A documentry about the Rhodesian SAS, interessting to see, nice work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Yf0weAg ... ed&search= Is it true that the SAS destroyed more aircraft on the ground then the RAF, like Lieut-General K.R. Coster said ?! Regards, Che.
Che: David Stirling was not well-liked by RAF brass. At one point it was suggested to award him an air medal for destroying so many enemy planes in sabotage-raids in North Africa. THe RAF Vice-Marshall--or some such--was outraged at the notion. Then he was reminded that Stirling and Co had destoryed more enemy planes in-theatre than the RAF had in the air. Yes, he was quite furious at that comment... Tim
Hey tim, hehe thx for this nice anecdote, do you know if in North Arfica only the Rhodesian SAS operated ? Regards, Che.
No, it was the BRITISH SAS (and lets not forget the LRDG as well) in the Western Desert. The Rhodesian SAS operated after Ian Smith's UDI in the 1960's and 70's During the Normandy campaign, IIRC, there was a Free French SAS unit and a Canadian unit (not absolutely sure about the Canucks), trained using British methods. Most of the dominions, also Rhodesia, set up their own SAS during / after WW2 to give some irregular warfare capability
stirling A good reference to SAS in N.Africa is 'The Phantom Major', can't remember the author as I passed my copy on to 'Hoosier'. I was fortunate to be stationed at 'Barce' post war and saw the remains of Itie planes destroyed by ' Popski', (Lieutenant-Colonel Vladimir Peniakoff) see if you can find the book 'Popski's Private Army'. (Barce raid was Sept.14th 1942, by the LRDG.)
Author is Virginia Cowles http://www.amazon.com/Phantom-Major-Stirling-Command-Original/dp/B000BYNYKI
I do remember reading once in the book Sterlings men that Rhodesians were involved with the LRDG and did often pick the SAS up after they had attacked an air field.
|LRDG animosities. My uncle, Basil Pulleine, served with the LRDG before being posted to the Far East where he served under Brigadier John Masters in the Chindits.He died of wounds sustained in that campaign in 1953. I recall him telling me that there there was a great degree of competition between the various nationalities that comprised both the SAS and the LRDG and that this did, occassionally, result in serious fist fights and in more than instance a bad stabbing or bottling. He never said , though, that any group ever failed to discharge it's duties with anything less than the utmost of commitment, even when different nationalities were involved . BG
