2011 August

Archive for August, 2011

1st Monte Vista Scout Group Visit

August 27th, 2011 | Author: Alan Wienburg

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The Search for Puma 164 – A Book Launch

August 23rd, 2011 | Author: Charlie Shell

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Invite you to a book launchwith authors Neill Jackson and Rick van Malsen in attendance to sign books

Venue: Dickie Fritz Shellhole, Dickie Fritz Avenue, Dowerglen, Edenvale
Date: Saturday, 27th August 2011
Time: 13:30
RSVP: office@30degreessouth.co.za

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The Search for Puma 164
Operation Uric and the assault on Mapai

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The battle for Mapai – and the final closure

September 6, 1979 a lone Puma helicopter flies northward, leaving behind the desolation of the battle for Mapai, in Mozambique’s Gaza Province. …and so it was, almost 30 years later, that Rick van Malsen returns to the scene of that horrendous battle, to search for the crash site of the downed Puma, in an effort to achieve closure for the relatives of the dead.

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Neill Jackson was born in Malta in 1953, where his father was stationed with the Royal Marines and his mother the WRENs. The family moved to Rhodesia in 1956. In 1975 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant with 5 (Independent) Company based in Umtali, before serving three years as a Troop Commander with Support Commando, the Rhodesian Light Infantry. In 1978 he was posted as 2IC to 1 (Independent) Company at Victoria Falls and Beitbridge, and then to 1 Brigade HQ in Bulawayo as Intelligence Officer from December 1979 until his retirement a year later, with the rank of captain.

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Rick van Malsen was born in Kenya in 1954, immigrated to Rhodesia in 1960 and joined the Rhodesian Light Infantry in 1974, being commissioned the following year. In 1978, as a Troop Commander in 1 Commando, 1RLI, Rick was awarded the Bronze Cross of Rhodesia for valour during combat. At the cessation of hostilities in 1980 he was appointed Battalion Adjutant and attended a staff course at the Staff College at Camberley in the UK. He set up the Army Diving School at Kariba, at the time the most modern facility of its type in southern Africa, before retiring from service in 1984.

www.therli.com
www.30degreessouth.co.za

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Warrant Officer Mykes James Patric Boyd

August 18th, 2011 | Author: Kirk Kinnear

WARRANT OFFICER MYLES JAMES PATRIC BOYD

13.12.1938 – 10.08.2011

Pat was born in Brakpan South Africa and was educated at Nottingham Road Boarding School in the Midlands of Natal, some 65Km west of Pietermaritsburg.

Joining the South African Air Force in 1955, he underwent Basic Training at the newly created Air Force Gymnasium and qualified as an aircraft fitter at 68 Air School at the end of 1959.

In 1963 Pat married Joan Dawson, a union that lasted for the next 48 years until his passing to higher service. He had two sons, Myles and Steven and a daughter Allison.

By the time Pat retired in 1987, he had 32 years of service and had attained the rank of Warrant Officer II. During this time he had served with various Squadrons and Units, including, 12 Squadron, 7 Squadron and 35 Squadron. Aircraft types worked on included the Harvard, Impala, Canberra and the Shackleton.

He went on to join the SA Air Force Reserve, serving as an aircraft fitter on Shackleton 1722 up until the end of 2010 when ill health prevented him from assisting with the remaining crew on the aircraft.

Pat saw service at the front in the War of 1966 – 1989 with 12 Squadron on Canberra’s. He was awarded the Pro Patria medal, 10, 20 and 30 year Good Service Medals. He was also a keen member of the MOTH Order and was a member of the Tommy Rendle VC Shell Hole in Brooklyn Cape Town.

As a member of the SAAF Museum in his Reserve Force role, Patrick’s contribution to the technical division of the SAAF Museum has to be considered irreplaceable.

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