1 Recce, volume 2. Alexander Strachan

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      Recce teams operated independently and infiltrated by parachute, after which they were extracted by Alouette helicopters. The objective of the deployments was to attack the enemy with aggressive fighting patrols and disrupt their logistical support. Venter’s time was largely devoted to command-and-control. Hence he spent much of his day in a Rhodesian Lynx aircraft in which he criss-crossed the Russian Front. The Lynx, with its old-fashioned push-pull configuration, was extremely noisy. The pilots were always fresh and were constantly rotated after two weeks’ duty on the Russian Front.

      Day after day, Venter flew Telstar20 to provide radio relay support and do reconnaissance. He provided top cover for Alouette helicopters and Dakotas when they flew in with paratroops and exfiltrated them again. The Lynx was armed with two .303 Browning machine guns that were mounted above the cockpit as well as with two 37-mm Sneb rocket launchers with four rockets on each wing. On a few occasions they attacked vehicles east of Mapai, and frequently provided air support during Dakota parachute infiltrations when the Dakotas drew fire.

      Dakotas invariably drew fire over the Limpopo valley where Russian DShK 12,7-mm machine guns were deployed. The Lynx would then dive-bomb the artillery positions and bombard them with the ‘heavy’ weapons. This had the desired effect, as the Lynx would become the target and the Dakota could fly on in much less danger.

      To provide top cover for the Alouette helicopters, Venter and the pilot had to evade the 23-mm anti-aircraft cannons that were deployed at the railway stations and at Mapai. They assisted the Alouette pilots with navigation because the latter only followed the railway line. When they neared a station, Venter and the pilot in the Lynx would guide the Alouettes around the station and back to the railway line once they had passed it.

      The effective ceiling height of the 23-mm anti-aircraft cannons was 1 400 m, and the Telstar flew just above that. Almost every day they saw 23-mm warheads exploding around and below them, which was nerve-racking. In cloudy weather they would fly just below the clouds. As soon as they drew fire they would bounce up into the clouds, knowing full well that they were still within striking range.

      In the Telstar, they wore very old parachutes and sat on the canopies. Venter was in full combat dress and had his AK-47 on his body, and he and the pilot were ready to jump if necessary. But he did not know how he would get out of the plane in such an event because of everything he had on his body. As a result of the many hours in the air, Venter was by this time capable of handling the plane himself if an emergency situation arose. According to him, he was able to control the plane up to the final approach run.

      The pilots with whom he flew were young and daring. So, too, were the Alouette pilots, who were fearless and conducted emergency extractions under extremely dangerous conditions. They would sometimes run out of fuel and land in the bush without knowing exactly where they were. At times it could even be in Mozambique. The Lynx would then guide Alouettes with fuel to the stranded Alouette. Quite a few pilots and crewmen of the SA Air Force flew Alouette helicopters during the Rhodesian conflict. One of them was Capt. Dave Atkinson, who was awarded an Honoris Crux decoration – an intrepid pilot and old friend of 1 Recce who never thought twice about picking up Recce and SAS teams under enemy fire.

      Capt. Arthur Walker was also deployed in Rhodesia as an Alouette pilot. He was later awarded the Honoris Crux Gold (HCG) for his bravery during an operation in Angola on 15 January 1981. Later that same year, on 29 December, he distinguished himself once again during an operation in Angola and was awarded the HCG Bar. Walker therefore received the HCG twice and was the most highly decorated soldier in the SADF.

      Only six HCG decorations were awarded in South Africa. Another recipient of the HCG was an operator from 5 Recce, Cpl. Gabriel Fernando. Fernando received his (HCG no. 3) posthumously for his bravery in action on 1 August 1980. Walker received HCG no. 4 plus Bar as a member of the air force; the army received three HCG decorations and the navy one, which was awarded to Able Seaman Paul Burger Whiley. Because Walker received two, no. 5 was the last number of the HCGs that were awarded.

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      On 4 January 1978 lance corporals CF Mennigke and C de Wilzem were killed in an enemy ambush – the first operators from 1 Recce to die in Rhodesia. On 28 January 1978 Cpl. Manuel Ganhão, also from 1 Recce, died during an ambush set by the team under the leadership of Lt. Kokkie du Toit. Du Toit’s team had attacked a railway substation and the enemy had fled. Frelimo followed up quickly, and he decided to lay an ambush for them. Ganhão was fatally wounded in the fierce firefight. But Du Toit and his team were unaware that the Frelimos who had landed in their ambush were merely the reconnaissance team of a much larger follow-up force. In the subsequent skirmishes with the larger group, Du Toit and his group cut and ran while carrying out Ganhão’s body.

      SW Fourie recalls that they were deployed in a big team of about ten men:21 ‘It was one of the first deployments of 1 RC. We jumped in at night, and as usual the landing was softer if you hit a tree. On the Russian Front I soon learnt that you hit a contact within two days. The terrs were good at tracking – in any case, we left such deep tracks in the soft sand that tackie boots were no use. I remember Kokkie woke me one night and told me I had to take my Puma hunting knife and Beta light and go sort out the frogs that had been croaking all night. We found out later that you had to walk for about 30 minutes before you reached the frogs.

      ‘As junior operator in the team, I had the “privilege” of carrying the Syncal 30/TR 48 radio. We were in the vicinity of the railway line, walking in formation, when we hit contact for the very first time. Just before the shots rang out, I heard a trumpeter hornbill calling – that grating sound would stay in my memory and remind me of that day for my rest of my life. It was also the first time in my life that I saw a terr. He had a yellow complexion and wore the olive-green cammies [camouflage wear]. That split second while I wondered why he was yellow nearly cost me my life. In the exchange of fire that followed, Manuel Ganhão was killed. Losing a buddy was very tough on us, and he had to be airlifted out by helicopter.’

      But that was not the team’s last fatality. Shortly afterwards, in early February 1978, the attack on the railway line in the vicinity of Madulo Pan took place, and Lt. Kokkie du Toit was shot dead by a wounded Frelimo (the incident related at the beginning of the chapter).

      In keeping with Recce tradition, they carried Du Toit out with great difficulty with a large group of Frelimos in hot pursuit.

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