IAIN BOWEN'S STORY Part 5

Return to PTS October 78.

I returned to PTS and was promoted to F/Sgt and instructed on 89 basic. I could hardly believe that so many courses had been put through. Even John Boynton was a reasonable free faller. I enjoyed Ian Douglas who had joined PTS. He was a mad keen free faller as well.

We soon started getting some great relative work in the skies over Sarum. By the 21^st. November we were straight into 90 basic. Wow we were just churning them out. By now we were flying 3 man and 4 man stars away from the dak as a routine. The pace was hectic with many days showing 2 lifts and some days in my log book showing 3 lifts!

PJI, and Dispatchers checking an R.L.I. Fire Force parra stick at a forward airfield about December 1978.


Wednesday 29^th Nov. 1978 Hogan and I went to M'toko and took over from Kevin. Fire force call outs were every day although the drops were not. Many times you would load up and fly out only to circle the area and just watch the chopper sticks sweep and then load up again. Then off back to M'toko for refreshments.

The old log book shows entries like: Friday 8^th Dec, 10 mins south of M'toko 1x16, 4 kills.  On the return flight Paul and I went out at 5000 feet and did a 2 man over Mtoko. I was on my PC and Hogan on his Cloud. Saturday 9^th, south of M'toko, no drop. Sunday 10^th, Rushinga, no drop. Sunday 10^th 1x12 SAS night drop 60ks into porkas.

Several more, then the big punch up at Elim. on the 15^th Dec. I was number 1 dispatcher and we had to fly to Rushinga to pick up the RAR troops we had dropped there the afternoon before. We kitted them up and got them into the aircraft.

Rhodesian African Rifles MAG (M60) gunner ready to climb aboard a Fire Force Dakota in the Op Hurricane Area. He will be jumping with his machine gun secured to his body by the parachute body band and a length of rigging line tied to the butt and secured by the reserve parachute on the upper D ring on the left hand side of the main parachute harness. Note the 50 round belt of .762mm NATO  ammunition wrapped around the breach of the gun.


We dropped 1 stick of 18 just north of Elim. We then landed at Elim airstrip and sat on the ground for some time and could hear the battle going on with the RAR. Then the wounded started arriving by chopper. One of the guys had the lower section of his right leg just hanging on after a near miss from an RPG, and I was informed that the RAR medic had been shot. So, as I had plenty of medic training, I got the gear out of the big box in the back of the Dak and cannulated the guy and got fluids going. I then bandaged his leg as best as I could.

Then the next guy arrived by cyclone 7. He had been shot in the head. He was still conscious so I asked him how this had happened, he said a terr had jumped up in front of him and they both fired at the same time. The terr. died on the spot but the RAR trooper felt this hammer blow to his head that knocked him onto his arse, where he lay staring up at the sky thinking he was in heaven, until the Sgt dragged him into cover.

I checked him out and he had this lump on the top of his skull and a small laceration about 1 inch up from between the eyes. The bullet had slid up under the skin and was later cut out and presented to the soldier. I cannulated this guy and got some fluids going as well.

Then a chopper arrived with another soldier who had been shot in the left arm and left shoulder. He was in great pain, so I gave him two shots of Sosigon, (morphine) and got a line in him. I bandaged him as tight as I could to stop the bleeding. I got Hogan to squeeze 2 flasks of fluid into him as he had bled heavily.

With these three loaded we took off back to M'toko. The soldier with the leg wound was on the floor of the Dak and looked like death warmed up and was very thirsty. I knelt beside him and gave him sips of water from my water bottle as we flew back. Once on the ground at M'toko a doctor came on board and we handed them over.

My log book shows we went back 2 more times that day. I can remember standing just inside the door of the Dak after that last flight and saying 'shit' to Hogan. What a day, we were covered in blood and the floor of the Dak was red and slippery and smelt of death. I don’t know how many we treated in the end but we had to call for more gear after the second run as we had used everything up that was in the aircraft kit before we headed back to Elim. I know I felt very old as I climbed down and headed for the showers.

Then the next day 16.12.1978, good old Hogan organises a FF demo for the Mtoko sports club that was having a function of some sorts. I think it was a golf day. The only aircraft available was a civvy Cherokee six. He organised for the small cargo door on the left hand side to be removed and we jumped out of that.

The problem was the weather. It was low cloud at 2000 feet and I was not that happy about getting airspeed that low then pulling the old PC out of the bag. The run in was good with Hogan giving the pilot directions then giving him 'cut' and then out the little door we went. Bloody hell the golf course was close. However we were both flying by 1100 feet and landed on the 18^th hole next to the club house. A quick cuppa and slice of cake and back to the airfield in case we were needed. That was my first from a Cherokee 6. Can you imagine doing that in Aus. They would throw the book at you. One could only describe life in Africa and the military as fun and hectic.

We returned to Salisbury on the 19^th and were straight into Ops loads out of there. The next day it was 2 dak loads of Scouts. I was No. 1 dispatcher and had 14 on board, my comments say 'very poor stick'.

