WINDS OF DESTRUCTION The autobiography of a Rhodesian combat pilot P.J.H. Petter-Bowyer Contents Maps 16 PTC .......................................................................... 79 Central Africa and Southern Africa ............................ 9 RAF Trappers ................................................................ 80 Air Force Bases and Forward Airfields ....................... 10 No 4 Squadron ............................................................... 81 Rhodesian, ZIPRA and ZANLA Federal break-up ............................................................ 84 Operational Boundaries ...................................... 11 Return to Thornhill ....................................................... 84 Weapons demonstration ................................................ 86 Foreword ..................................................................... 12 Early weapons testing .................................................... 88 Deaths of Bruce McKerron and Henry Elliot ............. 88 Author’s Note ............................................................. 13 First terrorist action ...................................................... 90 Flying Wing Adjutant ................................................... 90 Chapter 1 Deaths of Barry Matthews and Sandy Trenoweth ...... 91 A short history of the Rhodesian Air Force ................ 15 Rupert Fothergill ........................................................... 91 Younger days .................................................................. 17 Posting to 3 Squadron ................................................... 91 Chapter 2 Chapter 5 Ground Training School ............................................... 25 Unilateral Declaration of Independence ...................... 93 Basic Flying School ....................................................... 29 Rolls Royce engines ....................................................... 95 Advanced Flying School ............................................... 36 No 7 Squadron ............................................................... 96 Operational Conversion Unit ....................................... 41 Sinoia operation ............................................................. 97 Helicopter projects ......................................................... 102 Chapter 3 Nevada murder ............................................................... 103 No 1 Squadron ............................................................... 48 Aiden Diggeden ............................................................ 105 Interview with Commander ......................................... 48 Helicopter projects continued ....................................... 106 Nyasaland emergency .................................................... 50 Accidental entry into Zambia ....................................... 107 Canberra bombers ......................................................... 52 Elephants and the minister ........................................... 110 The Colin Graves tragedy ............................................. 53 First helicopter engine failure ....................................... 111 Air shows ....................................................................... 55 British military versus Labour Government ................ 111 Flypasts .......................................................................... 57 A different way of thinking .......................................... 112 Aden detachment ........................................................... 58 FAC courses and smoke trails ....................................... 113 Missing rhino ................................................................. 114 Chapter 4 The fun of helicopters .................................................... 114 No 2 Squadron ............................................................... 65 Police Reserve Air Wing ............................................... 115 Death of Jack Roberts ................................................... 66 Sabotage ......................................................................... 66 Chapter 6 Flying Instructors School ............................................. 68 Operation Nickel ........................................................... 116 Paul Mark ...................................................................... 68 Disastrous twenty-four hours ....................................... 122 Death of Eric Cary ........................................................ 69 Radio tracker dog project disallowed ........................... 126 First students ................................................................. 69 Find Sheriff .................................................................... 127 Fire officer ...................................................................... 70 Mountain flying ............................................................. 127 Canberra belly-landing ................................................. 71 Family in helicopter ....................................................... 128 Practical jokers ............................................................... 71 Training Norman Walsh ............................................... 129 15 PTC .......................................................................... 73 Tracker dog project ........................................................ 129 Fire-fighting cock-up .................................................... 74 Operation Cauldron ...................................................... 131 Congo crisis ................................................................... 75 P.K. van der Byl ............................................................. 135 Gwelo Gliding Club ...................................................... 78 Roland Coffegnot ........................................................... 136 Operation Griffin .......................................................... 137 SAS ops in Tete ............................................................. 203 Tracker dogs proven ...................................................... 139 First internal recce success ............................................ 207 Operation Mansion ....................................................... 140 Training PRAW ............................................................ 208 Operation Excess ........................................................... 140 Strela missiles ................................................................ 208 Concern for Tete Province ............................................ 143 Crop-spraying in Tete ................................................... 209 Casevac of gored ranger ................................................. 144 Chris Weinmann joins 4 Squadron .............................. 209 Tripper operations ......................................................... 145 Night casevacs ................................................................ 210 Animal incidents ........................................................... 150 Improving tactics ........................................................... 211 Death of Don Annandale ............................................. 152 Selous Scouts .................................................................. 212 Recce training and Willie de Beer ............................... 153 Cordon Sanitaire ............................................................ 214 Trojans ............................................................................ 154 Odds and sods ................................................................ 214 Roll cloud incident ......................................................... 155 FAC errors and successes .............................................. 215 Engine failure ................................................................ 156 Fear of landing in enemy territory ................................ 217 Joint Planning Staff ....................................................... 157 Chifombo Base .............................................................. 218 Paris Air Show ............................................................... 159 New offensive trials ....................................................... 219 Board of Inquiry ............................................................. 160 Beginning of Black Month ........................................... 220 Alcora ............................................................................. 161 Operation Marble .......................................................... 222 Visit to Cabo del Gado ................................................... 162 Search for Chris ............................................................. 227 Medical hitch ................................................................. 166 Hunter commanders ...................................................... 230 Aircraft accidents 1970–1971 ....................................... 167 Army claims air kills ..................................................... 231 Exercise Blackjack ......................................................... 168 Gungwa mountain ......................................................... 232 Staff College ................................................................... 169 Countering Strela missiles ............................................ 233 Deaths of Munton-Jackson and Garden ...................... 170 Army Sub-JOC commanders ........................................ 234 Fireforce and Scouts .....................................................