CHAPTER 18 SEARCH AND RESCUE

Another part of the PTS job description was search and rescue; specifically, searching for aircraft missing in operational areas. Soon after the first operational parachute missions across the border, on February 21 1973, a No. 7 Sqn Alouette III helicopter went missing in the Rushinga area, close to the Mozambique border. There was a possibility it had made a forced landing due to engine failure, or mechanical failure. Another possible cause, always a chance in operational areas- it could have been shot down.

As soon as this aircraft was overdue, an alert was sent out to security forces in the area, and a Dakota from 3 Sqn was tasked to conduct an aerial search along the route the missing aircraft had taken. PTS was also tasked by Air HQ to provide a stick of four armed PJIs suitably equipped with first aid gear, ground to air radio, and any other equipment we thought necessary, and to get airborne “yesterday”.  PTS was always given these out-of-the-ordinary jobs because we had soldiers capable of the work, and the only trained paratroops available to jump in to the rescue. At this time, the only other trained paratroops were in the SAS, and they were all in operations across the border.

Whilst the chosen PJIs prepared I got the necessary maps and went to 3 Sqn to inquire from the newly promoted Sqn/Ldr George Alexander when we were to get airborne. It was already after midday, and we needed to get going as quickly as possible. It would take us over an hour to get to the search area, and if the aircraft had been shot down, it would be preferable to jump onto the crash site in daylight, in case it was necessary to shoot our way in.

We were soon on our way to what could have been a dramatic rescue, a terrible tragedy, or just a mechanically challenged chopper which also had a radio problem. As soon as we got to the area we conducted a grid search.

One PJI lay on the floor of the aircraft and, using a pair of binoculars, searched the ground to the port side of the plane. A second PJI, seated on the floor just to the front of the door, looked to the rear out of the open port door. The two pilots looked out of the front windscreen and were also responsible for plotting and flying the grid pattern. The two remaining PJIs rested. After about half an hour, the PJIs in the back  relieved the first two observers – it is amazing how tiring it is looking at the ground on a very bumpy hot day, when flying at 100 feet AGL – especially when the aircraft is flying very slowly for endurance. After five hours of flying it began to get dark and we returned to New Sarum for refuelling, rest and something to eat.

The next morning we were airborne again and once more were tasked to fly a grid pattern, this time in a slightly different place. The skipper on this occasion was Flt.Lt. McGregor. This time we were a little more organised with regard to refreshments, and were able to keep the drivers up front supplied with hot tea and various other goodies.  We stayed airborne and searching for nine hours, 50 minutes, and still had enough fuel to divert to Thornhill if required.

 Unfortunately we did not find the downed chopper or its crew. We probably did fly over the crash area but were unable to see it from the air as it was too effectively camouflaged.

Ultimately , however, the aircraft was found – it had hit a tree and both crew members were killed. After this Rhodesian Air Force aircraft were fitted with crash beacons and the inside of aircraft panels were painted in day glow colours instead of camouflage inside and out.

Another time PTS got a message from Air Headquarters to prepare for a rescue operation out at sea off the Mozambique coast. We did our usual thing, and tried to imagine what we would require for a jump into the ocean. Strange as it may seem for a landlocked country hundreds of kilometres from the water, the Safety Equipment section had a dingy that could be dropped into the sea, which would supposedly inflate on impact.

The PTS staff rushed around collected parachutes, inflatable vests, and  even managed to line up SCUBA gear. But after about an hour of intense activity we were stood down, and that was the last we heard about this incident.

Thank goodness. If we’d been asked to jump into the sea to rescue some unfortunate person we would have felt it our duty to do so, and would almost certainly have fed the fishes.