The helicopter, being the versatile workhorse that it is, is ideally suited to the rescue role and the support of the civil sector in time of emergencies. From mountain and sea rescues to fire-fighting and emergency evacuations are all in a days work for a helicopter. One has only to note that the first helicopters acquired by the SAAF were for the eradication of Tsetse fly to realise the seemingly endless number of tasks that can be tackled by the helicopter.
Hardly a week goes by without the helicopters of the SAAF being utilised in a civil support role. From the rescue of flood victims in Mozambique, the combating of crime to the flying in of fodder to animals trapped in the snow of the Eastern Cape. Invariably when the call has gone out for help, 17 Squadron has been at the forefront.
SAS SEAFARER
Probably one of the most dramatic and famous rescues to be carried out by 17 Squadron was the rescue of all 76 crew and passengers of the SAS SEAFARER on the morning of 1 July 1966. The SEAFARER ran aground 300meters offshore from the Green Point lighthouse in Cape Town.
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July 1966 and the SAS SEAFARER lies hard aground on the coast off Green Point, an Alouette hovers high overhead. (Photo: Cape Argus)
The SAS SEAFARER with 17 Squadron Alouette's overhead. |
An Alouette takes off from the beach-front at Green Point for another rescue whilst a rescued member is escorted away |
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Monster Wilkins, one of the pilots in this rescue records the following in his book "Chopper Pilot". "With Alouette 53 we effected the first rescue off the quarterdeck, right at the stern of the ship. This did not turn out to be a good modus operandi because the rescue winch only carries 80 ft of cable and the spray from some waves crashing against the side of the ship would climb above 110 ft, to be blown over us by the gale force wind! That was not fun as, being the first hoist, those below were slow in getting it right and the result was a long, high hover! I kept a lookout for the incoming waves and called the biggest ones, whilst Bill Oosthuizen gave us a running commentary on what was going on 80 ft below. Another problem was that each time a wave hit, the ship would roll violently and the "target" below would tilt out from under us! The sea spray was the worst though. It would make a most discomforting "bang" when it hit us and we would be partially blinded for a few moments, holding thumbs that the (very excellent) motor would not have it's flame snuffed out!"
BURUNDI
In November 2001 17 Squadron was deployed to Burundi as part of a task team to assist in Peace Support Operations.
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A 17 Squadron Oryx at Lilongwe airport in Malawi en-route to Burundi in November 2001.. (Photo: P. van der Merwe)
17 Squadron Oryx on the flight line at Bujambura, November 2001.. (Photo: P. van der Merwe) |
17 Squadron is welcomed in Burundi by the Bujambura drum and dance team. Here 17 Squadron crews celebrate with the drummers and dancers... (Photo: P. van der Merwe)
17 Squadron Oryx groundcrew replacing frequency adaptors at Bujambura in November 2001.(Photo: P. van der Merwe) |
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