CHAPTER 3 THE ORIGINALS

Before parachute training could commence in Rhodesia, qualified parachute jumping instructors were needed. In early 1961, six volunteer members of the Royal Rhodesian Air Force were sent to RAF Abingdon in England to train as   PJ Is. We were; Chief Technician, Bill Maitland; Senior Technician, Norman Suttie; Corporal Technician, Mercer Thompson; Corporal Trevor Smith; Corporal Technician Derek de Kock; and Corporal, Algie Posselt. Together we formed the nucleus of  Number One Parachute Training School Royal Rhodesian Air Force, and our task would be to train the newly reformed ‘C’ Squadron (Rhodesia) of British 22nd SAS Regiment

On the 22nd of April, 1961, we arrived in the UK and were sent immediately to the Royal Air Force No.1 Parachute Training School at RAF Abingdon to start our training as PJIs. Our instructor was Sergeant Ken Kid. You never ever forget your PJI and over 50 years later, I can still picture him clearly.

After a week of training, and delays due to weather, we did our first two static line parachute descents from a tethered barrage balloon. On the command, “Up 800 feet, five men jumping,” the balloon lurched into motion and rapidly ascended to 800 feet.  I was the first to jump, but this may be disputed. The door on the side of the wicker basket opened, and Ken Kid motioned me to stand in the frame. “Okay", he said quietly, “When you‘re ready.”  

 Up to this time, every instruction and every movement of our training was carried out on the word “Go”. I’d expected this to be yelled out, but all he said was “Okay, when you’re ready.” I gave him a startled look but he just smiled and gestured out into space. I did an immaculate exit, feet tight together, arms across the top of my reserve parachute.  “You fucking idiot,” I said to myself, “What have you done now?”  Because there is no slipstream to blow the parachute open when jumping with a static line parachute from a balloon, you will drop approximately 250 feet before anything happens. It is like going down in a fast lift. A very fast lift.

My parachute opened, and I carried out all the correct procedures as per our intensive ground training during the week before: look up and check your canopy -you bet I did and it was beautiful; make an all-round observation -everything clear. I could even see the cable from the winch. Pull up the seat strap and adopt a parachuting position with feet together and parallel to the ground, head forward , chin on chest, arms up, hands on the front lift webs with thumbs down for the correct grip ; look down, assess the drift.

A voice came up from the ground, “Which way are you drifting?” I pointed in the direction, which happened to be forward, and was told to select the correct lift-webs. I did this and pulled down hard to cut out the oscillation and reduce drift. It was euphoric. I floated gently down, until suddenly, at about 20 feet or so, I realised just how fast I was descending. However, I managed to do all the correct things. I kept my legs together, feet parallel to the ground, and did an immaculate side right landing – well, I thought so anyway.

I rolled up my parachute, and doubled to the balloon winch.  I was told to grab another parachute and fit it quickly because we were going to do it again. This was the best news- I’d become an adrenaline junkie. The second jump was just as exciting but scarier, because now I knew what to expect.  But I was now hooked on parachuting, and would do it for the next 20 years.

On August 25, 1961, I qualified as a Parachute Jumping Instructor and was promoted to acting unpaid Sergeant and awarded an RAF PJI Brevet. That evening Trevor Smith, Mercer Thomson and I were welcomed into the Sergeants’ mess at RAF Abingdon. I was the youngest Sgt in the Royal Rhodesian Air Force and it was the proudest day of my life.

Mercer Thomson, Derek de Kock, Bill Maitland, Flying Officer Ron Smith RAF (Soon to be OC PTS RRAF),

 Sqn. Ldr. Errol Minter RAF(Parachute evaluation detachment Rhodesia) , Norman Suttie,Trevor Smith

We must have been worthy of the RAF Parachute Jumping Instructor half wing brevet, because we were immediately given recruits to train for the British Parachute Regiment. We trained the next two courses as fully qualified RAF PJI’s

The new PJIs returned to Rhodesia on October 1, 1961 and immediately started to build the school at RRAF New Sarum.  Algie Posselt had decided that parachuting was not his preferred career path in the RRAF and had returned home earlier so there were now just five of us. It was just as well that most of us had an engineering background because we had to make most of the equipment and rig it in half of an aircraft hangar.

Royal Rhodesian Air Force Parachute Training School staff October 1961

Back Row (L to R) Sgt. Mercer Thomson (RRAF), Sgt. Norman Suttie (RRAF),

Sgt. Terry Hagan (RAF), Sgt. Derek de Kock (RRAF), Sgt. Trevor Smith (RRAF),

Seated (L to R): Flt. Sgt. Robbie Robinson BEM (RAF), F/O Ron Smith BEM(RAF), Flt. Sgt. Bill Maitland (RRAF). Notice all the PJI's are wearing the RAF PJI brevets

The original RRAF staff was assisted by the addition of 3 RAF secondments. Flying Officer Ron, aka, R.T.D. Smith, later promoted to Sqn/ Ldr, was the C.O., Flt Sgt Robbie Robinson was the School Warrant Officer and Sgt Terry Hagan, PJI.  At the time we readily accepted this situation. Mainly because we were all Colonials and it was only later that we wondered if these RAF secondments had been placed there to make sure we followed the RAF parachuting rules.

Rhodesia, being more British than the British, followed the British way of doing things, and it was the Royal Rhodesian Air Force who were responsible for training paratroops, their safe delivery into action, and the development of all parachuting techniques. The Parachute Training School was an Air Force organisation and was tightly guarded by the Air Force. The staff at Air Headquarters most likely did not know what we were doing. But as long as we didn’t cause too many problems they just let us get on with the task of training paratroopers – or, as they were called by the pilots of Number 3 Squadron,  "meat bombs."

In 1962 Sgt Terry Hagan and another RAF PJI secondment  Ivor Thomas, transferred from the RAF and joined the RRAF Parachute Training School, making a total of nine PJIs. This situation did not last because the Federation broke up at the end of 1963 and Terry Hagan, Ivor Thomas , Flt/Lt Ron Smith and Flt Sgt Robbie Robinson  returned to the RAF.

 Boet Swart transferred from the Federal Army and was locally trained as a PJI, just prior to Federation break up, and became the CO as a Sqn/Ldr. Then we were six;
Sqn/ Ldr Boet Swart,  Flying Officer Derek de Kock, W/O 1. W.P. Maitland, Sgt. T.P. Smith, Sgt. Mercer Thompson and Sgt. Norman  Suttie.

In 1964 things turned pear shaped for Mercer Thompson when he smashed his arm whilst doing a free fall parachute jump with the local civilian sky diving club. Unfortunately Mercer’s parachuting days were over. This meant there was a vacancy for a PJI and it was filled by Tony Hughes. After a lengthy period of training caused by a lack of SAS courses during this period, Tony qualified and served until he also succumbed to injury. However, he continued to function as a very senior PJI during his call ups. Tony was one of the most dedicated instructors to serve in PTS and always made himself  available for call up when needed.

Norman Suttie decided he had a greater chance of promotion by returning to his trade as a supplier. This gave Frank Hales the opportunity to transfer from the Army to join this very small staff of professional instructors. Frank had joined the British Army as a boy and had seen service in Korea with the Royal Artillery. There was not much he did not know about gunnery. He had also served with the 22nd SAS in Borneo and the Middle East where he was mentioned in despatches. Frank was an incredible instructor - always ready to share his knowledge and would command the PTS from 1979 until Rhodesia became Zimbabwe in 1980.