A Pride Of EaglesA History of the Rhodesian Air Force, 1920–1980

Qualifies for free delivery

R759.00

add to wishlist
add to wishlist
Weight 1.3 kg
Dimensions 23.4 × 15.6 × 4.1 cm
Format

Pages

Size

ISBN9781920143732 Barcode9781920143732
Overview
This is the story of military aviation in Rhodesia from the romantic days of ‘bush’ flying in the 1920s and ’30s—when aircraft were refuelled from jerrycans and landing grounds were often the local golf course—to the disbandment of the Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF) on Zimbabwean independence in 1980.

This is the story of military aviation in Rhodesia from the romantic days of ‘bush’ flying in the 1920s and 30s—when aircraft were refuelled from jerrycans and landing grounds were often the local golf course—to the disbandment of the Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF) on Zimbabwean independence in 1980. In 1939 the tiny Royal Rhodesian Air Force (RRAF) became the first to take up battle stations even before the outbreak of the Second World War. The three Rhodesian squadrons served with distinction in East Africa, the Western Desert, Italy and Western Europe.

At home Rhodesia became a vast training ground for airmen from across the Empire—from Britain, the Commonwealth and even Greece. After the war, Rhodesia, on a negligible budget, rebuilt its air force, equipping it with Ansons, Spitfires, Vampires, Canberras, Hunters and Alouettes. Following UDI, the unilateral declaration
of independence from Britain in 1965, international sanctions were imposed, resulting in many remarkable and ground-breaking innovations, particularly in the way of ordnance.

The bitter ‘bush war’ followed in the late 1960s and ’70s, with the RhAF in the vanguard of local counter-insurgency operations and audacious pre-emptive strikes against vast guerrilla bases in neighbouring Mozambique, Zambia and Botswana and as far afield as Angola and Tanzania. With its ageing fleet, including C-47 ‘Dakotas’ that had been at Arnhem, the RhAF was able to wreak untold havoc on the enemy, Mugabe’s ZANLA and Nkomo’s ZIPRA. The late author took over 30 years in writing this book; the result is a comprehensive record that reflects the pride, professionalism and dedication of what were some of the world’s finest airmen of their time.

Beryl Salt

The late Beryl Salt was part of the Southern Rhodesian Broadcasting Services (later the Rhodesian Broadcasting Corporation, the RBC). Her interest in history led her to radio dramas and feature programmes, followed by several books: School History Text Book, The Encyclopaedia of Rhodesia and The Valiant Years, a history of the country as seen through the newspapers. She also produced a dramatized radio series about the Rhodesian Air Force. In 1965 she left the RBC and spent three years with the Ministry of Information, following which she was a freelance writer/broadcaster involved in a wide variety of projects until 1980.

Additional information

Weight 1.3 kg
Dimensions 23.4 × 15.6 × 4.1 cm
Format

Pages

Size

Publisher30 Degrees South Publishers Publication Date02/03/2015

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “A Pride Of Eagles”

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY

Best Sellers