THE PJIs WHERE ARE THEY NOW ? part 2

PAUL HOGAN

The Rhodesian Air Force Parachute Training School's very own Australian. Sgt Paul Hogan was an extraordinary instructor who proved his ability as a PJI when teaching parachuting to the warriors of the Rhodesian African Rifles (RAR), who performed magnificently on the Parra Fire Forces.  

Sgt Paul Hogan about to sneak  an Operational Jump on Fire Force in 1978. I know all the PJI's did this against my orders because I was very short of PJI's and I could not afford to have them injured buggering about trying to play at soldiers. I told all the PJI's that if they wanted to play at soldier I could arrange for a transfer to the Army. But you cannot stop a warrior from trying.

 Paul Hogan was born in Australia and became a miner. He decided to visit Rhodesia where he found employment on a mine but saw an advert in a newspaper for people to train as Parachute Jumping Instructors. Paul was a keen sky diver and decided to sign up. He soon learned that it was not a case of merrily hurling himself out of an aircraft whenever he felt like it. He had to learn to teach and gain the confidence of his pupils. Paul mastered the teaching technique and became one of the senior PJIs responsible for instructing U/T PJIs later on. Paul was also responsible for the development of various Free Fall Techniques including the dive exit. He returned to Australia with his partner and daughters and they settled in Busselton Western Australia where he carried on with his mining career on a fly-in-fly-out basis. Paul purchased a Sky Dive School and ran this enterprise when he was at home during breaks from mining. In 2008 Paul invited all ex Rhodesian PJIs to assemble at Busselton for a reunion. It was during this reunion that a book on the history of the Rhodesian Air Force Parachute Training School was raised. Peter Garret was going to put the book together but things changed for him and this task fell to me, hence this blog. Last I heard, Paul was/is operating his own Gold Mine in the West Australian Gold Fields. 

DENIS BUCHAN

The above photograph shows a basic static line course with the PTS  staff seated in front of a Dakota. Seated and looking very dapper LtoR Denis (Charlie) Buchan, Derek de Kock, Frank Hales, Iain Bowen. This I believe was the last jump for our mascot 0001 Sgt Fred Bear who jumped with Denis (Charlie) as a drifter for number 42 Basic Static Line course. Fred was retired after this jump having completed 144 descents but had sustained too many  injuries  that had required major surgery to replace his head and arms a few times. 



Denis (Charlie) Buchan joined the Parachute Training School after the call went out to the Army for volunteers to become PJIs. Charlie had served with the British SAS in Borneo, Yemen and Northern Ireland. He was a Corporal when he came to PTS and very soon picked up the necessary techniques to become a PJI. He is short in stature with a good head of grey hair. (I think he was born with lots of grey hair) and, according to the latest photos I’ve seen, he still has a full head of hair. It was soon apparent to me, and my second in command, Frank Hales that we had an excellent instructor in Charlie. He was one of those people who always looked neat and unflustered. He even looked neat when he was covered in dust and dirt. He could also give the most competent instruction on how to make a rat pack, not only edible, but gourmet. In addition, he also taught the workings of all the military weapons we had including the communist ones. He astounded Max Caton the Station Armament Warrant Officer with his knowledge when called upon to give an impromptu class on the workings of a 36 grenade. Charlie was later Commissioned and became an Operations /Training Officer at PTS. Charlie was also an exceptionally brave and quick-thinking man. Once we were trying out from what distance we could hear an Alouette helicopter attempting to sneak up on us. As the helicopter skimmed over a large dam it flew into an illegal power cable and crashed into the water. Charlie was on board the helicopter. He managed to undo his harness and swim to the surface when he noticed the pilot was struggling to get out of his seat harness. Without a second thought for his own safety Charlie dived down, released the pilot and helped him to shore. Charlie was awarded the Commander’s Commendation for this action. Soon after I was posted to Air Force Headquarters Charlie opted to return to the Rhodesian SAS. where he carried out a number of clandestine operations in Mozambique. After the cease fire Charlie and his family moved to South Africa where he settled. I have no knowledge of what employment he undertook in South Africa. He is now retired and lives in the Drakensberg Mountains at Underberg with his wife Doreen and he continues to enjoy training his dogs.




IAIN BOWEN

Sgt Iain Bowen being presented with his PJI brevet having completed his PJI course and transferred to the Rhodesian Air Force Parachute Training School in 1971. 

This photo shows Iain dressed as a PJI wearing flying overalls and a free fall parachute rig with his PJI  bone dome complete with his name and his medics red star emblazoned on the front. 

Sgt Iain Bowen pretending to fall out of the Dakota except he has a big smile on his face. Just as well we had a sense of humor in the Parachute Training School as life would have been rather tedious without one. 

