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R. Cooper (TF) Rogues Gallery RLI PARATROOPERS Tony Rogers (RhArmy) Writes:- I was forwarded an email today with a link for a photo of RLI paratroopers. I am guessing the image was scanned from a publication, but the photo was taken using my camera. I am Anthony (not Antony) Rogers. All the lads were Support Commando, 1 RLI. I would need to check my diary to be sure, but I think it was April 1979. I might have noted the course number; not sure. I can look next time I am home - In Angola (working) now, and for the next six weeks or so. Ref. http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=1116521&comments=1 TED BRENT AND KEITH CLARKE Steven Benny Writes:- I am hoping you can help with a wee question for my Canberra book research. Do you know, or can you find out, what rank Keith Clarke and Ted Brent of 5 Sqn retired with? I think you are the best man for the job with your connections. I\'m assuming Ted ended as Sqn Ldr but don\'t know for sure - Keith I have no idea. Replies to Steven on seedubproject@yahoo.co.uk MABELREIGN Tina Brittain Writes:- (tinatedbrittain@btinternet.com) I grew up in Mabelreign, S.R., and would love some pictures of the place if they exist. (Our address was 1079th Avenue, Mabelreign!!) I loved the “Mabelreign Pharmacy Advert” advert. Was is this town called now, I wonder? Tina Reply direct to Tina at tinatedbrittain@btinternet.com FLETCHER BRIDGE Rob Picton (INTAF) Writes:- My memory might be playing tricks on me but was there someone asking about a \'Fletcher Bridge\' the other day? I apologise if I\'m incorrect in this - but if it was the case, then this YouTube clip of the opening of the same by Garfield Todd may be helpful. Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l2yNcgtRcA \"AVIATION GROUPS\' Bob Fernandes (PRAW) Writes:- Just to let you know that I am a member of the Ilkley University of Third Age (U3A) which is for old tops like me. And one of the groups that I attend is the \"Aviation Group\". I thought that some of the readers of ORAFS might be interested in having a look at the following agenda which has been put out by our group leader \" Dear All -The next meeting of the group will be on Wednesday June 5 at 11.00 at Bar\' Tat in Ilkley. There will be an illustrated talk by Richard Morris from Huddersfield University. Richard has written booklets on the Dam Busters raid; Frank Whittle, inventor of the jet engine; and a companion to the Cold War Exhibition at the RAF Museum. Please make every effort to attend. Please let me know if you are not able to be there or if you know of anyone else who would like to come. Bar\' Tat does not officially open until 12.00 but is providing a room for the meeting. Please use the door from the Central Car Park and announce your arrival. I will be attending the talk and try to let you have a brief sitrep after the talk. I will see if there are any interesting booklets I could forward on to you as well. (Look forward to the publications and sitrep Bob. Eddy Norris) FISHING ARTICLES Allyson Ogston Writes:- I was browsing the internet and stumbled on your site with old ads from Rhodesia (1977?) I wonder if you could help me, or give me some advice.....am looking for some fishing articles written by Jack Ogston, cartooned by Glenn Irving in the paper (Salisbury) in 1974. Is there anyway for me to see these? Jack was my father, and Glenn is/was a musician (entertainment is my industry, hence the cross over and connection). It\'s so darn odd that apart from me being a musician and agent, my partner and I have just opened a fishing lodge. Never in my wildest dreams did \"fish\" ever feature for me.....but there you go. Wheel of the world? Anyway - I\'m taking a very long shot contacting you, but maybe you can give me some advice, or tell me I\'m barking up a dead tree here......it would be pretty amazing if I could get these articles..... Replies direct to Allyson at jamally@mweb.co.za BWANA WA POLISI Alan Simmonds Writes:- I am reading a book entitled \" The Hunting Blackbeards of Botswana\" edited by Brian Marsh. This is the story of Dennis Blackbeard who lived at Serowe and operated all over Botswana as a professional hunter and later hunting safari operator. He relates this story (or a very similar one) on page 34. Here the writer (Dennis\' records) says that the bushmen had actually recently killed a giraffe and as the pilots wore uniforms they assumed they were police out to arrest them for the killing. After feeding the pilots and going to sleep for the night the bush