WINDS OF DESTRUCTION: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A RHODESIAN IN SOUTH AFRICA

Winds of Destruction  is a unique account of one mans service in the Rhodesian Air Force, spanning a period of twenty-three years from 1957 to 1980through the politically turbulent years of Federation; the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (U.D.I.) by Ian Smiths government in 1965 and thirteen years of relentless, uncompromising bush warfare against the never-ending tide of Robert Mugabes and Joshua Nkomos ZANLA and ZIPRA guerrillas. In a gruelling conflict that permitted no quarter, the Rhodesian Air Force (Rh.A.F.) fast became one of the Rhodesian Defence Forces most lethal and effective counter-insurgency organs. In pre-emptive bombing strikes against enemy camps in Mozambique, Zambia and as far afield as Tanzania; in its integral role as a troop-carrier and airborne strike force in fireforce operations; in working closely with such specialist units as the Selous Scouts, the S.A.S., the R.L.I. and the R.A.R. the Rhodesian Air Force was never far from the action and in no small way responsible for the astonishing military successes against a vastly numerically superior army. This, all in spite of the international sanctions against Rhodesia, which ordinarily would have brought a nations armed forces to its knees. However, forced by circumstances, the Rh.A.F. was obliged to maximise usage of its aging fleet of fighter-bombers, transports and helicopters and to resort to innovative techniques in terms of tactics and weapons systems, many of which were later adopted by the South African Air Force in its own counter-insurgency operations in Angola and Namibia in the 80s PAPERBACK: 392 PAGES WITH 300 B/W PHOTOS & MAPS Published January 2005