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In this section I have asked a number of people to write down their thoughts and memories of their time at 17 Squadron. Hopefully these words will prompt the reader's memory of history that was in the making.
MEMORIES AND THOUGHTS OF AN OFFICER COMMANDING 17 SQUADRON
BRIG GEN (Ret) C.H. HARTZENBERG
In the Sixties you were regarded as "operational" when you had completed an Alouette Type conversion. Those were the days before we had operational conversions four days after my friend and I, as young Lieut's, arrived at the Squadron we were off on our first dagga ops, accompanied by the Squadron OC. Surviving the gorges of "Northern Zululand" with a couple of close shaves, we were sent off to the Bush shortly afterwards for a period of two months. This tempo never ceased, and in the process aircraft were damaged, written off, and flying crew got hurt. Pilots even got themselves into deep trouble for doing things which they thought had to be done but which were frowned upon at higher levels.
At that stage the true potential of the aircraft called the chopper had not yet fully sunk in at the establishment level. The peaceful roles of rescue, casevac and internal transport flights were fairly established, but the operational role in the face of the enemy seemed to unfold faster than we could prepare for it; it was a case of improvising as we went along. We realised how important it was to train our crews properly for these conditions, and slowly we began to catch up; operational conversions were introduced and detailed procedures established all of this with 17 Squadron in a leading role.
Life at the Squadron was a ball, with everybody from the ground to the flying crew working and playing hard. We didn't know what bonding meant, but we did it, nor did we ever mention caring or sacrificing, but we did it all the time. On Friday evenings the pilots had their pub nights and everyone attended, even the two guys who did not partake in alcohol. It was on such an occasion that a former Chief of the Air Force approached me (as a Captain) and asked if he could join the merriment in the Chopper Corner! This combination of sharing each other's trials and tribulations in work and play built a spirit at the Squadron which was the envy of many, especially those squadrons who had not yet been exposed to what our chaps had gone through. Yes, we had our differences, but this paled into insignificance compared to the joy and pride of being a 17 Squadron member.
There were the low points when some of our guys paid the highest price, but there were also the moments of joy when some received the highest awards for bravery. Lifelong friendships and/or mutual respect were formed amongst ground and aircrew alike, and all the time there were wives and girlfriends backing us up whilst carrying their own burden.
The post Second World War 17 Squadron has indeed come a long way with God's grace from the Fifties through a 23 year long war to a modern and professional Squadron where its members can be ranked amongst the best in the world. Pro Re Nata is indeed a fitting description of the ethos of The Squadron, and I hope that every one of its members will experience the joy of belonging to such an elite group. Many of us have fond 17 Squadron memories that could last a lifetime it is my sincere wish that your experience would be the same.
My heartfelt thanks to those who have undertaken the commendable task of producing this book on the SAAF's best Squadron!
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Chris Hartzenberg and Steve Coetzee next to their gunship at Ombalantu, SWA in 1981. (Photo: via SAAF Museum) |
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