folk discussed things among themselves and decided it safest to do away with the supposed policemen. If you haven\'t read this book it is one I would recommend. Refer: http://rhodesianheritage.blogspot.com/2013/05/bwana-wa-polisi.html DR. JIM REDMOND Hi Eddy, my name is Tina Cochrane and this article, which came to me via Neill Storey is about my dad. Don\'t know if you would like a little background info but here\'s some anyway. He was born in Dublin and during World War II was a rear gunner with Squadron No.35 in the Royal Air Force. Flying Officer James William Redmond, Number 179011. He moved to the then Northern Rhodesia after the war and at the break up of the federation we moved to Australia for a short spell. We moved to Gweru in 1963 where dad worked as a GP, first on the Railways and then in private practice. He was a Reserve with the RAF and attained the rank of Squadron Leader during his time with them. I have not seen my dad for many years but I do have a few photos of his time in Bomber Command. I do not have his log book or any of the other bits and bobs which he kept although I do remember us looking at them as children. Thanks for your interest and for circulating this article. Valerie Malcolm (RhAF) I remember him as a Railway Dr in Gwelo when we were young. We then moved into his house in Greenwood Park, when he left the Railways. That was in the late 60s. Denise Taylor Writes:- Congratulations to Dr. Jim on receiving his Bomber Command Clasp. As the article says it was long overdue. Thank you Dr Jim for your service during WW 2, and Rhodesia too. I was wondering if perhaps Dr Jim has any memoirs of that time and of his time in Thornhill. As a child back then I can say that the Docs at sick quarters we used to visit were all super and gentle. Paul and I had the double bonus of having Sister Robbie live on the same road as us, and many a cut was cleaned at her house and boy did she have a stash of sweets for after the \"visit\". Not just one lollipop like the dentist used to give out - no our dear nurse knew a handful was just the thing to make you \"feel all better\"! Thanks for the memories. Refer. http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=1116437&comments=1 CIVIL AIR REGISTER Dave Newnham (RhAF) Writes:- I\'m compiling the \"Definitive Civil Aircraft Register of Rhodesia\". I have scanned all the register publications including the Southern Rhodesia Department of Civil Aviation quarterly registers. I\'ve now got to the stage where I need input from the Rhodesian pilots (or their logbooks) to update my records. I have attached an \"advert\" that I would be grateful if you would publish in ORAFs weekly newsletter. VP-YAA Did you FLY in Rhodesia? I am compiling the: Definitive Civil Aircraft Register of Rhodesia I need your help with Registration, Ownership dates and fate of all aircraft prior to Independence. In particular, Private aircraft registration details 1965-1980. Please e-mail: davenewnham@uwclub.net Tel: 01273 471057 Addr: 2 South Place Flats, St John Street, Lewes, E. Sussex, BN7 2QF, UK. FREE e-copy of Register on request. JOCK OF THE BUSHVELD Stretch Merrington (RhAF) Writes:- I would like to express my sincere thanks to all that responded to my request about ‘Jock of the Bushveld’ song – it was fantastic and I was even sent the song. Many thanks indeed to all that offered their help. Oh, just in case people think I am more stupid than normal – if one goes to the John Edmond site and clicks on ‘listen’ ; various snippets of songs come up. I clicked on ‘Wild and Beautiful and Free: Jock of the Bushveld’ and the song that came up was NOT Jock of the Bushveld; hence my not knowing where to find the song. Cheers and thanks once again to all. RHODESIAN NAVY PUTS TO SEA Des McLindon (dmclindon@btinternet.com) I was in the unit between 1962-1967.Lived at Hillside and used to cycle once a week to the unit. People must have thought it strange to see matelots in the streets of a landlocked country. What triggered this was seeing an article from 1952 with cadets on a RN warship, included in the names are H.E Armitage, he was a PO when I was there. I also have a newspaper article showing cadets at the lake, including photos. The Co LT Hignell died only recently in Australia. The training did me some good as I ended up in the MN for 22 years the became a pilot retiring this year. Good days Refer:. http://rhodesianheritage.blogspot.com/2011/03/rhodesian-navy-puts-to-sea.html AIR RHODESIA BOEING 720S CONTINUED Grannia “Sandy” O’Donnell (Air Rhodesia) writes:- Mitch, Thanks