Rod Murphy and John Peirson have kindly provided me with additional information regarding the Parachuting competitions against our South African friends and as a result I am able to put names to all the South Africans in the photograph outside the Super Frelon helicopter. John Peirson has alsocorrected my recollection regarding the second competition held at Salisbury Airport in September1972. John's is as follows.
Memory is a fickle thing Derek de Kock. In fact the second competition against the South Africans at New Sarum did take place and we did kick arse. Although day one was washed out, day two dawned bright and clear and we crammed 4 jumps into one day. 2 different SA loads were fooled by the variable winds and managed to miss the target completely thus handing us the competition on a plate. I won best individual with a high total score and a best jump of 15 centimeters. If you remember, that night we all were driven to the newly completed Mermaids Pool Hotel for a memorable 5 course meal and prize giving.
I am now able to provide the names of all the competitors shown in the above photograph with many thanks to Rod Murphy who trained the South Africans. Left to Right Standing Garth Barret (Rhodesian SAS), Derek de Kock (Rhodesian Air Force PJI),Rich Carrol (Rhodesian Air Force Safety Equipment Worker who packed all my parachutes at this event, I never packed parachutes in those days I just unpacked them), Iain Bowen (Rhodesian Air Force PJI), Pat Smith (South African), Kevin Potgieter (South African), Johnny Kieser (South African), South African Minister of Defense dressed in collar and tie, Col.W.P.Louw (South African), Left to Right Kneeling Frank Hales (Rhodesian Air Force PJI), Sege Edelson (South African), John Peirson (Rhodesian Army), Jakkals de Jager (South African), Ollie Holthausen (South African). I apologize for any errors which may have occurred in this chapter but 45 years has dimmed my memory a little.
The above photograph showing some of the Rhodesian Combined Services Parachutists about to climb aboard the Trojan aircraft behind us. We were trying out for a place in the accuracy team to take on our nemesis the South African Armed Forces. We are from LtoR standing Sgt Iain Bowen, W.O. Trevor Smith, Sqn/Ldr Derek de Kock, Maj.John Peirson. Kneeling LtoR Cpl Dereck Taylor, Sgt Rich Carrol, Sgt Ralph (The Rat) Moore.
Many thanks once again to Rod Murphy and John Peirson for correcting the omissions I made on this blog.
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