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Aviation entered into a new and challenging era with the advent of the helicopter. The amazing versatility of this machine made it suitable for numerous roles in the projection of air power, in times of conflict as well as in peacetime. In August 1966 Alouette III helicopters from 17 Squadron first deployed in a military role against Swapo at Ongulumbashe in South West Africa. This was to be the beginning of a long extended bush war that was destined to prove man and machine.
This section contains photographs of 17 Squadron operations in the former South West Africa and Rhodesia as well as photographs of operations carried out within South Africa.
OPERATION BLOUWILDEBEES
During the second half of 1966 Swapo (PLAN) guerilla forces had infiltrated South West Africa and had established a camp near Ongulumbashe. Once the security forces had realised their presence an operation was mounted against them. This was to be 17 Squadron's baptism in the operational area of SWA and Angola.
On 19 August 1966 17 Squadron A Flight started with tests to determine the viability of deploying troops from an Alouette III while the aircraft is in the hover over dense bush by means of a rope strung out of the aircraft. No flight engineers could be used and the pilots had to haul in the rope themselves before they could carry on with the flight a feat that proved to be more difficult than expected and which resulted in some spectacular aerobatic maneuvers. This practice was wisely aborted after a particularly heavy soldier slipped and lost all the skin on his hands as well as seriously injuring his back.
On 23 August the team was eventually briefed as to what was to come and on 24 August, six Alouette III's, plus crews, departed by C130 for Rooikop where the helicopters were assembled and test flown. On 25 August the six Alouette's departed for Kamanjab where they were joined by two more Alouette's that were already deployed in SWA under SA Police colours. The aircraft flew a roundabout route to Ruacana where the troops and equipment, which had been flown in by C130, were awaiting their arrival.
A thorough briefing was held that evening. No flight engineers could be carried in order to carry the maximum number of troops (6) per Alouette. On 26 August at 06:45 the eight Alouette's departed from Ruacana, flying in a loose formation along the border to where the water canal commences. In the lead helicopter was Jan Blaauw, Operational Commander, Maj "Rooi Rus" Swanepoel and an informer. The formation followed the directions of the informer and by more accident than design found themselves directly over the Swapo camp. A red Verey flare was fired by the formation leader and the choppers dropped their troops as close as possible to the assigned positions. All hell broke loose, men started running in all directions and a brief firefight took place. The guerrillas shot at the helicopters at very close range while they were hanging motionless or moving slowly, yet none of them were hit. From interrogation it was later learnt that they were taught to always fire ahead of moving aircraft. Fortunately no one ever told them to shoot directly at a helicopter when it is in the hover.
A total of 8 guerrillas were captured, 2 killed, 1 injured and 2 escaped. There were no losses on the South African side. Later, acting on information passed on by local inhabitants, they arrested many more, bringing the total number of captures to 45. This effectively strangled the infiltration and, incidentally, knocked out the only permanent base PLAN ever managed to establish in SWA during the entire 23-year course of the war.
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17 Squadron Alouette III helicopters deplaning Portuguese troops somewhere in Angola during Operation RESGATE, Circa 1973. Note the old dipole homing aerials on the chopper as well as the gunship overhead, providing top-cover.(Photo: via SAAF Museum).
17 Squadron Alouette III helicopters enplaning Portuguese troops somewhere in Angola during Operation ATILA, Circa 1973. Note the alphabetic designation on each helicopter. (Photo: via SAAF Museum) |
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Helicopter crews in Portuguese camouflage uniform carrying out an engine change somewhere in Angola. Note the bolt-on crane in position on the gear box platform to assist in hoisting the engine into position, as well as the "putt putt" refueling pump under canvas in the front of the photograph... Circa 1972. (Photo: via SAAF Museum)
Helicopter crews in Portuguese camouflage uniform at Rundu. Circa 1972. (Photo: via J.Church) |
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