peacekeep- • 1943 - Guadalcanal: U.S. Bruce Edward Schultz (20). Stephanus Hendrik Du Toit ships at Elath. 34. ing Force (NPKF), Brigadier troops advance on both • 1981 - Police announce the from the Regiment Botha • 1977 - Rhodesian security • 1985 - Rifleman Immanuel , says coasts, as the Japanese com- arrest of a number of Whites was killed when he acci- forces launch a full-scale Gabriel from 101 Battalion that the NPKF will proba- plete the evacuation of their in connection with sabotage dentally slipped at a water- search for a gang, which SWATF was Killed in Ac- bly not be ready to keep the troops from the island. acts for which the Wit Kom- fall and fell 30 metres to his massacred seven White Ro- tion during a contact with peace during the elections in • 1944 - Germans launch mando has claimed respon- death. while on Patrol at the man Catholic missionaries SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. April. counteroffensive at Anzio. sibility on 15 August 1980 Table Mountain in Natal. He three Jesuits and four Do- He was 28. • 2004 - Chechen terrorists • 1945 - General Douglas and on 12 December 1980. was 33. minican nuns at St Paul’s • 1985 - Trooper Hermanus bomb the Moscow subway, MacArthur returns to Ma- • 1981 - Rifleman Bernard • 1993 - Up to 200 Soma- Mission at Musami, near Christoffel Helm from 2 49 die, scores injured. nila. Jacobus Leach from 1 SAI li youths hurl rocks at US Mrewa. Special Service Battalion • 1948 - Omar Bradley suc- was Killed in Action during forces and set tyre barri- • 1978 - Chad breaks links to collapsed and died after suf- 7 February ceeds Dwight Eisenhower a contact with PLAN insur- cades ablaze in the belief Libya in protest to their sup- fering a fatal heart attack • 1900 - British forces, under as Army Chief of Staff. gents while on patrol near that American troops shot to port of Muslim guerrillas during a physical training Buller, are defeated by the • 1964 - Somali troops invade the Cut-line. He was 21. death a Somali man. currently fighting in north- session at Walvis Bay. He Boers under Botha at the Ethiopia to assert claim to • 1982 - Two members from ern Chad. was 18. end of the three-day battle Ogaden desert area. 4 SAI were killed at their 6 February • 1981 - Rifleman L Kavari • 1985 - Corporal Noel of Vaalkrans. • 1965 - US begins sustained Base at Ohiki, 18km North • 1838 - At the farewell func- from 102 Battalion SWATF Mbumba Marcel from 5 Re- • 1900 - The British fail for air operations against North of Omauni when they tried tion following the signing of was Killed in Action dur- connaissance Regiment was the third time to relieve the Vietnam. to make a skyrocket by us- Retief’s treaty, Piet Retief, ing a contact with SWAPO/ Killed in Action during a Boer siege of Ladysmith. • 1968 - Air Mechanic Phil- ing a tent pole. They were: seventy of his men and thirty PLAN insurgents in North- contact with enemy forces • 1901 - Britain sends 30 000 lip Johannes Joubert from Rifleman Evert Phillipus Du mounted servants are killed ern Owamboland. He was in Southern Angola. He was additional troops to South 24 Squadron was shot dead Toit (20). Rifleman Robert on the orders of Zulu King 22. 30. Africa. while on guard duty when Glenn Dunn (19). Dingane at Ungungundlovu. • 1982 - Rifleman Hirite Vilho • 1942 - The 2nd SA Division he was struck by a bullet re- • 1983 - Former Gestapo The Trekkers are bound and from 101 Battalion SWATF moves into Tobruk. sulting from an accidental official Klaus Barbie brought taken from the enclosure to was Killed in Action during discharge of a fellow sol- to trial in Lyon, France. a spot where they are spiked a contact with enemy forces dier’s rifle. He was 19. • 1985 - Rifleman Paul Isma- and clubbed to death. in Southern Angola. He was el from 101 Battalion was • 1899 - Spanish-American 20. Killed in Action during a War officially ends. • 1982 - Rifleman Ningiley- contact with enemy forces. • 1901 - The battle of Chris- imo Kondjeni Meulemo He was 24. siesmeer (Lake Chrissie) from 101 Battalion SWATF • 1987 - Rifleman Peter Benz takes place during the Sec- was killed during operations Reynolds from 5 Recce ond Anglo-Boer War. in Southern Angola. He was Regiment was killed when • 1941 - Battle of Beda Fomm: 22. the Kwêvoel vehicle he was British complete destruction • 1984 - Rifleman Xavier driving, overturned when he of Italian Tenth Army. Arico from 201 Battalion tried to avoid cattle in the • 1941 - British troops capture SWATF was Killed in Ac- road between Ondangwa Bengazi, Libya. tion during a contact with and Tsumeb. He was 22. • 1945 - Battle for Manila be- SWAPO/PLAN Insurgents • 1991 - Lieutenant Johannes gins. in Northern Owamboland. Francois Neuhoff from • 1945 - Over 4,000 American He was 24. 85 Combat Flying School POWs are freed from prison • 1984 - Special Constable was killed when his Atlas camps on Luzon. M. Kaibotya from Koevoet MB326M Impala Mk I, Se- • 1970 - Israelis sink a 700- was Killed in Action dur- Douglas rial No. 604 crashed near Pi- ing a contact with SWAPO/ ton Egyptian minelayer in MacArthur etersburg. He was 25. the Gulf of Suez in reprisal PLAN insurgents in North- 68 69 This month in military history ... February This month in military history ... February • 1969 - Nigerian planes Heights, near Schuinshoogte struck by a bullet resulting Arthur, initiates the Rus- will produce these. 10 February bomb and strafe a crowded (also called the Battle of from an accidental discharge so-Japanese War. • 1987 - Corporal Marius Vil- • 1840 - Commandant-Gen- market in a village in rebel- Skuinshoogte) is fought in of a fellow soldiers rifle in • 1916 - General Jan Christian joen from 2 Special Service eral M.W. Pretorius installs lious Biafra, killing more the Anglo-Transvaal War. Northern Owamboland. He Smuts is appointed com- Battalion was killed at the Mpande as King of the Zulus than 200 people. Eight Boer and 100 British was 20. mander of UK and South Rooisloot Training Terrain after the power of Mpande’s • 1973 - Two members from soldiers are killed. In this • 1984 - Captain Sarel Jaco- African troops in the East at Zeerust when his Eland brother, Dingane, is broken the Infantry School Instruc- battle the Boer force of 100 bus Kruger from 5 Recon- African campaign of World armoured car overturned at a final battle at Magongo tor Staff were killed instant- men defeats the English naissance Regiment was War I. during training exercises. on the Umkuzi River. ly in Oudtshoorn when a force of 600 who are assist- killed in a parachute train- • 1916 - Britain adopts con- He was 19. • 1901 - General Christiaan de stockpile of old unstable ed by cavalry and four can- ing accident at Hoedspruit. scription for World War I. • 1990 - Rifleman Gerhard Wet invades the Cape Col- explosives that they were nons. He was 26. • 1916 - The , con- Paul Heine from 5 SAI was ony for the second time at preparing for