Flying Spirit
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The Official National Newsletter of the SAAF Association SAAFA 75 F September 2020 Contents National Office Bearers P4 Military Attaché and Advisor Corps P5 Branch News P6 SAAFA Pretoria Branch P9 Famous Ace P11 So, here we are, fast approaching the spring of 2020. With what has transpired over the last five months or so I am sure that we will Warsaw Uprising P12 welcome the signs of new growth, of renewed energy, and of the feeling of wanting to “get up and go”. Having spent a few days in The South African connection Warsaw the Lowveld over the past weekend has made me realise once again Uprising P15 what a beautiful country we live in. The scenery, winding roads, lush Battle of Britain P16 vegetation, wildlife, forest walks, and the majestic mountains were invigorating indeed. Things you need to know about Battle of Britain P19 The scars of the Covid-19 economy opens up and people pandemic are there to be seen, start to get out more. I am International Day of Peace P23 businesses and restaurants aware that there are individuals closed up, vacant shops, and who will vehemently disagree The Extensive Team required to houses. People have lost with the wearing of face masks, keep a Lancaster much. However, there were citing various reasons for their Fully operational P24 also signs of revival, of re-birth, convictions. However, out of of hope as people went about respect for others, I will Ground Crews P25 cheerfully setting up and continue to wear mine in order Three Cheers for providing services. The World to protect them, not myself. the Man on the Ground P26 Health Organisation (WHO) has predicted that this pandemic will It has been said that “This virus Call back the past has made people lose their P27 be around for the next two years (at least) so the reality is that we marbles, and many people are Memorial Services triggered by what others are 2020/21 P28 need to learn to live with this thing. We also need things to doing.” This is so true, and we Unconscious Pilot need to stop it. We need to P28 move forward. Our collective hope is that everyone will respect and accept people for From the Editors how they choose to define their Desk P29 continue taking precautions like wearing face masks and own new normal. We need to ‘NEC Bank detail stay safe but respect what P29 physically distancing as our SAAFA NEC; P.O. Box 21223; Valhalla; 0137. Tel: 012 651 5921/351 2116; [email protected]; Fax: 086 218 4657 1 others are doing as well, each to their East Rand Branch is also marketing own. We can choose to stay home or merchandise, including ladies' scarves. choose to go out, but above all of this, we Durban Branch has launched a need to choose kindness. fundraising effort through the selling of face masks that display the SAAFA Once we choose hope, anything is Eagle and SAAFA 75 wording with the possible. There is immense power in Branch name of choice. These items both hope and fear, but we need to be can be ordered directly from the incredibly careful which we decide to Branches and an appeal is made for all feed. The one makes us open to endless of us to support the fundraising efforts of possibilities while the other can make us all Branches throughout the Country. stark-raving mad. And we cannot live in a constant state of fear. It is toxic and In terms of veterans’ administration, will eventually consume all of us. So, we documentation for registration on the need to choose hope. But hope is not Department of Military Veterans (DMV) about proving anything. It is about database has been finalised for choosing to believe this one thing that incorporation into the SAAFA Manual of love is more significant than any Administration. It is vitally important for perceived political agendas, conspiracy every member of SAAFA to be registered theories, alarmist rumours, and fear- on the DMV database. The benefits of inducing statistics that get thrown at us. registration are considerable. Some of And if we are feeling hopeless - even for these benefits include compensation for a second - then we need to get up and injury, trauma, and disease; facilitation of do something. We should not wait for employment placement; subsidised good things to happen to us, but rather public transport; access to health care; we should go out and make some good housing, and funeral support up to R25 things happen. 