Iain Bowen  When we advertised for volunteers to become Parachute Jumping Instructors we specifically targeted the junior NCOs. They were younger and, if chosen, would be promoted to Sergeant – a great incentive. In the Parachute Training School we already knew the SAS soldiers who liked to hurl themselves out of a Dakota in the early morning. It was, therefore, absolutely no surprise to find L/Cpl Iain Bowen in the PTS hangar wanting to try his hand at becoming a PJI. Iain soon found jumping out of the Dakota was the easy part of being a PJI -learning to teach other people to jump was a little more difficult. Iain struggled to instruct in the beginning of his course but, through persistence and a great willingness to learn, he mastered the technique and became a great PJI. I am certain he is well remembered by all his students for his clear and authoratative instruction. As a Sgt PJI Iain married the only girl in his life Vera, at the RLI Chapel. All the PJIs formed a guard of honour with umbrellas and a very memorable party was held in the New Sarum Sgts’ Mess afterwards. After a number of years as a PJI Iain felt the call of the SAS and returned to the unit and jumped on operations including the large 23 man free fall jump from the DC7 into the Gaza province of Mozambique. Iain came back to PTS and was deployed on Fire Force with the RAR where his skill as a paramedic was put to good use. After hostilities ceased and the country became Zimbabwe, Iain went to the UK where he found employment as a salesman for plumbing supplies. It was a horrible job. Luckily, one day he was having lunch in a pub when he found himself talking to an ambulance para medic and discovered he was actually better qualified. This medic told Iain that there was a shortage of paramedics in that area of the UK and he should apply. Iain did and was immediately accepted, but in the UK there is always a but. The UK weather leaves a lot to be desired so Iain began to look for other places to settle. He had a sister in Australia, living in Canberra who encouraged them to migrate to Aus. Iain’s qualification as a paramedic in the UK was accepted in Australia and there would be a job for him when he arrived. The Bowen family settled in Canberra where Iain worked as a paramedic but after a time he found the outback calling. He and Vera purchased a property near the small town of Texas in Southern Queensland and began to farm cattle. Iain also found work as a paramedic with the ambulance service of Queensland. After a time Vera found the cattle business very hard work with little reward and the Bowens retired to the town where they quickly became part of the community with Vera growing huge zucchinis and other vegeatables and Iain joining the local hunting and shooting clubs.

KEVIN MILLIGAN

!9 Sept 1974 Sgt Kevin Milligan being presented with his PJI Brevet by the Station Commander New Sarum Gp Capt J. Mussel. Kevin later became the Commanding Officer of the Zimbabwe Parachute Training School.

Kevin Milligan was born and raised in the UK . He first came into contact with the Rhodesian PJIs at RAF Abbingdon in 1961 where he completed his basic parachute course, - in a coincidenced Sgt Norman Suttie, RRAF, signed his log book. At the time Kevin was serving with the British Parachute Regiment. A few years later, he and his wife Angie went to Zambia where Kevin worked on the copper mines. There, he helped to start up a sky-diving club and did a number of parachute jumps at local agricultural shows. He was even responsible for making the Zambian President wait a good ten minutes whilst the dropping aircraft climbed to altitude. In about 1973 Kevin and Angie moved to Rhodesia where Kevin again worked in mining. Soon after their arrival Kevin saw an advert in the local press - The Rhodesian Air Force was looking for volunteers to become Parachute Jumping Instructors. Kevin applied and soon found himself dressed in Air Force Blue doing a basic parachute course which was much the same as the one he had already done at RAF Abingdon except we carried weapons on the body, instead of in a suspended load as they did in the UK. At this time we were still only training the SAS but we were doing Free Fall courses at an increasing rate and the time soon followed when we started training the Selous Scouts. Kevin found his true calling - teaching soldiers how to parachute. He was a natural leader and, as more and more courses came through the PTS, Kevin was commissioned as an Air Lt. and filled the Operations Officer/Training Officer post. This involved keeping the three Fire Forces supplied with parachutes and making sure the PJIs had time at home. He was also carried out some HALO drops which involved the final navigation to target and ensuring the accuracy of the drop – all of which he managed with great skill. After the Zimbabwe independence, Kevin remained in the Zimbabwe Air Force and became the Commanding Officer of the Parachute Training School. After ten years of service Kevin retired from the Zimbabwe Air Force and returned to the Mining Industry for a number of years. Eventually Kevin and Angie returned to Ireland where Kevin started his own business. Unfortunately Angie passed away from cancer. Kevin also suffered from colon cancer but it appears he has mastered the problem and seems to be enjoying good health now. Well done Kevin. Keep it up!