A few days later 14 Scouts FF from 8000 feet. Then on the 28^th Dec we tried to organise a quick exit from the Dak. Mike went outside forward of the door, hanging onto the cargo door latch. I went trailing outside with my left toe on the doorsill and hanging on with my left hand with my right arm and leg trailing along the fuselage.

Dick Gledhill and Carlos Gomes had their backsides out the door and Mike Duffy and Roy were facing them bunched up. On the go we all went together. It was great but Mike missed. Still a 5 man was good. The next day we did the same again with Mike holding on a fraction longer.

This time as I pushed off from the aircraft, Carlos hit my left arm and dislocated it at the shoulder. There I was at 9000 feet doing a couple of back-flips with my left arm locked up behind me. I rolled onto my back, grabbed my arm and pulled my left hand around and grasped my harness with it. I then flipped over and had a look at where everyone else was and as best as I could tracked off towards the DZ party as I knew there was an ambulance there and I was sure I would be requiring its services real soon.

I had 35 seconds to consider how I was going to crank out of the bag without causing to0 much pain to the shoulder which I could feel already, despite the usual jump adrenaline. At just under 3 grand I tucked the legs up and got the handle out and, at 2500, dumped out and did the best one handed sit up I could muster to take as much of the shock on the leg-straps as I could.

This in fact worked nicely. I then did right hand turns landing about 200 metres away from the DZ party. Mike came galloping over straight away and I explained the situation. He said well this will hurt and grabbed it and popped it back in. We packed my rig and walked back to the ambulance and the medic insisted I have a sling and off I went for x-rays.

Nothing broken, just off jumping for a month. So I got to do No.1 dispatcher for the month, nice.

Back jumping late Jan 79. The log book shows us doing static line with Saviacs over New Sarum. 800 feet, then 600 feet, then 500 feet. A long way from 1000ft minimum height for training when I first joined!

We were also doing some of our FF now with T10 double blanks -no doubt as a cheaper alternative to TAs and UT15s if they had to be left in the bush after an insertion. In light winds the T10s were great FF chutes.

My log book also shows Mike and Frank Hales jumping with a Thunderbow rig. It was a red one. I don’t remember who it belonged to. I also have a few entries with doing FF with a captain Horizon. His name was Mike and every time he jumped he disappeared over the horizon. All three of those with Capt. Horizon were on T10 FF rigs. He was obviously good at relative work as my entry states I hung there and let him come to me.

We did 4 manoeuvres' before breakaway. Then we were onto basic course 93 already. At the same time there was a UTPJI (Under Training Parachute Jumping Instructor) course going. John Boynton was running that one. 93 basic did their first and John’s UTPJIs did their 8^th with CSPEPs. I was No2 dispatcher.

PTS Staff just waiting for the old Dakota to climb up to about 13000ft ASL to practice their free fall formations. Always good fun 

We then went up to 8000 feet AGL and Mike Duffy did a terrible spot and we landed miles away. The log book states a bag deployed T10. By now the log book is showing the pilot as Flt Lt RSA. That's what we were calling the South African pilots. It must have been that the Air Force did not want us to record their names. 14^th Feb, and 93 basic did their last jump.

The rest of the month was UTPJIs and UT dispatchers. In March, April and May, more basic courses were run. Numbers 94, 95 and 96 basic. PTS was just churning them out. Most were RLI and RAR for the fire force that was such a relentless machine now. At this stage so were all the external camp attacks that was going on. Long gone were the days of sitting around playing cards and doing general maintenance, or JGB doing the picture framing for Helens paintings?

Then on Friday the 4^th May 1979 we did a training jump with the DC7. We put out 54 static-line and then up to 12 grand and put out 9 FF then Myself, Mr Hales and Roy did a great 3 man ourselves. On landing I felt my shoulder 'pop' again. It went back in all by itself so no drama I thought. Kevin, who was Mr. Milligan by now, sent me to see the doctor anyway. He took me off jumping for several weeks and then I had an operation, and was told it would be a year before I could jump again. Just like that. The end of my parachuting career had arrived. 
Thanks Iain Bowen for a great contribution Derek de Kock

IAIN BOWEN'S STORY Part 4

Here is Part 4 Of Iain's Story

 The big DC7 Free Fall Operational jump

11^th October 1977, a day I will always remember, although the details start to become a little blurred. It was decided that 'C' squadron would go into the Gaza province of Mozambique and stir things up. Even though things were like an angry hornets nest there anyway.

We would free fall in, in the largest free fall operation to-date. We did 3 training jumps all at Kutsaga Seke DZ. The first jump was out of 7303 from 8000ft during the day. I was 23 of 24, and did a stand up landing. A free fall box was put out first.

We then kitted up and did one that night. It was very dark. Once again we followed a box out of the door. This time I was 24 of 25. Once open under canopy, I could clearly see 12 chutes in the night sky. It was a great jump.