000. Certain veterans registered with the DMV may also apply for Social Relief of Enough of that, now to get back to some Distress (SRD) should they qualify good old SAAFA business. Even though through the determination of a means it might appear unlikely that we will have test. In addition to these considerations, an opportunity this year of hosting the registration of SAAFA members of the Annual SAAFA Banquet and Awards DMV database will also ensure that Ceremony, we have not lost hope and SAAFA represents a credible will keep our options open to possibly constituency and can engage with host such an event during late October strength in numbers within the higher or early November. Failing this the echelons of the Council of Military National Executive Committee (NEC) will Veterans Organisations (CMVO), the SA consult widely and explore other options, National Military Veterans’ Association even if it might mean postponement to (SANMVA) and of course, the Congress 2021. Department of Military Veterans. SAAFA 75 regalia is available, and the Registration will also assist in products and price lists may be accessed determining the military veteran footprint on our SAAFA Webpage, saafa.co.za. (location/town/suburb) throughout the Orders may be placed and paid for online country to ensure the provision of and delivery to your home address can services in the high-density areas. All be arranged. Please support this SAAFA Branches are thus encouraged initiative as SAAFA stands to benefit in to launch a campaign to register their the form of donations towards our members with the DMV. benevolence projects. On this note, the 2 Amongst others, our SAAFA Constitution in SAAFA and we should strive to uphold clearly states that the Association has the pillar of camaraderie in all that we do. been formed to perpetuate a tradition of comradeship. Thus, camaraderie In closing, I would like to encourage all remains one of the fundamental pillars of SAAFA members to truly live out the our Association. Active camaraderie in values of our Association in being a our Association is vital for the wellbeing source of comfort and strength to those of every member, for the wellbeing of most vulnerable among us, and to every Branch and the wellbeing of continue to maintain and foster SAAFA at large. Every military person friendship, comradeship and good knows that care for one’s comrade is fellowship among all members. Let us pivotal to the success of any venture. continue to bear one another’s burdens during the challenging and unknown That injunction should be clear to us all times that still lie ahead. God bless. Mike Louw National President: South African Air Force Association 3 NATIONAL OFFICE BEARERS Philip Weyers Renier Feldtmann SAAF/SAAFA Liaison Memorial Services Raised on the family farm, “Doornkloof”. Renier was born on 3 April 1941 in Frankfort, Occasionally attended Pretoria Boys’ High OFS, and matriculated in 1959 at Erasmus School. High School, Bronkhorstspruit. Called up for National Service at the SAAF He joined the SA Air Force on 7 December Gym in January 1976, completed 1959 as Personnel Clerk and retired on 30 Operations/Intelligence course and posted April 1996 as Warrant Officer Class 1. He to the SAAF’s finest, 28 Squadron. Awarded served at various Headquarters/Units during the Pro-Patria medal. his career. Philip joined the SAAF Association in March He joined the SA Air Force Reserves on 1 1976. In 1997 was co-opted to the BEC to July 1996, at Secretary for Defense and Air produce the Stick & Throttle newsletter Force Headquarters, until 30 March 2006. which he did from 1997 to 2005. In 2005 During his Reserve Force period he was Philip was elected Chairman of Pretoria appointed as Reserve Warrant Officer in the Branch. In 2006 appointment as Vice- Directorate Air Force Reserves at Air Force President followed and elected National Headquarters. President in 2007. Due to an internal issue at Pretoria Branch, Philip returned as Renier joined the SAAF Association on 21 Chairman for a year in 2012. Arising from June 1987 and in March 1994 he was the passing of Ken Snowball and elected as Committee member of the incapacitation of Neville Greyling, Philip was SAAFA Pretoria Branch, responsible for “re-cycled” and returned as President in Memorial Services, Parades and 2013 to complete the cycle. In 2014 Philip Ceremonial. During 2011 he was co-opted was co-opted in a support role as Pretoria member on the SAAFA NEC in the same Branch Vice-Chairman, which arrangement capacity. He represented the SAAFA continued to 2015. Pretoria Branch on the Pretoria Memorial Philip currently serves on NEC managing Services Council since March 1994. During portfolios including SAAF/SAAFA liaison, November 1996 he was elected as MAAC liaison and PR. Philip also served as Secretary for the PMSC and in 2005 he was Chairman of Air Forces Housing Memorial elected as Vice Chairman of the PMSC. In (Pretoria) for 12 years and Vice-Chairman of 2014 was elected as Chairman of the PMSC until November 2016.