demolition, • 1943 - Burma: Orde Win- • 1984 - Rifleman Hendrik sisting of thirty-two officers killed in a Military Vehi- Zanddrif, near Philippolis. accidentally detonated. The gate’s Chindits begin raid Francois Taljaard from the and 1022 soldiers, leaves for cle Accident at Umhlanga • 1906 - HMS ‘Dreadnought’ casualties were: WO Lukas against the Japanese. Equestrian Centre was killed East Africa during the First Rocks. He was 19. is launched, initiating a na- Petrus Jacobus Steenkamp • 1943 - Red Army liberates instantly when he was acci- World War. • 1991 - , head of val arms race. (45). Staff Sergeant Pieter Kursk. dentally run over by a Sa- • 1918 - U.S. Army Chap- the , claims to have • 1916 - Geneneral Jan Smuts Paul van Jaarsveld (30). • 1978 - Three members of mil 100 truck near Potchef- lains’ School is established put down the second coup is appointed commander of • 1978 - Gunner Abraham 32 Battalion were Killed stroom while on his way on this day. attempt in the space of two the Allied forces in East Af- Hattingh from 4 Artillery in Action during in a fierce to stand guard at the North • 1941 - The German troops weeks, with the assistance rica. Regiment was killed instant- fire fight with superior en- West Command Ammuni- of General of South African forces. • 1942 - The first Medal of ly at Potchefstroom during a emy force at Mamuandi in tion Dump. He was 19. move from Italy to North • 1992 - After two days of Honor during World War II violent storm when the elec- Southern Angola during Op- • 1984 - 2nd Lieutenant Jo- Africa. fighting between Islamic was awarded to 2nd Lt. Al- tric floor polisher he was eration Seiljag. They were: hannes Petrus Verhoef from • 1943 - During World War II fundamentalists and securi- using to polish the barracks Rifleman Lucindo Laurindo 8 SAI died from gunshot in the Pacific, U.S. troops ty forces in , a state floor, was struck by light- (20). Rifleman Rodrigues wounds accidentally sus- captured Guadalcanal in the of emergency is declared. ning. He was 17. Augusto (19). Rifleman An- tained near AFB Ondangwa Solomon Islands after six • 1996 - WW II Luftwaffe ace • 1979 - Nazi war criminal Jo- tonio Mussungu (20). in Northern Owamboland. months of battle, with 9,000 Adolf Galland dies at the age sef Mengele drowns in Bra- • 1978 - Rifleman N. Berna- He was 21. Japanese and 2,000 Ameri- of 83. He was the youngest zil at the age of 67. de from 32 Battalion was • 1988 - Rifleman Thomas cans killed. man in Eu- • 1987 - Trooper Johann La- Killed in Action during in a Andries Dreyer from 5 SAI • 1945 - Germans blow up rope to be- buschagne from 61 Mecha- contact with enemy forces accidentally drowned while dams on the Ruhr. come a gen- nised Battalion died during in Southern Angola between swimming in the Klip Riv- • 1977 - Rifleman Frederick eral since a two week Infantry training Onhunda and Oshipala dur- er.. He was 24. Francois Oosthuizen from Napoleon. exercise at Oshivello. ing Operation Seiljag. He died • 1999 - An • 1989 - Sapper Ian Steward was 19. 9 February from a gunshot wound re- Ethiopian Hanslo from the School of • 1979 - Gunner Pieter Du • 1900 - George Frederick sulting from an accidental plane bombs Engineers was killed while Toit from 10 Light Anti-Air- Labram, mechanical engi- discharge of a fellow sol- an Eritrean on guard duty at the Unit’s craft Regiment received se- neer who built ‘Long Cecil’ diers rifle while his patrol village full main gate when he was ac- rious burns on 7 February for the defence of Kimber- was busy preparing an am- of homeless cidentally run over by a 10- while escorting a patient in ley during the siege by the bush position north of Os- people, kill- ton truck. He was 19. an ambulance to 2 Military Boers, is killed by a shell hakati. He was 20. ing at least Hospital at Wynberg. He from a Boer ‘Long Tom’ • 1978 - South Africa is to five civilians 8 February passed away on 8 February. only a few days before the make its own missiles. and escalat- • 1865 - Martin Delany be- He was 20. siege was raised. Kentron (Pty) Ltd, a newly ing a border comes first black major in • 1981 - Rifleman Morgan • 1904 - A predawn Japanese formed subsidiary of ARM- dispute. the US Army. John Williams from 5 SAI torpedo boat attack on the SCOR (the South African Adolf • 1881 - The Battle of Ingogo was Killed when he was Russian Fleet outside Port Armaments Corporation) Galland 70 71 This month in military history ... February This month in military history ... February exander Nininger (posthu- tally injured. He was 23. 11 February Gerber from Central Flying to a temporary emergency guidelines for the conduct- mously) for heroism during • 1983 - Rifleman Adao Sal- • 1900 - The second British of- School Dunnottar attached base, another four of the ing of military operations the Battle of Bataan. vador from 32 Battalion was fensive begins with a British to 95 Tactical Airfield Unit, wounded men, all suffering against liberation move- • 1943 - Britain’s Eighth killed in a Military Vehicle invasion of the Orange Free suffered critical head inju- from massive chest wounds ments in foreign countries. Army reaches Tunisian bor- Accident, at Mosese. He State when almost 50,000 ries when his fuel tanker ve- as a result of Rifle Grenades • 1979 - Nationalist guerrillas der. was 22. men and 170 guns cross the hicle overturned near Oluno and RPG-7 Rockets, suc- in Rhodesia shoot down an • 1943 - Battle of Krasny Bor: • 1988 - South Africa sends border from Modder River in Northern Owamboland cumbed to their injuries. Air Rhodesia airliner with The Soviets attempt to break troops to and Graspan to a water-rich on 5 February 1980. He suc- They were: Riflemen Joao a missile, killing fifty-nine the siege of Leningrad, but to reinstate Lucas Mangope farm at Ramdam. cumbed to his injuries in 1 Fernando (29). Rifleman people. defending German and who was ousted by local • 1935 - League of Nations Military Hospital on 11 Feb- Mateus Joaquim (26). Rifle- • 1985 - Captain Robert Ray- Spanish troops hold. defence force members on debates the border dispute ruary 1980. He was 19. man Zeferino Chipoya (22). mond Rodel from 4 Squad- • 1962 - USSR swaps U-2 pi- charge of corruption. between Italy and Ethiopia, • 1981 - Rifleman Archie Ron- Rifleman, Mateus Antonio ron was Killed in Action in lot Francis Gary Powers for • 1989 - The Citizen reports whilst Mussolini prepares nie Williams from the South Kinguelele (32). Rifleman Northern Owamboland in spy Rudolph Abel. that an alleged member of to ship out 35,000 troops to African Cape Corps died Musose Muema (32) suc- Atlas MB326KC Impala • 1964 - Australian carrier the SADF, Isaiah Moyo, East Africa. from a gunshot wound acci- cumbed to his injuries the Mk II, Serial No.1096. He ‘Melbourne’ collides with was convicted in Lusaka, • 1941 - Erwin Rommel lands dentally sustained while on following day. was 26. the destroyer ‘Voyager’, Zambia, on three counts of in Tripoli to assume com- patrol in Northern Owam- • 1990 - The South African • 1985 - Five members from which sinks, 82 die. espionage and sentenced to mand of the Afrika Korps. boland. He was 26. Defence Force (SADF) ad- 102 Battalion SWATF and • 1972 - Lance Corporal fifty years’ hard labour. The • 1963 - The defence minister, • 1982 - Sapper Phillipus Jo- mits the existence of a secret 1 SWA Engineer Regiment James Charles Warren from SADF denied any knowl- J.J. Fouché, announces in hannes De Bruin from 5 En- unit called the Civil Co-oper- SWATF (attached) were 2 Squadron was killed in a edge of Mr Moyo. The sen- the House of Assembly that gineer Regiment was killed ation Bureau (CCB), which Killed in Action in West- aircraft ground mishap at tence was later reduced to he intends to increase the when his Buffel Troop Car- was also allegedly involved ern Koakoland when their the Squadron. He was in the thirty years. strength of the permanent rier overturned in Northern in hit-squad actions against Buffel Troop Carrier con- process of removing an air- • 1994 - Lieutenant Garth army by fifty per cent. Owamboland. He was 23. activists. President De Klerk voy was ambushed by a craft ejection seat when the Harold Esterhuizen from 42 • 1971 - US, UK, USSR, oth- • 1985 - Eight members of 32 said in March 1990 that he numerically superior force drogue gun on the seat acci- Squadron was killed when ers sign a treaty banning Battalion were Killed in Ac- had been informed about the of approximately 40 heav- dentally fired and he was fa- his Cessna 185A, Serial No. nuclear weapons on the sea- tion and five more Died of CCB only in January 1990. ily armed SWAPO/PLAN 720 crashed at Carletonville bed. Wounds when Charlie Com- insurgents. The casualties after flying into power • 1975 - A Rhodesian govern- pany Patrol was operating 12 February were: Corporal Mannie Ma- lines during a low level ment spokesman announces in the vicinity of the Bale • 1942 - The “”: heue (22). Sapper Willem cross country training that elements of the South River in Southern Angola German battleships ‘Schar- Vallien (18). Sapper Ger- flight. He was 23. African police are withdraw- during Ops Forte. The eight nhorst’ & ‘Gneisenau’, & hard van Wyk (19). Sapper • 2017 - L t . ing from certain forward po- casualties that were killed heavy cruiser ‘Prinz Eugen’ Bartholomeus Kapindi (22). General Harold Greg- sitions on the Zambezi Riv- in the initial contact were: escape from Brest to Ger- Sapper Niklaas Johannes ory “Hal” Moore, Jr, er, after undertakings from Lieutenant David Gordon many. Ferris (24). hero of the Ia Drang the Zambian government Light (26). Rifleman Jakob • 1955 - Pres Eisenhower Hal Valley in Vietnam, about guerrilla infiltrations Eduardo Jamba (31). Lance sends US advisors to South 13 February Moore dies at the age of there. Corporal Jose Alfredo Sa- Vietnam. • 1901 - Lord Kitchener meets 84. • 1978 - Lieutenant Johannes chilombo (27). Rifleman • 1976 - Rifleman Johannes with Gen. Louis Botha in an Hendrik Du Toit from 1 Re- Petrus Kalitoko Kahete Jacobus Bruwer from 6 SAI effort to end the Anglo-Boer connaissance Regiment was (31). Rifleman Alberto de Died in 1 Military Hospital War, but Botha finds the Brit- Killed in Action during a Almeida (19). Rifleman from gunshot wounds acci- ish conditions unacceptable. contact with enemy forces Paulo Jose (27). Rifleman dentally sustained while in The battle of Wolwekuil is during an ambush while op- Kausanga Galonga (27). Ri- Northern Owamboland. He fought the same day. erating in Zambia. He was fleman Jose Chihamba (30). was 21. • 1924 - Japanese Admiral 23. After sunset while the casu- • 1979 - The State Securi- Kenji Ide and his aide, Capt. • 1980 - Private Gert Petrus alties were being evacuated ty Council (SSC) approves Isoruku Yamamoto, visit the 72 73 This month in military history ... February This month in military history ... February

U.S. Naval War College clearing a SWAPO/PLAN man submarines and raiders. rich Groenewald (19). Rifle- police. take-off. He was 29. • 1941 - WW2: The 12th Af- base. He was 21. • 1941 - German 5th Light man Vincent Vernon Nieu- • 1942 - Singapore surrenders • 1992 - Two members from rican Division, with 1st SA • 1981 - Rifleman Jaco Marais Division, Rommel’s Afrika wenhuizen (19). to the Japanese; greatest dis- the School of Armour were Infantry Brigade in com- from the South African Corps, arrive at Tripoli. • 1990 - Corporal Pieter Ga- aster in British military his- killed when the military mand, captures Kismayu in Army was killed in a private • 1943 - The Soviets liberate briel Jacobus Haasbroek tory. vehicle in which they were Somaliland. motor vehicle accident in Rostov from the Germans. from 4 Reconnaissance • 1944 - The Allies commence traveling as passengers, • 1942 - Hitler finally can- Pretoria He was 18. • 1973 - An Israeli fighter pi- Regiment was accidentally bombing & shelling the burst a rear tyre near Ver- cels “Operation Seelöwe”, • 1993 - Angolan government lot shoots down a Libyan killed when his parachute Monastery of Monte Cassi- keerdevlei and overturned. the invasion of Britain. troops break into Unita re- aircraft over the Sinai De- failed during a practice jump no. They were: Trooper Grant • 1945 - During World War II bel-held highlands in an at- sert. Seventy-four passen- at the Saldanha Airfield near • 1970 - Air Chief Marshal James Koekemoer (18). in Europe, British and Amer- tempt to open a supply cor- gers and crew members die. Vredenburg. He was 21. Hugh Caswall Tremenheere Trooper Gert Johannes ican planes began massive ridor to the embattled city of • 1981 - Eight Army officers • 1991 - Lance Corporal Deon Dowding, who led “The Grobler (18). bombing raids on Dresden, Huambo. are paraded by President Schutte from Group 33 shot Few” during the Battle of Germany. A four-day fire- • 1994 - Rifleman Mbhonono Samora Machel at a mass dead in a shooting incident Britain, dies at the age of 87. 16 February storm erupted that was vis- Johnson Myeni from 111 In- rally in Maputo and are ac- near the Mozambique bor- • 1970 - Corporal Stephanus • 1940 - ‘Altmark’ Incident: ible for 200 miles and en- fantry Battalion was killed cused of treason and com- der. He was 20. Abraham Johannes Latsky HMS ‘Cossack’ violates gulfed the historic old city, in a military vehicle acci- plicity with South Africa in from 1 Maintenance Unit Norwegian territoriality to killing an estimated 135,000 dent at Alexandra. He was the raid on the military base 15 February was killed in a military ve- free British prisoners held German civilians. 