The next day also at Kutsaga, we did a night jump out of the DC7. Same again, boxes first, and I was 24 of 25. The whole jump went off without a hitch. Everyone was happy that the jump side of the operation would go off just fine.

So on the night of the 11^th. We boarded the DC7 loaded for bear. Without doubt, as the previous days had progressed and more intelligence came in, we were loaded up with more and more equipment. My Burgin, which usually weighed about 25kgs, now weighed 45kgs. 11kgs of this was water. There were 6x1lt water bottles and one 5lt water bladder in the bottom of the Burgin.

I also had 2 extra 100 round drums of RPD ammo for my gunner, 1 RPG rocket, (although I can't remember who had the RPG now), a radio and small medic's kit, plus 13 magazines of my own, claymore mine, 2 frag, 2 phosphorus and 2 smoke grenades. Along with this, as I was one of the demolition guys, I had my dems. kit as well. This had my shrike exploder and detonators, plus other gear I would need. This box alone weighed about 5kgs and had the potential to explode if dropped from a height!

All this weight was not good, as you could hardly stand with the combined weight of your Bergin, webbing, rifle and parachutes being in the order of 70kgs. I wasn't even carrying a rocket launcher or RPD! At 12000ft this weight had consequences we hadn't thought about. After several minutes at 12 grand, even with the oxygen, you were very fatigued and light headed.

Major Wilson had me at the back as the most experienced free faller and wanted me to push hard to keep the stick tight. Some of the troops thought they would be cold, but I assured them they would be too tense to feel it. In fact I was sweating up the front. There were not enough oxygen masks for every paratrooper, so we were sharing about one between every 2 or 3 of us.

The three boxes contained mainly water and explosives. The water because that area is very dry and water was hard to find, and the explosives to blow up the railway line and any other targets that came our way. As we ran in we had been standing for several minutes and the guy in front of me just keeled over. He was unconscious. With the help of one of the PJIs we dragged him onto the seats out of the way and realised he was not going to make the jump. I grabbed his radio and just shoved it into my combat jacket, and hoped it would still be there when I landed.

When the green light came on the 3 boxes were rolled out the door, but the rollers couldn't be pulled all the way out of the way, so we just went out past them. Graham Wilson just jumped passed over them and out the door, determined to be as close to the boxes as he could. Whoever was about 18^th in the stick then tripped on the edge of one of the rollers and fell just in the door, where, quick as a flash, he was bodily lifted and just thrown out!

Iain Getting ready to join a stick of  HALO jumpers about to exit a Dakota. This photograph shows the improved seating in the Rhodesian Air Force Dakota's. In earlier times the seats were canvas contraptions which always collapsed.

Then I was in the door and launched myself out, I pivoted around and had a beautiful exit. I kept my lower legs tucked up behind me, and my arms up, this way I sat up in the slip stream and just watched the 8 huge exhausts as I fell off to the rear and below. It was a magnificent sight, just watching the huge aircraft roar away from me into the night sky. I then did a 90 left and picked up the strobe on one of the boxes, then the other two. Checked my altimeter. 10000ft, plenty of time to enjoy the night. Then I could see a dim glow just below me so back slipped away from the trooper. As Jan Greyling was the only person out after me, I knew I had clear sky above me.

I checked my alti again, 4000ft. I had a quick look around but could not see anything. Down to 3000ft. So left arm across, right hand in, grasp the handle, then a couple of seconds wait, and at 2500ft cranked it out of the bag. One thing about TA mark 2s, they always gave you a great opening. Once flying under my canopy, I checked around and against the starlit sky, could see 3 rigs above me. I thought you idiots, dumping out early puts the guys above you at risk of collision.

I turned in the direction of the strobes and watched them disappear one by one. I figured I was some distance away from them. I kept facing that direction, all the while looking around for other rigs in the sky. I released my quick release hooks and dropped my kit onto my toes and held it there. Watching my alti, when I reached about 400ft I started to notice ground shadows.

Then a stroke of luck, I knew the DZ was a sandalwood forest and we were all prepared for trees, but in the very dim light, I could just make out a clearing just to my right. I figured I was at about 100ft so dropped my kit to the end of its rope. Nearly there so buttoned up for the landing as we had been told we were going into trees and you never know, and then felt the kit hit the ground. I brought my elbows right in to protect my face and felt my right foot touch the ground, then my left as I immediately fell away to the left. The clearing I had spotted in the dark, turned out to be an ant hill the size of a house and I had landed on the steep side of it. I rolled down the side breaking my left leg in the process.

I felt immediate intense pain, so knew I had broken my leg. I lay there for a few seconds, then got my rifle out and pulled my Burgin over to me. I then got onto the uhf radio and called Ken Roberts. I gave him a bearing and approximate distance from the boxes. About 20 minutes later he found me, so we hopped and piggy backed our way to where Graham Wilson was. It turned out 3 others were also injured and Jan was missing altogether.

