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Accidents and losses are an inevitable part of military aviation and 17 Squadron is no exception. Apart from enemy fire the greatest danger that a helicopter faces is the myriad of wires and cables that criss-cross our country. The helicopter, operating at low level, is continually flitting through the spider's web of wires and cables. No matter how vigilant the crew is, or how many procedures there are for wire avoidance, every now and again a helicopter is ensnared in the fly trap.
In this section we also give recognition to those members who paid the supreme sacrifice.
IN MEMORIAM
| Lt |
Martin K.L. |
17 Aug. 1962 |
Alouette II |
Du Toits Kloof, Cape. |
| A/Sgt |
Foote A.R |
17 Aug. 1962 |
Alouette II |
Du Toits Kloof, Cape |
| 2/Lt |
Botha H.A. |
15 Oct. 1963 |
Alouette III |
Eastern Transvaal |
| Capt |
Shawe G.N. |
8 Jan 1966 |
Alouette III |
Mozambique |
| A/Cpl |
Moolman F.H. |
8 Jan 1966 |
Alouette III |
Mozambique |
| Lt |
Winterbach T.J. |
21 Apr 1966 |
Alouette III |
Terrace Bay, SWA |
| A/Cpl |
Morton H.G. |
21 Apr 1966 |
Alouette III |
Terrace Bay, SWA |
| 2/Lt |
Foxon A.S. |
3 Nov 1967 |
Alouette III |
Verulam, Natal |
| A/Cpl |
Steyn P.J. |
3 Nov 1967 |
Alouette III |
Verulam, Natal |
| Lt |
Clark G.H. |
21 Mar 1975 |
Alouette III |
Windhoek, SWA |
| Sgt |
Pretorius C.H. |
21 Mar 1975 |
Alouette III |
Windhoek, SWA |
| Sgt |
Van Rensburg P. |
23 Dec 1975 |
Alouette III |
Rhodesia |
| Lt |
Liddell N.B. |
22 Feb 1977 |
Alouette III |
Zambia |
| Sgt |
Cilliers J.D. |
28 Jun 1980 |
Alouette III |
Angola |
| Lt |
Roos J.G. |
25 Aug 1981 |
Alouette III |
Angola |
| Capt |
De Jongh C. |
15 Feb 1990 |
Alouette III |
Hammanskraal. Tvl |
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The SAAF loses its first aircrew to wires! The twisted wreckage of the Alouette II lying in the rocky bed of the Molenaars River in Du Toits Kloof, Cape. This accident, when the helicopter collided with overhead power cables, cost the lives of L.t K.L. Martin and Air/Sgt. A.R. Foote in August 1962. |
Another tragic accident. This accident happened in March 1975 when the Alouette III, crewed by, Lt. G.H. Clark and Sgt. C.H. Pretorius struck high tension wires about 7 km outside Windhoek, SWA. The crew and 3passengers died instantly. Here officials examine the wreckage the following day. (Photo: via D. Beneke) |
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Floods in Mozambique have recently been front-page news but are nothing new and the SAAF has had a proud history of providing assistance for many years. In January 1966 four Alouette III helicopters were dispatched from 17 Squadron to assist Mozambique after Cyclone Claude had devastated the areas of Lourenço Marques and Northern Zululand. On this occasion however, the assistance led to disaster. |
The Alouette III helicopters were providing mobility to the Portuguese rescue teams when the accident occurred. This photograph was taken shortly before the tragic accident when the rubber boat being slung under the chopper flew up into the tail rotor. The crew of the helicopter, Capt. G. N. Shaw and Cpl. H. Moolman and three Portuguese soldiers were killed in the crash.
Members of the Portuguese Armed Forces stand guard of honour at Lourenço Marques airfield as the remains of Capt Shawe and A/Cpl Moolman are loaded aboard a SAAF Dakota. |
Many an Alouette has been damaged over the years when the tail rotor has impacted the ground. Tail rotor strikes occurred most commonly during power-off landings and during excessive nose high positions during landing. This photograph shows the damage done to an Alouette III that was being flown by Maj. Lamb and 2/Lt. Botha. Circa 1963. (Photo: via 17 Squadron)
By 1989 the problem had still not been resolved so 17 Squadron jokers decided to modify the Alouette tail rotor guard to assist Manie Geldenhuys who was obviously having a problem with tail low approaches. Note the wheel attached to the tail rotor guard with masking tape. (Photo: via 17 Squadron) |
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