27. at Matola, where two of • 1898 - In Havana, the U.S. hicle accident on the Old aboard a German tanker. • 1960 - The first French atom • 1994 - Somali gunmen kid- them were in command. Battleship Maine was blown Pretoria / JHB Road, near • 1941 - Remaining Italian bomb is tested in the nap two Italian aid workers • 1987 - Three members from up while at anchor and Valhalla when his Kombi forces are expelled from the desert. and an Egyptian UN peace- South West Africa Police quickly sank with 260 crew skidded on the wet road and Sudan. • 1961 - UN security council keeper is killed. Counter-Insurgency Wing: members lost. The incident overturned. He was 19. • 1945 - Venezuela declares urges use of force to prevent • 1997 - Rebels under Laurent Ops-K Division (Koevoet) inflamed public opinion in • 1979 - Major Frederick Wil- war on . civil war in the Congo. Kabila take Zairian town of were Killed in Action dur- the U.S., resulting in a dec- helm Christiaan Brits from • 1959 - Fidel Castro becomes • 1972 - Patrol Officer Mi- Faradje while advancing on ing a contact with SWAPO/ laration of war against Spain 3 Squadron was killed when premier of Cuba after the chael Fenton Hill, a South country’s third largest city, PLAN insurgents in North- on April 25, 1898, amid cries his Mirage F1CZ Serial overthrow of Fulgencio Ba- African National serving Kisangani. ern Owamboland. They of “Remember the Maine!” No.200, crashed near Cull- tista. Cuban intervention in in the British South Africa • 1999 - Osama bin Laden, were: Lieutenant Colonel • 1900 - General French re- inan during a training flight. the Angolan war started dur- Police stationed at Wedza, the Saudi millionaire sus- G.L. Steyn (48). Sergeant lieves Kimberley after a He was 32. ing his office. was killed in a motor vehi- pected of being behind the Christoffel Lodewikus Fou- siege of 123 days. The town • 1989 - Soviet Russia com- • 1982 - Rifleman Daniel cle accident while travelling bombings of US embassies rie (28). Constable Ryk Lu- has suffered only 134 casu- pleted its military with- Cloete from 911 Battal- on the Salisbury to Umtali in and Tanzania, dolph Erasmus (20). alties among armed defend- drawal from Afghanistan ion SWATF accidentally Road. He was 20. is reported to have disap- • 1988 - Four Members from ers and twenty-one civil- after nine years of unsuc- drowned in a flooded shona/ • 1976 - General Murtula Ra- peared from his base in Af- B Company 1 SAI includ- ians, but some 1,500 people, cessful involvement in the river bed. He was 18. mat Muhammed, Nigerian ghanistan. ing two Cousins acting as mostly Coloureds and civil war between Muslim • 1983 - Rifleman L.K, Kam- head of state since a blood- the MAG Light Machine Blacks, have died of famine rebel groups and the Rus- bathi from 202 Battalion less coup in 1975, is assas- 14 February Gunner team, were Killed in and disease. The British lost sian-backed Afghan govern- SWATF was Killed in Ac- sinated during a failed mili- • 1900 - General Buller starts Action in South Eastern An- at least 2,237 men of the re- ment. Over 15,000 Russian tion during a contact with tary coup. his fourth attempt to relieve gola during a contact with lieving force. soldiers had been killed in SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. • 1980 - 2nd Lieutenant Igna- Ladysmith, Natal. The Brit- elements of the 59th FAP- • 1900 - The British threaten the fighting. He was 21. tius Petrus Du Preez from ish withdraw from their po- LA Brigade during Opera- to use natives in the Boer • 1990 - Captain Cecil de Jong • 1986 - Two members from 201 Battalion SWATF Died sitions around Colesberg tion Hooper. The casualties War fight. from 17 Squadron was killed 101 Battalion Romeo Mike of Wounds during an oper- and regroup at Arundel Sid- were: Corporal Jan Hendrik • 1915 - “Sepoy Mutiny” at when his Alouette III, Serial SWATF were Killed in Ac- ation in Southern Zambia ing nearby. Kleynhans (19). Rifleman Singapore: About 800 In- 637 crashed at Murrayhill tion when their Casspir was when he accidentally trig- • 1940 - British merchant Andre Schalk Groenewald dian troops run amok until near Hammanskraal during hit by an RPG-7 Anti-Tank gered a booby trap while ships are armed against Ger- (18). Rifleman Pieter Hen- subdued by loyal troops and a confined space landing/ Rocket during a contact with 74 75 This month in military history ... February This month in military history ... February

enemy forces in Southern War I. SWAPO/PLAN insurgents Abyssinia, falls to SA forc- ty Officer Willem Marthi- SWATF was Killed in Ac- Angola. They were: Corpo- • 1980 - Staff Sergeant Mi- in Southern Angola. He was es. nus Gerhardus Van Tonder. tion during a contact with ral Nandago Thomas (22). chael Johannes van der 23. • 1977 - Rifleman Willem Chief Petty Officer Donald SWAPO/PLAN insurgents Rifleman R. Boas (19). Linde from 5 Reconnais- • 1988 - Staff Sergeant Au- Andries Haarhoff from 3 Webb. Petty Officer Stepha- at Elundu in Northern • 1986 - Special Consta- sance Regiment was Killed brey Nelson Borcher from SAI was accidentally killed nus Petrus Bothma. Petty Owamboland. He was 23. ble Abel Utewga from the in Action during a contact 101 Battalion SWATF died when a pole fell on him. He Officer Graham Alexander • 1984 - Rifleman Kim Inglis South West Africa Police with enemy forces in South- in 1 Military Hospital after was 18. Frank Brind. Petty Officer from Hotel Company, Infan- Counter-Insurgency Wing: ern Angola. He was 39. suffering a fatal heart attack. • 1980 - Gunner Samuel Robin Centlivre Bulterman try School was accidentally Ops-K Division (Koevoet) • 1981 - Signaler Walter He was 49. Deon van Aswegen from the . Petty Officer Granville killed after being was struck was Killed in Action dur- James Griffin from 2 Signal • 1988 - Lance Corporal Wil- Potchefstroom University Williams De Villiers. Petty in the heart by a small piece ing a contact with SWAPO/ Regiment attached to 237 liam Arthur Frederick Price Regiment was Killed in Ac- Officer Evert Koen. Petty of mortar bomb shrapnel PLAN insurgents in North- Troop (BRUSH) in Groot- from 1 SAI, attached to tion when his Buffel Troop Officer Hjalmar Lotter. Pet- during a live ammunition ern Owamboland. He was fontein, was accidentally 61 Mechanised Battalion Carrier was hit by an RPG- ty Officer Roy Anthony Mc- fire and movement attack 27. killed while returning to Group was Killed in Action 7 Anti-Tank Rocket during Master. Petty Officer Roy training exercise at Omuti- • 1986 - French warplanes Grootfontein when his Buf- in Southern Angola during an enemy night ambush at Frederick Skeates. Petty Of- ya. He was 19. bomb Libyan airfield in fel Troop Carrier overturned Operation Hooper. He was Omindamba in Northern ficer William Russel Smith. • 1985 - Corporal Leon van northern Chad used as sup- at Otjovasandu in Sector 30. 