We waited throughout the next day, then at about 1600hrs Graham Wilson made the decision to fire 3 shots into the air. This in itself was not that much of a problem as many of the Frelimo would go out hunting for buck to supplement their meagre rations. Several times during the day we heard shots mainly to the west and south. As we had jumped about 15ks south east of Mapai, one of our escape plans was to walk west to the South African border.

Jan Greyling had gone unconscious just as he left the aircraft, and his automatic opener had deployed his parachute. Jan woke up under canopy but was very groggy. The next thing he remembers he was on the ground and has very little knowledge of the jump at all. After searching for us all day, and not even knowing what direction to start looking, he was about to set off for South Africa when he heard the shots. He had seen some Frelimo earlier on in the day and knew they were shooting, but this was 3 shots, so made the decision to have a last look. Two hours later he showed up.

An LZ (landing zone) had been located about 500metres from where we were, so the 4 of us, with all the parachutes were carted over there and stashed in the bush. Initially, all the chutes were to be buried and lost, but as some of us were going to be uplifted, the decision was made to save the chutes.

Having a broken leg was grounds for immediate casevac, but that was not going to happen until the ambush was sprung. The ambush party moved off at last light and the 4 of us just lay there for the next 5 days. In the early afternoon of day 5, I heard a heavy but distant dull thud. Obviously a very heavy explosion going off.

I got on the radio and called 'zero' giving that info, and was told to standby for later uplift. About an hour later I heard the moan of hunter jets going over and the distinct sound of bombs. Then about an hour later, just that faint thump, thump, thump that fades away on the wind. I knew it was helicopters.

I got on the radio and called 'cyclone 7' but was told to wait out as they were picking up other casualties. Not a good sign I thought. Then about two hours later, that same familiar sound drifting on the wind. This time I was told to stand by for uplift and asked if there was a suitable LZ nearby. I gave them the directions and a 5 sec burst on the pressel switch.

About 10 minutes later a 'K' car zoomed overhead and went into a left hand orbit, then 2 'G' cars landed and the tech ran over and said, 'can you walk'. No you idiot, I've got a broken leg! We were duly all loaded in and got airborne. We headed North West until we came over the railway line, and then followed that back into Rhodesia.

Looking down I could see the Scouts had been busy in the area. There were numerous craters where the rail line had been cut, and the road alongside had literally dozens of destroyed vehicles scattered in the bush all along it. We crossed the border and landed at Mabalahuta in the evening.

Brian Robinson came over to the helicopter and said, 'do you think it's broken' 'definitely' I replied. With that I was loaded into a Dak along with Vern Conchei who had been shot in the foot, and we flew off to Buffalo range. There I was x-rayed and plastered. I was then asked if I would be in charge of the parachute store for the fire force that was stationed there. So for the next 6 weeks that is what I did until I was healed.

IAIN BOWEN'S STORY Part 3

PTS also went to Kariba to fix up the Air Force chalets there. I went with Frank and Trevor once with some diving gear and he retrieved someone's outboard motor that had fallen off the back of a boat. Another time, Mike and I and some guy from the dog section, or security of some sort, took a load of timber up there to the chalets for renovations in an Air Force RL.

On the return trip, grinding our way up the escarpment from Kariba to Makuti, it was as hot as the hinges of hell. Mike was driving and I was in the front passenger seat with the other guy in the back as 'tail gunner'. We had the windscreen windows up to get a bit of a breeze through the cab. As we ground around a corner, there was this sign post so I upped it with Mike’s Uzi SMG that he had as his weapon.

I let go the whole mag and there was this neat line of hot doppies that arched across the cab and landed on Mike. Several of them went down his open shirt with the ensuing yelps and carry on as he tried to get them out. This resulted in the truck nearly going off the road and the poor fellow in the back convinced we were under attack. It was a good job we did stay on the road as there was a fair drop down the right hand side.

Mike stopped the truck and we got out to inspect my handy work, the guy in the back leaped out and hid under the rear wheels of the RL with his Uzi. I, being Army trained, had an FN. I liked firepower. Mike and I just roared with laughter and swapped around so Mike could 'ventilate' a few signs further up the road. The other guy just thought we were nuts, but then most of the blue jobs thought the PJIs were soft in the head!

Another time Mike and I took a truck load of convicts to the chalets to do some work. We had several African prison service guards with us. As we neared the chalets, a Kudu jumped out. At first I just caught the movement so swung up the FN out of habit, then realised it was a Kudu. The guards said 'shoot it boss, shoot it' so I did. The convicts leaped out of the truck and had it hidden in the back in a flash. Once at the camp the guards organised for it to be skinned and cut up, and for the next few days we dined on Kudu, sudza and veggies.

 Mike went into the African township that was on the left hand side before you went up to the heights, with one of the guards and they came back with a drum of chabuku (a local beer) and we all proceeded to have a great time. One of the convicts was a great cook and did the meat just right.

