Lionel Cross (Guard Force)
Rogues Gallery
REMEMBRANCE DAY
A good friend reminded me of this day that soon will be with us - may I suggest you take a look at the two videos, enjoy the songs and words - mighty powerful stuff.
And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda ~ John Williamson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E22gszljklc
A Pittance of Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYlrrAWCTRg
EXTREME MARATHON
Keith Kemsley (RhAF) Writes:-
My Grandson Daniel Rowland , the winner of the Atacama Desert Marathon, has just arrived from Chile to compete in the Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon which starts on the 19th October. The race is 250 km in six stages. He will be joined at the start by his father Jonathan Rowland from Bulawayo and his brother Brian Rowland from Johannesburg. They have apparently being training very hard over the last six months. Daniel is confident that he will finish well and the other two are hopeful that they will finish!
I think the are all a few sandwiches short of a picnic.
[Thanks Keith - wish Daniel the very best and please keep us posted. Eddy Norris]
]REMINDERS FROM OUR RHODESIAN PAST
10 October 1977
Bill Watt (RhAF) Writes:-
Just a short note, I checked my log book and the information on reminders of the past ref Alouette 3 ser no. 5176 accident is incorrect. The accident occurred on 11th August 1977 on a relay change from Zaka police station east of Lake Kyle. Ian Peacock was indeed the driver and we had 2RAR troops and a Major on board at the time.
DAM BUSTERS PREPARE FOR AFGHANISTAN DEPLOYMENT
Christopher Hudson (RhAF) sent this link:-
70 years after their most famous mission, the Dambusters of 617 Squadron are off to Afghanistan for their final tour with the Tornado GR4.
Please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dambusters-prepare-for-afghanistan-deployment--2 to view the details.
SERVICE FOR MIKE HOMAN
I (Eddy Norris) attended Mike service and it wonderful to report than many air force members attended.
I have added the front page of Mike Service sheet to the notice of his passing and also you might like to read the story of when his infamous Mini was stolen but quickly found by our men from the BSAP. Please see http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=1119623#1245968 and then http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=215218#176998
ORAFS BIRTHDAY
It was either September or October 1998 that I started ORAFs - I guess that me us 15 years old - cannot believe how the time has flown.
My sincere thanks to all of you that have contributed (yes there are still couch potatoes out there) and also those that have fired the salvo of critics and complaints - not nice to read but it least I know you read the material and genuine complaints have made ORAFs stronger.
CENTRAL AFRICAN AIRWAYS AND THE BRISTOL FREIGHTER
Christopher Hudson (RhAF) Writes:-
In August 1948 I flew in a Bristol Freighter from Salisbury to Chileka. Very noisy, I still remember. It must have been one of VP-YHW\'s first flights for CAA. My parents had just moved from India to Nyasaland and I came out for my summer holidays from my senior schooling in England. The first post-war Olympic Games had just got underway in England. The trip from England to Rhodesia & back was in a Trek Airways Viking - an adventure in itself.
Refer http://rhodesianheritage.blogspot.com/2013/10/central-african-airways-and-bristol.html
FIRE FORCE
VIETNAM - Battle of \"La Drang\" REAL battle that inspired the movie (First Airborne assault.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxPeHqH4XxI
MEDICAL UPDATE ON CHRIS DRIVER
Can you believe he is already home and getting stronger each day.
(Well done Chris - please thank your daughter for all her updates on you. Eddy Norris)
GEORGE WILLEY NEWS
I\'ve just been on the phone to George Willey (residing Plymouth, England). I was going through some old ORAFs photos on the web when he said he had worked with you.
He does not have access to a PC so I said I would send you an email and pass on his regards.
He is still mobile, sort of, this is after a minor stroke about three years ago.
Audrey appears OK
Chunky Watson
Eldest Son of Sid Watson RRAF.
I am ex-BSA Police Support Unit and worked with 7 Squadron on a number of occasions.
I lived on Thornhill Air Base and joined the fuzz as a Cadet in Gwelo.
PASSING OF ALAN DAVID MATHEWS
John and Lynn Allman (RhAF) Write:-
It is with regret that I need to inform that Alan Mathews ex MT section passed away on 26th September near Joburg
Sorry for the delay but I did try to get a message to you earlier.