19. Owamboland. He was 25. Petty Officer Michael Rich- Buisbergen from 6 SAI was port centre for rebels in their He was 19. • 2017 - Three members of • 1982 - Rifleman Mark Ma- ard Bruce Whiteley. Petty accidentally killed in South- offensive against President • 1984 - Rifleman Hendrik the South African Navy died son from 1 Parachute Battal- Officer Coenraad Johannes ern Angola by friendly fire Hissene Habre’s govern- Jacobus Smith from 1 Para- while trying to rescue three ion was killed in a friendly Wium. Able Seaman Gilbert from another South African ment. chute Battalion was Report- members from the Depart- fire incident when their pa- Timothy Benjamin. Infantry Unit. He was 20. • 1988 - An attempted coup ed Missing near the Epupa ment of Public Works who trol was engaged by SWATF • 1982 - Private Daniel Jo- • 1987 - Rifleman C.V. Kavita by the Bophuthatswana De- Falls in Kaokoland. The were working in a sewage forces near the Cut-Line. He hannes Jakobus Rossouw from 102 Battalion SWATF fence Force is crushed by was flowing pit repairing the valve. The was 18. from 1 Maintenance Unit was Killed in Action dur- the S.A. Defence Force. strongly and making whirl- casualties were: Leading • 1982 - Tragedy struck the was killed in a military ve- ing a contact with SWAPO/ pools between the rocks. Seaman Amrithlall Tothara South African Navy when hicle accident at Asab. He PLAN insurgents in North- 17 February One of his boots fell into the Ramdin (41). Able Seaman the Frigate SAS President was 19. ern Owamboland. He was • 1900 - General Piet Cronje river and he jumped in to Francois William Mundell Kruger was involved in a • 1983 - Constable Anton 19. is trapped against the Mod- retrieve it. He never re-sur- (26). Seaman Henro Ter collision with the fleet re- Delport from the South West der River on the farm Wol- faced and despite an inten- Borg from the Maritime Re- plenishment ship SAS Taf- Africa Police Counter-Insur- 19 February wekraal in the Paardeberg sive search by the members action Squadron (21). elberg during exercises in gency Wing: Ops-K Divi- • 1937 - Italian troops com- vicinity, and the next day the of the patrol, he was never the South Atlantic Ocean. sion (Koevoet) was mortally mence with raids into Addis battle of Paardeberg, which located and remains unac- 18 February The force of the collision wounded during a contact Abeba, capital of Ethiopia. was to last ten days, starts. counted for. He was 20. • 1884 - British forces under buckled the plates and with SWAPO/PLAN insur- • 1942 - Japanese Vice-Adm • 1909 - Apache Chief Geroni- • 1987 - Two members from General Charles Gordon crushed Mess 12 on the gents in Northern Owam- Nagumo’s aircraft raid Dar- mo died while in captivity at 202 Battalion SWATF were reach Khartoum in Sudan. President Kruger where the boland. He was 25. win, NW Australia, inflict- Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He had Killed in Action when their • 1900 - The Battle of Paarde- Petty Officers sleeping quar- • 1983 - Sergeant Paul Petrus ing heavy casualties. led a small group of warriors Buffel Troop Carrier deto- berg, which was to last up to ters were located, killing or van Zyl from Western Air • 1945 - US Marines land on on raids throughout Arizona nated a landmine in South- 27 February, starts with an trapping those inside. After Command, Windhoek, was Iwo Jima. and New Mexico. Caught ern Angola. The casualties attack by the British under the order to abandon ship killed in a private motor • 1963 - The minister of de- once, he escaped. The U.S. were: Lance Corporal L. Maj Geneneral Lord Kitch- was given, the following 16 vehicle accident at Olifant- fence announces the re-es- Army then sent 5,000 men Aukhumeb (22). Rifleman ener on the Boers under ratings were Reported Miss- shoek while travelling back tablishment, as of 1 April to recapture him. G.H. Edwards (19). Geneneral Cronje. ing and remain unaccount- to Pretoria to take up his 1963, of the ‘Cape Corps’ of • 1916 - British and French • 1987 - Rifleman K.S. Kam- • 1915 - Germany proclaims a ed for: Chief Petty Officer new posting at Air Force Coloured to be employed in forces complete capture of bonde from 102 Battalion blockade of England. Johannes Petrus Booysen. Headquarters. He was 23. non-combatant roles. Germany’s African colony SWATF was Killed in Ac- • 1941 - Mega, the Italian Chief Petty Officer Hartmut • 1983 - Sergeant Tema Kan- • 1976 - The MPLA govern- of Cameroon during World tion during a contact with headquarters in southern Wilfried Smit. Chief Pet- heto from 201 Battalion ment in Angola is recognised 76 77 This month in military history ... February This month in military history ... February by most countries of the third front in Security Force about 60 km north-east of ern Owamboland. He was our assegais in the kraal, aircraft, a Cherokee 6 PA32- world. Foreign intervention action against guerrilla infil- Middelburg and captures 23. our voices are left with our 300, Registration ZS-EXG, is condemned, and the with- tration. 153 burghers of Colonel • 1986 - Rifleman I Tjisemo bodies” reputed to be the disappeared without trace drawal of Cuban and South • 1981 - Rifleman Shaun Trichardt’s commando while from 102 Battalion SWATF last words of Rev Wauchope while flying an aerial re- African troops demanded. Reginald Jessop from 1 SAI two burghers are killed. was killed when his Buffel Dyobha on the sinking ship connaissance sortie up the • 1978 - Two members from was killed when his Ratel • 1942 - Combined Japanese Troop Carrier overturned in SS Mendi. South West African Coast- the South African Air Force Infantry Fighting Vehicle amphibious and airborne at- Northern Owamboland. He • 1918 - Australians capture line. He was 49. and one civilian passen- overturned during military tack on Timor. was 24. Jericho from the Turks. • 1983 - Corporal Kallie Ver- ger were Killed in Action exercises at Kimberley. He • 1943 - German Field Mar- • 1988 - Major Edward Rich- • 1919 - Mary Edwards Walk- meulen from the Northern while returning from Kati- was 21. shal Erwin Rommel broke ard Every from 1 Squadron er, feminist and physician, Logistical Command was ma Mulilo to Air Force Base • 1985 - Rifleman Jan Petrus through American lines at was Reported Missing dur- Civil War Army contract killed in a private motor ve- M’pacha after attending a van Niekerk from Infantry Kasserine Pass in North Af- ing an Operational sortie surgeon, the only woman hicle accident. He was 21. Sunday Church Service. School died from an appar- rica as inexperienced U.S. over Southern Angola after ever awarded a Medal of • 1984 - Rifleman Rinho The casualties were: Com- ently self-inflicted gunshot Troops lost their first major his Mirage F1AZ 245 was Honor, dies at the age of 86. Jepau from 201 Battalion mandant Liam Myles Poole wound to the head while in battle of World War II in Eu- shot down by a Soviet SA- • 1944 - Prime Minister Tojo SWATF was Killed in Ac- (44). Major Andries Petrus Sunnyside, Pretoria. He was rope, with 1,000 Americans 13 Gopher Surface-to-Air takes over direct control of tion during a contact with Els (54). Mr David Jacobus 22. killed. Missile at Cuatir near Me- the Japanese Army as Chief SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. De Lange (47). • 1987 - Rifleman Nicho- • 1944 - Allied bombers be- nongue. He was 31. of Staff. He was 27. • 1978 - Rifleman Raymond las Andrew Stubbs from gin five days of intensive air • 1978 - Lieutenant Phillip Jo- • 1985 - Special Constable O’Brien Hunter from 2 the Equestrian Centre was attacks on German aircraft 21 February seph Castle from Regiment Johannes Tobias from the SAI was Killed in Action at killed in a military vehicle production facilities and air • 1916 - Battle of Verdun in Windhoek, SWATF was South West Africa Police Elundu. He was 20. accident at the Reitz Show bases, while their fighter France begins with a mas- Killed in Action in North- Counter-Insurgency Wing: • 1978 - Rifleman Johan Lem- Grounds. He was 19. escorts devastate defending sive German artillery bom- ern Owamboland during Ops-K Division (Koevoet) mer Caparus Ferreira from 2 • 1987 - Detective Sergeant Luftwaffe squadrons. bardment. It is the longest a close-quarter battle with was Killed in Action dur- SAI was captured along with Pieter Johannes Collen from • 1966 - American Fleet Ad- and bloodiest battle of World SWAPO/PLAN insurgents ing a contact with SWAPO/ Sapper Johan Van der Mes- the South West Africa Police miral Chester W Nimitz, at War 1, with more than one at Olusjandja Dam after his PLAN insurgents in North- cht just before sunrise on Counter-Insurgency Wing: 80. million killed. Patrol was ambushed just ern Owamboland. He was 19 February 1978 during a Ops-K Division (Koevoet) • 1977 - Rifleman H.M. Dos • 1917 - The troopship SS before sunrise. He was 20. 25. surprise attack by a group of was Killed in Action dur- Santos from 32 Battalion Mendi collides with the Dar- • 1979 - Rifleman Francis • 1988 - Two members from approximately 47 SWAPO/ ing a contact with SWAPO/ was Killed in Action during ro near the Isle of Wright. It William John Snyman from 5 Signals Regiment and PLAN insurgents on their PLAN insurgents. He was a contact with enemy forces sinks with a contingent of 7 SAI was Killed in Action one member from Infantry TB at Elundu. Unlike Van 29. in Southern Angola. He was Black SA troops, on their when the Bedford he was School were Killed in Ac- der Mescht, Ferreira refused • 1988 - Rifleman Lambert 31. way to France to fight on driving, detonated a land tion in Southern Angola dur- to go along with his captors Hendrik Fick from 1 Para- • 1981 - Rifleman Sarel Phil- the British side. “Be quiet mine outside Oshakati. He ing Operation Hooper when and was subsequently mur- chute Battalion was killed lippus Piek from 2 Field En- and calm, my countrymen. was 19. their position was attacked dered. He was 20. in a private motor cycle ac- gineer Regiment died in the What is happening now is • 1980 - South Africa warns by Angolan Air Force MiG • 1979 - Sapper Rudolf Fran- cident while on his way to Sick Bay at M’pacha after what you came to do ... you Mozambique it will not Fighter Bombers. The casu- chois van Heerden from 52 Potchefstroom. He was 22. contracting cerebral menin- are going to die, but that is hesitate to strike back if alties were: Sergeant Ger- Battalion was Killed in Ac- gitis. He was 21. what you came to do. Broth- Mozambique continues to hardus Marthinus Maritz tion in a landmine explosion 20 February • 1983 - Special Constable ers, we are drilling the death shelter guerrillas conduct- (25). Corporal Van Zyl Ven- at Mahanene in Northern • 1902 - Colonel C.W. Park, Johannes Joseph from the drill. I, a Xhosa, say you ing murderous operations ter (20). Signaler Jacques de Owamboland. He was 19. commanding three columns South West Africa Police are my brothers ... Swazis, and acts of sabotage against Lange (19). • 1980 - The South African and accompanied by about Counter-Insurgency Wing: Pondos, Basotho ... so let South Africa. Defence Force has taken 300 National Scouts and a Ops-K Division (Koevoet) us die like brothers. We are • 1981 - Commandant Pieter 22 February over from the police the commando of armed Blacks, was Killed in Action dur- the sons of Africa. Raise Gouws from 1 SWA Squad- • 1915 - Germany begins “re- security of Northern Natal surprise General Chris H. ing a contact with SWAPO/ your war-cries, brothers, for ron SWATF was Reported stricted” submarine warfare. since the area is becoming a Muller in the Bothasberg, PLAN insurgents in North- though they made us leave Missing when his Civilian • 1940 - A Stuka of Kamp- 78 79 This month in military history ... February This month in military history ... February fgeschwader 30 sinks two poel from 25 Field Squad- tion Force Unit in Southern erindo Maurao Da Costa • 1987 - Three members from Kwame Nkrumah while he destroyers in a single attack ron, South African Engineer Angola. He was 19. PMM from 1 Reconnais- 101 Battalion Romeo Mike is out of the country on his in the North Sea off Bor- Corps was killed when his • 1988 - Corporal Petrus Jaco- sance Regiment was Killed Team SWATF were Killed way to China. kum. Unfortunately for him Buffel Troop Carrier over- bus Louw from 102 Battal- in Action when he detonated in Action close to Vinticet in • 1984 - Special Warrant Of- the two ships, the ‘Lebrecht turned in Northern Owam- ion SWATF accidentally a booby trap after his team Southern Angola after their ficer Herman Hosea from Maas’ and ‘Max Schultz’, boland. He was 19. drowned in the Officers/ had walked into an enemy Casspir was hit by Soviet the South West Africa Police are both German. • 1984 - Special Constable NCO’s swimming pool at ambush. He was 35. RPG-7 Anti-Tank Rock- Counter-Insurgency Wing: • 1967 - The Minister of De- Patisiu Tobias from the the Headquarters. He was • 1981 - The Prime Minister ets when they drove into a Ops-K Division (Koevoet) fence, P.W. Botha, discloses South West Africa Police 19. declares that Soviet threats SWAPO/PLAN Battalion was Killed in Action dur- that South Africa’s northern Counter-Insurgency Wing: • 1991 - Major Richard John will not prevent South Afri- ambush. They were: Corpo- ing a contact with SWAPO/ borders are protected by a Ops-K Division (Koevoet) Miller from 85 Combat Fly- ca from attacking ANC bas- ral Hector Lucas Strydom PLAN insurgents in North- radar complex constituting was Killed in Action dur- ing School was killed when es in Mozambique. (24). Rifleman Tom Job ern Owamboland. He was an early warning system and ing a contact with SWAPO/ his Atlas MB326KM Impa- • 1983 - Private Ronald Rich- (23). Rifleman Esau Simon 28. that her coasts will be cov- PLAN insurgents in North- la Mk II, Serial No. 1008 ard Erasmus from 5 Mainte- (24). • 1987 - Airman Nicolaas Wil- ered by the Decca naviga- ern Owamboland. He was crashed while carrying out nance Unit died in hospital • 1987 - Two members from helmus Jacobus van Rheede tional system costing R6m. 24. an aerobatics display at Air from natural causes. He was the South West Africa Police van Oudtshoorn