I can't remember what we were supposed to make or fix up at the chalets, but the guards spent most of the time swimming.  The tame convicts just looked forward to the evenings when they would dine on Kudu and sudza and wash it down with a jam tin of chabuku. Why would you want to escape? When the week was over, I can assure you they did not want to leave.

This photograph shows the PTS staff about Sept 1974 L to R Kevin Milligan, Iain Bowen Derek de Kock Mike Wiltshire, Ralph Moore, John Boynton, Dennis Buchan, Frank Hales  and mascot David Bar Bear.
                                                                              

One day we went off to Thornhill for a demo jump during an air show they were putting on. At the briefing the hunter pilots stated, 'Don't forget, we are approaching the airfield at 10 miles a minute'! At 1521hrs on the dot, we went out at 8000ft with smoke, fell together for a few seconds, then turned and tracked away as hard as we could. From the ground it looked great; however, I was tracking away, down-wind, so was way off target when I pulled my ripcord.

I was looking around, at about 1500ft, when a hunter jet just roared under me as he started his demo. With that I just kept going and landed in a paddock and a kind farmer gave me a lift back to the airfield. When I arrived back everyone was talking about how we were the show stoppers. The crowd had never seen free fall done with smoke and fast tracking. In fact in those days, most people had never even seen sky diving!

September 6^th, 1973 we did the high one. On oxygen, at 28,000 feet, I think that was ASL. 4 of us went out of 3707. The pilot, Flt. Lt. Holshausen, said the aircraft was flying, 'like on a knife edge'. It just wouldn't go any higher without literally stalling. It was cold up there. We were well rugged up, but as soon as my face hit the slipstream I think my eyes just about froze open. There is nothing quite like a minute and a half of free fall. The station doctor was not happy that he was not consulted about this jump.

Then there was the time Ralph and Charlie painted the rat on the side of the panhard 60's armoured cars that had moved in beside PTS. There was an up-roar over that, but they actually liked it and left them on and even painted some of their other vehicles after that!

By now the squadron was well engaged in Porkers (still called OP Hurricane). We were often dropping them at night into Mozambique. The SAS guys were getting at me all the time to transfer back to the squadron as they were short of NCOs and troops in general. It was not long before I started to feel the pull back to the old unit.

In late 1974 I submitted my request to return to the SAS. This was eventually granted, and in February 1975 I returned to the SAS. It is interesting to note that during my first year in PTS, my log book would show an average of 12 entries a month. By the end of 1974 I was averaging 28 entries a month. In the 3 years and 5 months I had been in PTS, it sure had become very busy.

Although I was now back in the squadron, I still jumped whenever I could, and my logbook shows I would tag onto basic and FF courses and still managed a good jump rate. My log book also shows I was still doing despatching and FF afterwards. By July 1975 entries start to show John Early was on some of the loads.

Being a PJI, and member of the PTS, I regard myself as being one of the luckiest people alive. The people who worked there were some of the most professional and dedicated men I have had the good fortune to know.

In particular the 'Boss', Derek de Kock was one of the greatest. The Boss proved that tactical night free fall was a viable method of inserting Special Forces into hostile neighbouring African countries in numbers never done before and never done anywhere in the world since. If you look back in the context of warfare, he is one of the best tacticians I have ever known. (Yes that's you Boss.)

 Derek’s note: Thank you for the compliment. PTS was, indeed, a great team, and it was an honour and a privilege to lead a group of such dedicated, professional, and talented men. It was definitely a team effort.

IAIN BOWENS STORY Part 2

Here is Part 2 of Iain's Story

 I remember you guys taught Mike and me to play crib and cards, I think it was 500. Ralph and Charlie already knew. I became quite good, and the pot was cigarettes. Well at one stage I had cartons of them and I didn’t even smoke. I then lost most of them to you at liar dice.

Mike and I were both very good chess players, but do you think we could teach John Boynton? Not a chance. He could not grasp the game at all.

I remember the PTS volley ball team. We would go around to the stores section during lunch and flog them. In the end we weren't invited any more. I think they found us too aggressive. Life at PTS was great. You guys also taught us to play squash. I was never that good at it but held my own against about half the crowd. Although I was very fit when I joined, I certainly worked up a head of steam being run ragged around the court by Trevor. A great time had by all.

I also remember being picked up by you at about 4:30 in the morning to get to PTS for early morning jumps. You use to roar along in those Air Force vehicles and I am sure you worked on the principle that, as there was no one else on the road, you didn't need to slow down at intersections at all. Use to scare the crap out of us. Mike Wiltshire just figured you were mad! At times I had to agree with him!

Another time when I had moved to the house we bought in Cranbourne Park, Mike came round to pick me up at about 5AM, he roared up and screeched to a halt, then leaped out of the vehicle, took cover behind the bonnet and using the megaphone shouted, 'We know you’re in there Bowen. Come out with your hand up'. Vera nearly had a stroke, and walking to the vehicle, I could see all the neighbours peeking through their curtains. He was a dag!

