FATHERS AND SONS THAT QUALIFIED AT 1 PARA BN
3x Pinnock, Vince & Vernon. Dad & younger brother qualified in the UK. 3x Sybie, Dad, Sybie Jr, Olla vd Spuy. All 3 became Recces. 3x Strauss, Johann (69). Eldest son, Karl (91) other son Jaco (93). 3x Scalliet, Dad and two sons 3x Erasmus, Dad and sons 3x Moorcroft Koos and his […]
(Real) BROTHERS IN ARMS AT 1 PARA BN: 3X BROTHERS
Maree, Thabo, Puna & Daps from Bultfontein Bender Koot (1991), Arnold (1992), Chris (1994) Labuschagne Gerber Schoonraad Potgieter Blaauw, Hennie, Dawid (†), Johan Maree Nel Greyling Meyer Gouws, Andre, Nola & Tobie Le Roux, Tertius, Gerhard & Riaan.
(Real) BROTHERS IN ARMS AT 1 PARA BN: 4X BROTHERS
Otto, Albert, Johan , Neels & Andries de Kock, Xandie, Con, Naude & Louw Van Jaarsveld Strauss Barnard, Rex, Charl, Leon & Louis (1976 B Comp), Sarge and his brothers (Can’t remember their surname!)
(Real) BROTHERS IN ARMS AT 1 PARA BN
One of the outstanding achievements of the SA Paraforces is the brothers in the qualified units as jumpers. No other unit in the world can compare with the SA paratroopers in years gone by. The statistics speak for itself – 129 parents produced 324 paratroopers! What other unit in the world can match this achievement! […]
Did you know? BOOKS
Colonel Jan Breytenbach, wrote five books: Eden Exile; Buffalo Soldiers; Forged in Battle; They lived by the Sword; and The Plunderers Ronnie Claassen (RSM of 1 Para Bn in 1978) and Renier du Toit authored the book, Rooiplaas: 1 Valskermbataljon Eeben Barlow wrote The War for Africa: Conflict, Crime, Corruption and Foreign Interests; Executive Outcomes […]
Did you know? PARACHUTES
The first T10 type parachute arrived in the battalion in 1962 The first SAVIAC MK 1 was the round shaped parachute known as a ‘pampoen’ (pumpkin) due to its shape. The Mark 2 Parachute was called a steerable The PT10 parachute was known as SAVIAC (South African Aviation Centre). The initial lifespan of parachutes used […]
Did you know? OPERATIONAL
The first 16 men to do para-training overseas departed on 27 September 1960. The first qualified paratroopers jumped out of a Sikorsky helicopter at Tempe on 5 January 1962 The first paratroopers sent to the South West Africa (now Namibia) order was during 1973 Cross border operations started during 1974 The first 1 Para Bn […]
Did you know? TRAINING
The first training of SA parachutists started on 03 October 1960 at the Royal Air Force Parachute Training School at Abington, Oxfordshire. Soldiers were never called up to 1 Parachute Bn – they were selected at other units and joined out of free will When a soldier were unsuccessful during the selection phase they were […]
Did you know? UNIFORM, EQUIPMENT & DESIGNATIONS
* The original colour of the British Paratrooper beret is red. When the first group of qualified SA paratroopers returned from the UK after completion of their para-training they found the red beret was allocated to SA Medical Services. The nurses donated their maroon capes to be used a material for manufacturing the berets for […]
Did you know? HISTORY
* The name ROOIPLAAS refers to the mother unit 1 Parachute Bn and 44 Brigade * The slogan for 1 Parachute Battalion is Ex Alto Vincimus: We Conquer From Above * 1 Parachute Battalion was established 01 April 1961. * The first military jump in South Africa was on 04 August 1961 * The first […]