from Air • 1975 - The Military govern- • 1985 - Private Philip Nat Force Base Pietersburg. He 19. Counter-Insurgency Wing: Force Base Grootfontein ment of Ethiopia announces Gould from 61 Base Work- was 33. • 1983 - Rifleman Simon Ha- Ops-K Division (Koevoet) died from a gunshot wound that 2,300 guerrillas have shops was critically injured mutenya from 101 Battalion were Killed in Action and accidentally sustained while been killed in fighting in Er- when he accidentally fell 23 February SWATF Killed in Action one wounded during a con- serving at the Base. He was itrea. off a moving vehicle. He • 1917 - Caporale Benito during a contact with insur- tact with SWAPO/PLAN 19. • 1977 - Lieutenant Neil Brad- was admitted to 1 Military Mussolini, 11th Bersaglieri, gents in Southern Angola. insurgents in Northern ley Liddell from 17 Squad- Hospital where he later suc- is seriously wounded in a He was 23. Owamboland. They were: 25 February ron was Killed in Action cumbed to his injuries. He mortar accident. • 1983 - Lance Corporal Wil- Special Sergeant Mwain- • 1885 - Germany annexes when his Alouette III, Seri- was 18. • 1942 - During World War II, liam Francis Moag from bange Mwanyengange (23). Tanganyika and Zanzibar. al No. 76 was shot down by • 1988 - Sapper Steven Eric the first attack on the U.S. 7 SAI died from gunshot Special Sergeant Johannes • 1902 - At least fifty-three concentrated small arms fire Lelong from 1 Parachute mainland occurred as a Jap- wounds accidentally sus- Naffral (35). Sergeant British soldiers die, 130 are during anti-insurgent op- Battalion Combat Engineer- anese submarine shelled an tained in the Operational Christiaan Petrus Momberg. wounded and 500 captured erations in ing Unit was accidentally oil refinery near Santa Bar- Area. He was 20. (Wounded and evacuated in a surprise attack by Boer Southern shot dead when his team bara, California, causing mi- • 1984 - Special Warrant Of- but died in 1 Military Hos- troops at Ysterspruit in the Zambia. of Combat nor damage. ficer Lukus Likuis from the pital on 25 February 1987). Klerksdorp vicinity. He was Engineers • 1945 - Iwo Jima: the 28th South West Africa Police • 1989 - Rifleman Mhluteki • 1916 - Verdun: The Germans 28. were mis- Marines raise the flag on Counter-Insurgency Wing: Absalon Makatini from 111 capture Fort Douaumont. • 1978 - Rifleman takenly am- Mount Suribachi. Ops-K Division (Koevoet) Battalion died from gun- • 1954 - Military coup Andre Bosch from 2 bushed by a • 1978 - Captain Andries Jo- was Killed in Action during shot wounds sustained in a ousts Pres Adib el-Shishakli SAI Died of Wounds in 1 102 Battalion hannes van Ellewee from a contact with PLAN insur- shooting incident in Swazi- of Syria. Military Hospital after being SWATF Reac- 41 Battalion was critically gents in Northern Owam- land. He was 20. • 1981 - Hansard reports that shot while standing guard at wounded at Narubis near boland. He was 31. • 1991 - In Desert Storm, the on this date 289 servicemen Elundu when their position Keetmanshoop duing a live • 1986 - Special Sergeant Allied ground offensive of the SADF are in deten- was overrun by SWAPO/ fire exercise. He was 26. Abel Matiesta from the began after a devastating tion, of which 137 are being PLAN insurgents. He was • 1980 - Staff Sergeant Am- South West Africa Police month-long air campaign punished for reasons of con- 18. Counter-Insurgency Wing: targeting Iraqi troops in both scientious objection. • 1980 - Sapper Phillipus Iwo Ops-K Division (Koevoet) Iraq and Kuwait. • 1981 - Private Cornelius To- Jurie Wynand Swane- Jima was Killed in Action during bias van Schalkwyk from a contact with PLAN insur- 24 February the Dog Training Centre gents in Northern Owam- • 1966 - A military coup in died in hospital at Oshakati boland. He was 36. Ghana deposes President after contracting Malaria in 80 81 This month in military history ... February This month in military history ... February Southern Angola while at- Somalia, in a five-hour bat- • 1976 - Corporal Jan Andries 27 February • 1984 - Lance Corporal 28 February tached to an Infantry Unit as tle that kills one Somali. Swanepoel from 8 Signal • 1881 - Boers defeat the Brit- George Diederick Vorster • 1844 - During a demonstra- a dog handler. He was 19. • 2005 - Militiamen kill nine Regiment was Killed when ish force at Majuba Hill, in from North West Command tion of naval fire power, one • 1986 - Captain Brian Du United Nations Bangladeshi the Unimog vehicle he was the Anglo-Transvaal War. Provost Unit was killed on of the guns aboard the USS Preez from 116 Battalion peacekeepers in Ituri, east- a passenger overturned at More than 200 British sol- the Klerksdorp-Potchef- Princeton exploded, killing was killed in a military mo- ern Democratic Republic of Chitado, Southern Angola. diers and two Boers are stroom Road while carrying several top U.S. government torcycle accident at Messi- Congo, in the worst attack He was 25. killed. out convoy escort duty. He officials on the steamer ship, na. He was 27. against the UN force in the • 1980 - Rifleman Jakobus • 1900 - British troops under was 19 and narrowly missed killing • 1987 - Sergeant Christiaan country. Ituri is one of the Andries Petrus Bosman Gen. Redvers Buller break • 1986 - Special Constable President John Tyler. Petrus Momberg from the DRC’s worst trouble spots, from Witwatersrand Rifles through the Boer lines dur- Thomas Amunyongi from • 1900 - The British relieves South West Africa Police where ethnic militias have was Killed in Action dur- ing the Battle of Pieter- the South West Africa Police Ladysmith after a siege of Counter-Insurgency Wing: killed 50 000 civilians since ing a contact with SWAPO/ shoogte. Counter-Insurgency Wing: four months when reinforce- Ops-K Division (Koev- 1999. PLAN insurgents in North- • 1900 - The Boer general Piet Ops-K Division (Koevoet) ments under Buller arrive. oet) was wounded in the ern Owamboland. He was Cronje surrenders with 3 919 was Killed in Action during • 1944 - Marshal of the So- head during a contact with 26 February 27. men (nearly 10% of the total a contact with PLAN insur- viet Union Nicholai Fyodor- SWAPO/PLAN insurgents • 1852 - An English troop car- • 1982 - Lieutenant Com- republican fighting strength) gents in Northern Owam- ovich Vatutin, is mortally in Northern Owamboland rier, the Birkenhead with mander Robert Desmond to the British at Paardeberg boland. He was 25. wounded in an ambush by on 23 February 1987. He Robert Salmond as captain, Kohne from SAS Drak- on the 10th day of the battle. • 1987 - Sapper Norman Cecil Ukrainian partisans and dies was evacuated to Eenhana carrying reinforcements for ensberg was killed when • 1902 - On the same day van der Leeuw from 5 Mil- 15 April. where he later lapsed into a the 8th Frontier War, runs he accidentally fell into lift both the oldest and the itary Works Unit, M’pacha, • 1977 - Private Craig Murray coma prior to being evacu- aground at Danger Point. Of shaft on the SAS Drakens- youngest prisoners of war was accidentally killed af- Irvine from 32 Field Work- ated to 1 Military Hospital the 638 passengers, only 184 berg during construction to be deported, are captured ter falling off the back of a shop Squadron was killed in in Pretoria. He remained on could be rescued, as there and maintenance work on at Dwaalspruit. They are moving truck at Katima. He a military vehicle accident life support until declared were insufficient lifeboats. the Ship at the Shipyards in Gideon J. van Zyl of Vre- was 20. on the Bagani-Rundu Road. brain dead on 25 February The women and children Durban.. He was 29. de seventy-eight years old, • 1988 - Rifleman Antonio He was 22. 