[ ORAFs has no record of Alan Mathews, if you can help with any information please mail it to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com ]
Refer - http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=1119758#1246104
REMINDERS FROM OUR PAST
Vampire Jets to Nairobi
Keith Corrans (10 SSU RhAF) Writes:-
To put the Record straight, that Vampire trip was undertaken by 10 SSU : NOT 8 SSU: Venue was the ROYAL SHOW, Nairobi. My Log book shows we left T\'hill, via Chileka, on 29 Sep 58, routing via Dar Es Salaam. My Memory is \"accommo was at the RAF Off\'\'s Mess at Eastleigh\",:: super, creamy milk from local farms at breakfast , fresh fruit , and a wonderful climate! We departed on Sep 29 58, again via Chileka. Gordon\'s mishap was probably 30 Sep. I was a Dak Pax (passenger). on that leg of the route.
John Mussell (RhAF) Writes:-
I have scanned from my log book some details of the Nairobi visit.
I hope it is readable and will prove useful in filling in gaps.
[John\'s log book entry can be viewed on http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=549988&comments=1]
AIR FORCE BADGE
Alex Scott (RhAF) Writes:-
I would like to know if any branch of ORAFs has had a small AIR FORCE badges made that can be worn on a collar, similar in size to the hat badges that our lady members wore on their hats, as I would like to obtain one to wear on my MOTH jacket collar.
I can be contacted on my E.Mail address almor@telkomsa.net
Thanking you and Regards to All.
(Alex - no branches in ORAFs, still operate on my own and independently.)
APPRECIATION
Helen Noble (RhAF) Writes from Australia on their return from Cape Town:-
We would like to thank you, Tony, Johnny and everyone else involved in making our evening with you all so very enjoyable, Was so good seeing, chatting and catching up with you all again, did the \'old\' heart the world of good and seemed like it was just yesterday that we were at the last ORAFs get together. Thank you also for the lovely food that was prepared for the evening, all in all a great evening. We are now busy packing once again for our next move back to New Zealand which will hopefully be our last, getting too old for this nomad business!! Once again many thanks to you all, will be in touch again soon. Oh yes love the photos of the evening, thanks Andre.
Love Ashley & Helen
MOUNT HAMPDEN 28 E.F.T.S AND POST WAR
By Basil Bates
My Dad’s log book starts in May of 1944, when he was stationed at Belvedere flying Cornells. I presume a number of different Cornells because there are a lot of different numbers noted . These numbers may not be individual aircraft but some are 15109, 15090, 15270,15087, 15067,15069 and more. His log book is signed by F/Lt G Miller, O.C. “A” flight No 25 E.F.T.S. R.A.F. On 31/8/1944, there is a note that he had been grounded temporary for 1 month as Belvedere was being closed down I presume from 25 E.F.T.S. He was then posted to R.A.T.G. H. Q. lecturing at KG VI. Shortly after he was posted to Ndola R.F.C.U. His next entry is in Jan. 1945 flying SAAF Ansons, Dakota’s, Lodestar’s, Ventura’s and Rapide’s out of Ndola. He has a note on the Ventura as “a terrible a/c – rough as hell - burnt out in the Sudan killing the crew.” In early August he contracted small pox from his batman using his razor. He officially left the R.A.F. on May 6th 1946. Unfortunately his war service log books were loaned to a person unknown to me, never to be seen again. What a shame!!
My dad started flying again on Jan 20, 1957. He flew a Tiger Moth VP-YDV, and a Piper Cub VP-YHL, out of Belvedere. He also flew a Tiger VP-YJU, a Cessna 180, VP-YOT, a Piper Cub, VP-YFT and a Fairchild – no registration. He was at this time a member of the Mashonaland Flying Club with Charles Prince and the boys. He then started the Umvukwes Police Reserve Air Wing with ES Micklem, Sept 1961, when the Auster Aig VP-YSF was purchased from Buitendag from Karoi and flown to Mt. Hampden. Rough landing!! Then follows an entry flying a Piper Tri-Pacer VP-YKS, belonging to R. Price ( Centenary I think). Jan 5th 1962 shows the second pilot in the Auster Aig as C. Prince! W.A.R. Macdonald D.F.C. R.A.F, a friend of my Dad’s, had a Tiger Moth VP-YOI and a Cessna VP-Y UG, which they used to fly to Mozambique to visit another friend from their Malta days in the R.A.F. My Dad’s last entry was in Oct. 1964.
Hope this gives you something interesting to research.