very much for sending me the information about the anniversary of the story of Air Rhodesia Boeing 720s acquisition. I have many fond memories of Air Rhodesia from the 7 years I worked first as a “ground hostess” and then once I turned twenty an “air hostess”. I was in Gordon Hall’s terrific team on the ground and what a great job it was for a teenager who had only been a year out of school. One of the great things I liked about being part of the airline is that we never seemed to lose our sense of humour no matter what happened. One of my favourite stories whilst not about the 720s was when we did a charter flight to Blantyre for the Goshawks Rugby team on a Dakota in Feb 1971. Being the only hostess on board I allowed them to trundle down to the back of the aircraft to collect their beers and snacks and completely forgot about “the trim” when they decided to congregate in the galley. That was until I got a call, from the flight deck, on the intercom from a very concern sounding captain saying “can you get those lock forwards forward now!” Wops! So I said “hey guys can you pick up your beers and walk” which they did in haste when I explained that we were a bit heavy at the rear end. Another good laugh was when a few crews were sitting in the VFA crew room about a year before we got the triplets (as Captain Heap later called them) and we were reading papers/ talking quietly in small groups and then someone said looking up at the unstable looking fan on the ceiling “one of these days that is going to fall on us”. Capt. Tom Tarr did not miss a beat he just added “oh but it will all be different when we get jets”. We just broke into laugher mainly because we all felt that we were never going to “get jets” and there was probably more chance of the fan falling on us. So when the jets did arrive I felt it had been the best kept secret. The first I knew of it was when I was staying overnight with my sister and her husband in Johannesburg and they woke me, far too early in the morning I thought, saying – “you are going to be flying on jets when you get home”. They went on to explain it was “all over the news in South Africa”. What fun it was to have something new! We certainly seemed to all get on so well. Of course the big down side was the viscounts going down – will we ever get over that? Thanks to you and Eddy for bringing back such fond memories. Refer. http://rhodesianheritage.blogspot.com/2013/05/air-rhodesias-boeing-720s-continued.html THE WAR GRAVES PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT Steve Rogers (War Graves) Writes:- I am pleased to announce that The War Graves Photographic Project is about to receive the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Presidents Commendation from His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent at St. James’ Palace, London on 23 May 2013. This award is in recognition for all the hard work that has been carried out by our volunteers and those of you that have supported us since our inception in 2007. On a personal note, I feel honoured to accept the commendation on behalf of everyone that has helped the project in the past and present. Some of you have trekked to the back of beyond to photograph a single grave whereas others have photographed many hundreds, if not thousands, of headstones and memorials around the world. Some cemeteries, I am aware, have required a bit of ‘diplomacy’ to access and a few favours have been redeemed for which I am grateful. This determination has allowed us to continue to supply photographs to families who have never had the opportunity to visit a loved one’s grave and promote the work of the CWGC via our website. I am often asked when we will be complete but as we move forward to the 100th anniversary of WWI there will always be plenty to do with updating the archive with cemeteries where re-engraving has taken place. This process will allow us to continue to provide the sterling service that has become expected of TWGPP and the excellent reputation we have gained as partners of the CWGC. Sincere thanks to you all for your continued, loyal support. Wonderful news Steve - congratulations. (Some ORAFs members have assisted in this project. Eddy Norris) SMILE A WHILE NASA\'s robot Curiosity landed on Mars. Early pictures show no signs of ESPN, beer, or porn. This makes it very clear that men are not from Mars. \"Velcro - what a rip off!\'\' End of Newsletter Comments are always welcome - send them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com

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