1987. He was 23. were sent ashore first, while • 1984 - Scout Adrian Bruce and Johannes van Heerden Luis Cambinda from 32 • 1979 - Sergeant Bernhard • 1988 - Bombardier Clinton the men remained standing Berend from the Intelli- of Heidelberg, only seven Battalion was killed in a Fritz Wilhelm Kirchner from Hendricks from 10 Anti-Air- on deck until they perished gence School in Kimberley years old. military vehicle accident at 41 Battalion was Killed in craft Regiment, was Killed under the waves. was killed in a civilian mo- • 1973 - Candidate Officer Rundu. He was 22. Action during a Contact in Action in Southern Ango- • 1916 - German U-Boat sinks tor vehicle accident while on Cornelis Ferreira Oost- • 1988 - Special Warrant Of- with SWAPO/PLAN insur- la near Cuito during Opera- the French liner ‘Provence’, weekend pass. He was 19. huysen from 1 SSB was ficer Felix Creneus from the gents. He was 21. tion Hooper while operating 930 die. • 1990 - Defence Minister killed in a military vehicle South West Africa Police • 1988 - South African com- with a 61 Mechanised Bat- • 1935 - Germany announces General Magnus Malan says accident in Bloemfontein. Counter-Insurgency Wing: mandos raid Gaborone, Bot- talion Group SAM-7 An- the existence of the Luft- all activities of the clandes- He was 19. Ops-K Division (Koevoet) swana, in search of ANC ti-Aircraft team. He was 19. waffe under Herman Göring. tine Civil Co-operation Bu- • 1974 - Ethiopia’s cabinet was Killed in Action during members. • 1988 - Lance Corporal Leon • 1942 - German battleship reau (CCB) have been sus- resigns as military mutiny a contact with PLAN insur- • 1994 - NATO conducted its Francis van Wyk from Reg- ‘Gneisenau’ disabled by a pended pending the outcome spreads from the captured gents in Northern Owam- first combat action in its 45 iment Molopo was Killed British bomb. of a judicial investigation. city of Asmara. boland. He was 29. year history as four Bosnian in Action during a contact • 1952 - Winston Churchill • 1990 - Moscow begins pull- • 1980 - Rifleman Leon Grob- • 1991 - In Desert Storm, the Serb jets were shot down by with enemy forces in South- announces that Britain has ing 73,000 troops out of ler from 2 Parachute Battal- 100-hour ground war end- American fighters in a no- ern Angola when his Olifant produced its own atomic Czechoslovakia. ion died from wounds sus- ed as Allied troops entered fly zone. Tank was knocked out by a bomb. • 1999 - Ethiopian troops tained on 20 February. He Kuwait just four days after Soviet 130mm field gun. He • 1974 - Ethiopian army units breach Eritrean lines in a was 19. launching their offensive was 30. seize Asmara, second largest disputed border area, and • 1982 - Rifleman Peter Wil- against Saddam Hussein’s • 1993 - US marines and Ni- city in Ethiopia, and demand Eritrea soon says it will ac- liams Hayfeni Naikaku from Iraqi forces. gerian soldiers blast at snip- better pay and living condi- cept an African peace plan 32 Battalion was killed in ers in central Mogadishu, tions. for the ten-month war. action. He was 29. 82 83 quiz Modern Assault Rifles 1. XM8 rifle Switzerland. America. 5.56×45mm NATO rifle pro- 6. Multi Caliber Individual 11. ADS amphibious rifle Military duced in 2003 by Heckler & Koch Weapon System 5.45×39mm rifle produced in of Germany. 5.56×45mm NATO rifle pro- 2007 by KBP Instrument Design 2. IWI ACE duced in 2012 by Ordnance Fac- Bureau of Russia. Despatches 5.56×45mm NATO rifle pro- tory Tiruchirappalli of India. 12. QBZ-03 duced in 2008 by Israel Weapons 7. CZ 805 BREN 5.56×45mm NATO rifle produced Social Industries. 5.56×45mm NATO rifle produced in 2003 by Norinco of China. 3. ARX160 in 2009 by Česká zbrojovka Uh- 13. LR-300 Club 5.56×45mm NATO rifle produced erský Brod of Czechoslovakia. 5.56×45mm NATO rifle pro- in 2008 by Fabbrica d’Armi Piet- 8. Pindad SS2 duced in 2000 by Z-M Weapons ro Beretta of Italy. 5.56×45mm NATO rifle produced of America. 4. Special Operations Assault in 2005 by PT Pindad of Indonesia. 14. S&T Daewoo K11 Rifle 9. FN SCAR 5.56×45mm NATO rifle produced 5.56×45mm NATO rifle pro- 5.56×45mm NATO rifle produced in 2006 by S&T Motiv of South duced in 2004 by Ferfrans Spe- in 2004 by Fabrique Nationale Korea. cialties of the Philippines. d’Herstal of Belgium. 15. IWI X95 5. SIG MCX 10. Remington GPC 5.56×45mm NATO rifle pro- 5.56×45mm NATO rifle pro- 5.56×45mm NATO rifle produced duced in 2003 by Israel Weapon duced in 2010 by SIG Sauer of in 2010 by Remington Arms of Industries. Useful links Every month we will be featuring a few useful links to military websites, newsletters and on- line magazines. Stuff that we think our readers will appreciate. Here are two of our favourites. The first one is Nongqai, the unofficial police newsletter for needs veterans of the former South African Police Force and for those interested in Police History. The second is Jimmy’s Own, the official newsletter of the South African Signals Association. Click on the magazine covers to go to the respective websites. You

From February the Military Despatches Social Club will be getting together in Cape Town on a monthly basis. And the emphasis will be on social. We’ll have guest speakers (they get 20 minutes to talk), watch old classic movies (free popcorn), braai, have quiz nights and generally have a good time.

Our first get-together will be on Friday 22 February where we will be launching the social club. It’s open to everyone (including friends and family). If you’re interested in attending the launch, or finding out more, drop us an e-mail at editor@hipe. co.za and we will be in touch.

In March we will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in the true Irish spirit.

84 85 E-mail [email protected]

Online Magazines Flip book magazines with pages that can be turned.

E-books Produced in any electronic format required.

2D & 3D Animation Produced in any video format.

Video Production Scripting, storyboard, filming and edit- ing done to any video format required. We also do aerial and underwater video and stills.

Still Photography

If you’re thinking digital media then think Hipe Media.