The 3^rd July, 1971, I married my girl, Vera. PTS formed an honour guard with umbrellas and Vera was presented with Sgt. Fred Bear as she walked out of the RLI chapel and nearly dropped him. She had no idea he was full of weights! I was so chuffed to be associated with the PTS crew.

Then the reception. Mike Wiltshire thought it would be great fun to stick a potato up the exhaust of my car. When Vera and I went to leave, the car spluttered and ran rough, so my brother decided to lift the back of the car up, with much help from you guys. All roaring with laughter you lifted the back wheels high off the ground just as I gunned the gas, and, just as Wendy Hughes walked past. The potato flew out and hit her fair and square on the side of the head, dropping her in her tracks. You then dropped the car which caused me to wheel spin off, covering Wendy in dust and dirt! Vera and I had no idea of this as we roared off into the night.

11^th July 1971, the great parachute team of Iain Bowen, Charlie Buchan and Rich Carol from Safety Equipment, formed the famous 'Courtney Cavaliers' team and competed at the nationals at Mt. Hampden. All jumps were from 3200 feet, with all target distances below 3.08 metres. Not bad for a bunch of amateurs, especially Charlie who was still quite new to FF.

We came well down the ranking, of course, with the top civvy teams doing consistent dead centres. We did 4 of our jumps from a Cessna 180. The other 2 were from a Beaver, another first for the three of us. We competed the next year and had Garth Barrett in the team and were doing very well until I blew the last dispatch! My log book shows I managed to pull out a 1.5mt spot.

29^th July 71, Trevor decided we were getting slack doing T10s and FF all the time, so at 0915hrs, he put us out on X-types with containers in a stiff breeze. I was number 1 in the stick. We stood up and got ready, right arm across the reserve and reaching down to grasp the front webbing of the CSPEP, left hand down holding the strop. Then action stations, one two, one two, we went down to the door.

Just as I turned the corner and let go of the static line, 3708 hit an air pocket and lurched, I staggered back and was then thrown forward. In order to stay on my feet, I let go with my right hand and grabbed both sides of the top of the door to steady myself. Trevor was number 2 dispatcher and thought I was doing some FF type exit stance, and banged my right arm down without even giving me time to compose myself. Then out we went. I landed on the grass runway and broke my right foot. I remember Trevor complaining to you that I didn’t even know how to exit the plane properly, when all I was trying to do was stop myself from falling over.

Sgt Iain Bowen receiving his Parachute Jumping Instructor Brevet from the Commander of the Rhodesian Army  Lt/Gen  Coster 10th Sept 1971. 

On the 10^th September 1971, I qualified as a Parachute Jumping Instructor. I was so proud, as it was seen as very prestigious by my SAS comrades. As O.C. PTS you signed my RRAF log book, and Trevor, as PTS. WO., wrote in the cover. 'Welcome aboard Iain, and may you have many soft landings'.

Several days later we flew down south, in a SAAF Hercules, to Wonderboom, to jump in the Combined Services Parachute Team. That was great as you would know, especially the Super Frelon helicopter. I remember going off the ramp and working hard not to be flipped over by the huge downwash. At first you seemed to fall into this vacuum then wham it hit you, just fantastic! The other jumps were done from a Cessna 185.

4^th October 1971. I did my first No. 1 dispatcher for FF, i.e. got to do the spot out of 7303 from 8000ft. My log book says it was a demo for the RLI. No mention whether I missed the planet, so must have been OK.

6^th October 1971. Three of us did a demo jump from 3200 ft out of 7053, for a basic FF course. This must have been the first one. 22^nd October FF course jumps 13 and 14, comments in my log book states 'Boss jumping with large camera'. On the 27^th my log book entry states I jumped with the Boss and had the heavy camera on my helmet. The jump was from 8000ft over Seke.

29^th October, FF course jump number 20. I jumped after with Frank and I had the camera. Comment states 'the camera didn't work'. On the 2^nd December we did the 2 Dak jump for the film crew. 18 troops in each aircraft. All went out in one long line, looked great.

Then on the 7^th January 1972 Tony, jumping a DB from 2000ft out of 7303, broke his leg again.

On the 10^th February, 1972 we did a Vic 3 formation with 20 paratroopers in each aircraft. T10, with CSPEP, 1000ft over Seki. The camera crew were just below and off to port in a trog. It looked great from where I was as number 2 dispatcher.

Life at PTS was definitely getting busier, By March 1972 we were up to basic course 36, and, in April, number 3 basic FF course. We had also just run a course for E.R.E. (no remarks to say who they were). We must have been a bit short of FF chutes, as, during that course, I used my own PC for several jumps. All packed by safety equipment though.

17^th March 1972, I did my last X-type jump onto hard ground. Mike and I did a stick of 2 as drifters for 36 basic course, jump number 4 out of 7303. I did two more X-type jumps, but both of them were water jumps into Lake Mac.