[Basil Bates swam for Rhodesia (breaststroke record) and played Rhodesian schools hockey. Eddy Norris]
Nick Baalbergen (Intaf) Writes:-
Another fascinating story. I presume that the RATG was the structure under which the Elementary flying Training Schools operated? The RATG operated from the Government building known as \'The Stables\', in Jameson Avenue - the Air Force insignia could still be seen over the doorway in the early 1980\'s.
Your story mentions that many Tiger Moths found their way into civilian use at Flying Clubs throughout the country, Marandellas is mentioned as one of those. In the early 1960\'s, a Tiger Moth was still in use at the \'Marandellas Gliding Club\', where it would \'tow\' gliders to flying altitude.
Glyn Hall Writes:-
The article gives the impression that the Mt Hampden airfield completely shut down and never reopened after the war in 1945 but I recall flying from there a number of times and there being an active club in the early 1960\'s.
One would take off over the Lomagundi road making sure you had enough height to clear the power lines that ran along side the road and kept climbing because there were some exceedingly high Gumtree\'s in a row on the Cambitzi\'s farm which was on the flight line. I remember one occasion I was taken up in a Chipmunk and we actually clipped the gums. I used to pedal out to Belvedere airport as a kid and flew in Tiger Moths several times as they were being flight tested after servicing. After Belvedere closed down I would pedal out to Mt Hampden.
My cousin, John Kay, used to belong to the Mt Hampden flying club and I recall him hiring an aircraft (Cessna 172? ) which we flew up to Kariba in.
I also seem to recall that it was still operating in the 1980\'s on a visit to the country, I went out to see Anthony Cambitzi, an old school friend, who was running the farm and vaguely recall it still being there.
Mitch Stirling (Air Rhodesia) replies:-
In the next chapter, the story of Mount Hampden is to be continued into the 1960s and up to 1973, when the name was changed to Charles Prince.
Then a further chapter will trace the development of the Mashonalnd Flying Club (the cradle of aviation in Rhodesia) into modern times.
Refer http://rhodesianheritage.blogspot.com/2013/10/mount-hampden-28-elementary-flying.html for the complete article.
BILHARZIA WARNING TO ALL EX ZIMS
Bruce Rooken-Smith Writes
Could be a warning to all who served between 60s and 80s?
“I had grossly abnormal liver function and loads of headaches over this period of time. By all accounts I am truly fortunate that it has not left permanent liver damage. Since it has been treated that has pretty well resolved. The treatment Biltricide or praziquantel makes you feel pretty rubbish for a 24 hours (don\'t exercise in this time), but not as bad as it makes those worms feel !
I have tried to broadcast on social media to raise awareness especially amongst the ex Zim population abroad and not sure if the message got out effectively. I am a GP here and my diagnosis was delayed despite asking the question of several colleagues – the point being that medical knowledge is very limited in the ‘developed’ world. This is despite the fact that Schistosomiasis is causing the second largest socioeconomic cost in Sub-Saharan Africa..... after malaria.”
Source. http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/news/bilharzia-warning-ex-zims/
MISSING PERSONS
John Miles Writes:-
I desperately need to find GEORGE PARSONS, MT section at New Sarum.
My old instructor from the RAF Police Depot [1961] who is in his 80s now was a good friend of George and would like to make contact, as he says, \'before it\'s too late.\'
There\'s no problem in giving out my email address.
Replies direct to John on myles222@iinet.net.au
OLD UMTALI PHOTOS
Marcus Proome (Rhaf) Writes:-
Many thanks for the old photos from Umtali – I have an old wooden trunk that went up to Rhodesia on the Zeederberg coach – got it from Basil Miles whose in laws parents used it to move to Rhodesia.
Refer to http://www.ourstory.com/thread.html?t=1119547&comments=1 to see the article and comments received.
SMILE A WHILE
Bob was in trouble. He forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife was really unhappy.
She told him \"Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in 6 seconds, AND IT BETTER BE THERE!!\"
The next morning he got up early and left for work. When his wife woke up, she looked out the window and sure enough there was a box gift-wrapped in the middle of the driveway.
Confused, the wife put on her robe and ran out to the driveway, and brought the box back in the house......
She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale !
Bob has been missing since Friday....
\"Don\'t stay in bed... unless you can make money in bed. - George Burns \"
End of Newsletter
Comments are always welcome - send them to Eddy Norris at orafs11@gmail.com
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