CHAPTER 25 TARGET MARKING FOR 5 SQUADRON

6th of January 1977, a normal day at PTS, beginning with a 3.30am start. Over a cup of hot tea in the crew room, I briefed the 3 Sqn Pilots for the usual early morning training sorties. On this occasion we had static line drops followed by HALO training from 8000ft AGL on each sortie. I despatched the stick of static line, and then the free fall sticks. I also followed down some HALO trainees to report on their landing technique, after which we were all picked up for a second HALO lift, and again I followed these guys down to check their performance. This was all before an 8.30am breakfast. Just another day in the office.

We had just sat down to breakfast when I was called to the phone and told to report to O.C. Flying. First, I finished my breakfast – I was very hungry. Then I reported to O.C. Flying who handed me a Top Secret Air Task - I was to HALO drop two Selous Scouts. Nothing too unusual about that, but normally these soldiers jumped way over the border. This time they were to be dropped at a point inside Rhodesia, a remote area inside the Gonarezhou Game Reserve. Strange. Very strange. Had the terrs moved in and occupied a piece of Rhodesia? Mine was not to reason why, just to get on with the job and drop these two Selous Scouts on to the target.

 We collected the usual maps and photographs and obtained a weather forecast for the area up to 20000ft AGL. The PJI working with me, made sure the oxygen bottles were charged and working and we also collected and cleaned our personal weapons.

At about 3pm the two Selous Scouts, Capt Chris, “Schullie,” Schulenberg and Sgt Steven, arrived in the hangar and the HALO box was collected from #3 Air Supply Platoon. I noticed this particular box had a crash pad on the bottom and assumed it was packed with something delicate. I was told it was a new electronic gizmo called a RAMS or a Radio Activated Marker System. I would learn of the impact of this new gadget later.

We all studied the map and aerial photos and selected the spot to aim for. The Air Task called for a last light drop which meant about a 4.30pm take-off. The pilots arrived, including Skipper Flt/Lt Walker-Smith, a VR Dakota Captain, and were briefed on the route and the direction for final run up to the drop point.

It was a very warm January  afternoon and I was sweating after pulling on all my extra clothing for the cold air at altitude. We fitted parachutes and rifles and headed out to the aircraft. We took off in a southerly direction at a steady climb rate.

As we flew along, I occasionally stuck my head out the door to check our progress and give the odd course correction. Just as it was getting dark we turned onto our final run up to the drop point. We were now at 17000 ft AGL and running in. The drop point was clearly visible so I called the stick of two to action stations and pointed out the target and the drop point. I pushed the HALO box into position, and armed the KAP3 auto opener. As we flew over the spot I shoved the box out and the stick followed. As usual we flew on and soon got the news that the box, and the stick, had landed Smack. On. Target. Gee I was getting good at this caper!

Next morning it was back to the usual: Up at 3am, cup of tea at 3.30am, brief the pilots, climb on board the ever faithful Dakota, climb to 8000ft AGL, jump out, follow a trainee down, land, debrief trainee, put on new parachute, climb on board again, follow another trainee, land, debrief, fit another parachute, climb aboard, follow yet another trainee, land, and debrief. All before breakfast.  Phew! PTS was a very busy, very exhausting place at this time. It was the same most days and it was the same for most of us.

 On 11th January 1977 I received another top secret Air Task. Again I was to drop two Selous Scouts and a fragile HALO box. This time, they would not be landing within our borders but deep inside the Gaza Province of Mozambique.

Fortunately because of early morning training drops the PTS hangar was clear in the afternoons so when two scruffy looking Selous Scouts arrived no questions were asked. Who should these two men be? You guessed it, none other than the famous Capt Chris Schulenberg and his side-kick Sgt Steven.

Turns out the previous drop was a trial run. The RAMS was a device developed by the Air Force radio section at New Sarum. It would be placed near the intended target by special operations forces such as Schullie and Steven. Contained within the RAMS were one or two flares which could be ignited by a signal from the approaching plane. The flares would indicate the location of the target and allow for accurate bombing.

This was to be the first operational use of the device. Schullie came into my office and we studied the 1 in 50000, very detailed map, and the aerial photo of the spot he wanted me to drop him. We obtained the met forecast for the winds every 1000 ft up to 20000ft and plotted the spot where we needed to drop the box and the two HALO soldiers.

Because of the very clandestine nature of this operation the parachute drop had to be just on last light. The plan was for Schullie and Steven to position two RAMS at precise points. These flares would be operated by a radio signal to enable the 3 Canberra bombers to accurately drop 900 bouncing bombs on an occupied terrorist camp at 4am the next morning. The camp was a transit camp for terrorists on their way into Rhodesia and was called Madulo Pan. It was a very significant target and could not be attacked using ground forces as there were too many escape routes.

 We boarded the Dakota at about 4pm and set off climbing to a drop height 20,000ft AGL, and about 21,000ft ASL over Madulo Pan. Fortunately the weather was clear and I was able to pick up my chosen navigation points down to the chosen spot where we flew over the border.

Now we were over enemy territory and the dead-flat, featureless country of Mozambique. Luckily the Cabora Bassa power line was easily seen and from there it was press the stop watch type navigation. I had my head out of the door looking for a gully and a clump of trees in a clear area. We flew on at a steady pace until the pilots advised we were about 5 mins out. I called the two men down to action stations, armed the KAP3 on the box, and hooked the static line for the pilot chute to the overhead cable.

 Just as it was getting dark down below I picked up the gully and there was the clump of trees which marked the drop point. Luck was on my side or was it now becoming a well-honed skill? A few minor corrections and we were over the exact point. Out went the box followed by the two, very brave soldiers.

We carried on for another ten minutes before slowly turning and heading for the safety of the Rhodesian border and home. Schullie came up on the radio and said they were spot on target and he, Steven and the box were all safely on the ground.

Great! Now for a bit of shut-eye on the bloody hard seats. But at least I was out of the drafty bit right at the back of the Dakota. The PTS part of this Operation was over. Now it was up to Schullie and Steven to place the RAMS in the correct spot, and the Bomber pilots to blow the crap out of the place.

This photograph shows a Canberra B2  Bomber doing a high speed low level pass.In Rhodesia these Aircraft were loaded with 300 locally manufactured round bouncing bombs which had a devastating effect on almost all soft targets. However if the ground was soft the bombs did not bounce and detonated under ground with minimal effect. 

Next morning, at 4am, 3 Canberra Bombers, each loaded with 300 of Rhodesia's bouncing bombs, and flying at 300ft AGL at 350kts, activated the RAMS. And dropped their loads exactly on target. Great work Schullie and Steven!

Unfortunately the ground was soft and instead of the bombs bouncing they buried themselves and exploded harmlessly under-ground. Still the Madulo Pan Operation was an absolute success, from the trial HALO drop and RAMS trial in the Gonarehzou Game Reserve, to the HALO drop near Madulo Pan, and finally the bombing of the target. Unfortunately a fourth Canberra, which was used to activate the RAMS by radio, inadvertently flew over Malvernia and was shot down with the loss of all on board – even in the midst of victory there was sadness and loss.

This was just one of many similar Air Force operations. I included it to show the contribution of PTS and paratroops went beyond just the delivery of Fire Force or special operations troops. Although this was primarily a bombing mission, it would not have been possible without the set-up provided by PTS and, of course, the bravery of Schullie, Steven and others like them.