**********************************************************

IAIN BOWEN RHODESIAN AIR FORCE PARACHUTE JUMPING INSTRUCTOR HIS STORY Part 1

This is the story of one of, if not, the youngest men to pass the selection course to join C Sqn (Rhodesia) SAS. Iain Bowen arrived at the Parachute Training School on the final phase of his training to join this elite unit of the Rhodesian Army and he was only 17 years old. At the time I was the Training Officer and  decided to look the other way. If the Army was willing to accept Iain who was I to rock the boat? Iain later, applied for training as a PJI and although he found it difficult to start with, he persisted and became a fine PJI, who was held in high esteem by his students and his  peers. Later he returned to the SAS where he again was accepted with open arms but this time as a Senior N.C.O. and was always regarded as a PJI.

Boss.

Here is my story as I remember it from all those years ago.

My interest in parachuting started when my sister started to go out with an SAS trooper Ken Aplin, who she later married. As he had just qualified into the squadron, my sister decided if he can parachute then so can she. So off she went to the parachute club at Mt Hampden and did a total of 17 jumps. I went out there one weekend to watch and that was it, I just wanted to parachute as well. However at that time in civvy-street you had to be 18 years old and I was only 17. One must remember, back in 1967, the double blank parachute was hot stuff and there were only a couple of PCs around, and you had to do 25 jumps before you could handle such a 'hot' rig!

Whilst there I met a couple of army guys who convinced me that doing my call up was a waste of time and I should sign on regular for 3 years as the pay was much better. So I duly signed up and joined the Army in February 1968. I did, and passed the SAS selection course, then on the 17^th June 1968; there I was standing at the front of the PTS hanger to start my parachute course. I was on number 24 Basic Course.

There was a bit of a hassle as Trevor Smith was concerned I was only 17, but it was decided that as the qualification/end course date was the 4^th July, and I would turn 18 that day, I was allowed to continue. Our instructor was F/Sgt. Hales.

My very first jump was 2nd of a stick of 2, 1000 feet, X-type parachute, from Dak 7303 on 25^th June 1968 at 0630hrs. Even now I still remember that first jump. I can clearly remember gritting my teeth and having my eyes wide open. I wasn't going to miss a second of it. The slip stream ride and tug of the lift webs was so different to ground training. So was the landing. I remember jumping to my feet going 'Wow! Wow! I just have to do that again.’

I do remember Bill Maitland doing an x-type drifter for our load and did a run out of the door. How cool was that! The second jump I was number 1 in a stick of 2. Jump 3, I was 4 of 4. Two jumps on the 1^st July, number 4 of a stick of 5 then number 7 of a stick of 10. The following week we did the 3 CSPEP(Carrying Straps Personal Equipment Parachute) jumps. Now that wiped the smile from the face. Still I enjoyed every jump I did and all the jumps I ever did. So I duly qualified as a paratrooper on 4^th July 1968, my 18^th birthday. 0635hrs. Number 7 of a stick of 9 C.S.P.E.P. (All X-type).

A week later, 12^th July, I was back at PTS and did my first T10 jump out of 3708.My first night jump was on the 8^th May, 1969, at a place called Hogarty Hill out of 7303 clean fatigue.

The next change in practice I have recorded in my log book is, 15^th June 1970. We did a night jump at Seke. I was number 1 of a stick of 9 and in the remarks column is 'just rifle'. So I presume that is when we started just strapping the rifle to our side. After that there were many entries that just showed rifle and webbing, with only the occasional CSPEP.

I really enjoyed parachuting and as soon as I could I joined the SAS club run by Sgt. Tom Wooldridge. The local civvy club had now moved to Delport’s farm, south west of Salisbury airport. The chief instructor there at the time, was Frank Hales, who was my instructor from 24 basic at PTS. Frank duly gave me the required training and on 30 June 1969 dispatched me on my first civvy static line out of a Cessna 180 from 2500 feet. I did three static line and then onto free fall.

Joining PTS.

Whist operating down in the Zambezi valley in November/December 1970 I found out that PTS was looking for potential instructors. I am not sure who told me but I knew Charlie Buchan, and he told me he and Ralph Moore were going to put in for it. I think I may have been looked up, as I had 88 jumps by then, so I was obviously a very keen paratrooper, also a Lance Corporal by then.

At any opportunity I would get myself onto a load, often during a basic course, but several times just when the PJIs were jumping, and an invitation would be sent through to the orderly room for guys to go up for a bit of ground training. Or, if you had done that recently, then just pitch up at 0530 in the morning, or earlier, to get on the load. We used to freeze in winter going out to New Sarum, huddled in the back of a Sabre wrapped in blankets. People like Verge Mcluckie would roar out there in the frost as fast as the vehicle would go! No speed cameras in those days. I did notice that most of the time it was always the same little band of brothers who volunteered for these extra jumps. When I got back to Salisbury, I saw Pete Le-Roux, who was in the orderly room and told him and he said he might give it a go as well. The interesting thing was I knew several RLI guys at the civvy club and some like Cpl. George Albury, had 100+ jumps, but said 'No way would they do military jumping'.

George did put in for it some time later when you were looking for more PJIs. I seemed to remember he never actually started though.

I filled out the request forms and had them signed off by our Adj. Capt. Mike Curtin, or maybe Capt Ken Philips was still Adj. No one seemed surprised that I had put in for it. There was no selection process or interviews, or if there was I certainly don't remember them. I got the impression you had the guys you wanted, and that was it.

The squadron was down to about 70 men at this stage, so as you guys knew us all, and only a few showed a real interest in parachuting, it would have been an easy process working out who would be keen to join. The 3 of us just reported to PTS on the given date. I presume it was a Monday. Mike Wiltshire was already there and had been for a few days. How Mike found out I have no idea. You must have advertised in the newspaper? I do remember he just walked around singing that little ditty, 'the working class can kiss my ass I have a parachutist's job at last'.

We duly started our course some time in January 1971, and I'm not sure if we joined a Para course that was just starting, or just started doing jump practice and PJI training in between. My Rhodesian Air Force MT driving permit was issued on the 16^th Jan 1971. I seemed to remember that we were all sent around to the MT section on the very first day. I do remember that Mike Wiltshire, as a civvy, had to do a driving test and we watched him drive around in that red Land Rover fire truck. The other 3 of us just showed our Army driving permits and the RRAF ones were just written out. I still have it and it definitely says 'Royal Rhodesian Air Force', the place was run by that large fierce lady.

As the only single one there, in March 1971, I was informed that I would be moving out of the SAS lines and into the single quarters at New Sarum. I was the only Army soldier there, and during barrack room inspections, I would put on my drill gear and snap to attention driving my right foot down so hard, it would make the building vibrate. The first time I did this and roared out my number, rank and name (as per Army doctrine) the young Lt. doing the inspection nearly had a heart attack. The WO 1, I think it was Ken Salter, thought this was just great and reckoned all the blue jobs in barracks should follow my example. Those were the days!

There was also the guard duty on the gate into the actual aircraft area. When I did my first stint, I just did it like I would have back at Old Cranbourne barracks. Their rifle drill was atrocious and weapons were swinging in all sorts of directions. Eventually I conceded defeat and just got them to 'stick the bloody things on your shoulders' or 'put them on the ground like your standing at ease'. Then the evening flag lowering parade. Well, they let the flag touch the ground which, in the Army, was an almost capital offence! I gave them a demonstration on how to do it properly and from then on things improved.

I did my first live despatch on 16^th April 1971 at 0915hrs out of 7303 putting out sticks of 2. Then kitted up with an X type, and was allowed to 'run out' the door by Trevor Smith, who was No. 1 dispatcher.

Then on the 20^th April 71 at 0615 hrs out of 7303 under a T10 I had my first BP (blown periphery – a parachute malfunction)! It slid off before I could pull my reserve so all was well. The next day, on the 21^st, we did two jumps, the second, jumping a Double Blank at 0700 hrs out of 7303. I had another BP which slid the other way and I had an inverted canopy so ended up with crossed lift webs.

In May ‘71, we started doing Freefall training. I did my first PTS freefall on 19^th May 71 out of 7309 at 0700hrs from 5000 ft and did a 360 left and a 360 right, using a Para commander rig. This was also my first free-fall out of a Dak.

Remember, as a member of the SAS and civvy club, I had already chalked up 152 jumps. I do remember on that first one, I know Frank was with me as the very large, aircraft style, altimeter I was using, packed up. Frank gave me the option of jumping anyway, which I did. After that I brought my small civvy altimeter along just in case. PTS then purchased several of the civvy style alties, and Mike and I went around to the machine shop and made the small mounts for them. These were designed by yourself and Frank. These then had velcro wrist straps fitted and we often used them. After a while you had the same small alties fitted to a plate that went onto the reserve chute. Later again you had small lights fitted for night free fall.

The PJI training was great. I admit I was not that good to start off with, and Trevor and Tony were very good and very patient. I struggled at first, and was too friendly in my outlook and definitely not forceful enough in my instructing. I felt that the general consensus was to give me the boot. I think my parachuting and skill at ground training helped to keep me there.

I was very good at ground training, and I would often be used as the demo for the other guys. Even on the block and tackle, which was enough to scare the pants off most trainees, Trevor would swing it high, Frank would swing it as high as he could and I would still manage to pull out a good PLF (parachute landing fall).

Then one day, it just fell into place. We were doing flight training and the others were sitting on the bench. I stood in front, slightly bent forward at the waist, hands together in front of me and asked a question, quickly pointing to the person 'I' wanted to answer the question. Then without giving more than two seconds, said 'too slow' and pointed to the next guy. I only gave him a couple of seconds, then stepped back a pace and, loud and clear, gave the correct answer myself. Then I promptly repeated the exercise with another question. It felt really good; I was in control of the class, just like that.

Trevor who was standing behind the class just smiled and gave a little nod of approval. I was away and became much more relaxed and found myself enjoying the whole PTS experience and not just the parachuting.