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12th Jan 2014, 15:53

#2231 (permalink)

Dave Ed

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Cyprus

Age: 65

Posts: 297

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South Africa

South Africa

See Rhodesia a few posts back for the link that explains the inclusion of some seemingly non-Bristow pics!

Ref R.S.A. Wessex Picture. Info from Ian Dobson and Hans D.Holle.

The picture of the Wessex in South Africa is probably ZS-HSL and the back drop will be the bush backing the beach at Virginia airport in Durban. The Wessex was in Durban on ship servicing work 1974 -1976 with Helicopter Services Ltd (BHL owned company) hence the registration. I have photos of her being crated up at Virginia for shipment back to the UK.

Sharky Ward was the area chief eng and Vince Ogilvie was the Wessex LAE, pilots John Yates, Martin Ford, Jeremy Labauschagne and an american guy whose name escapes me at the moment.

We operated an Allouette II and a Whirlwind Series 3 as well as the Wessex.

AND......

The "american guy" refered to most likely was Ed Ban. He was posted from Jo'burg to Durban in about 75. There was also Gordon Blackman who, if I remember correctly, was involved in the ditching of a Wessex off Durban. They had been drifting about in shark infested water for quite some time to eventually be picked up by a freighter. Grant something was in the back of that aircraft and cut himself when getting out....

AND.....

The engineer mentioned in my previous mail must have been Grant Williams. "Lopiz" Labuschagne (based in Durban) was the CP in RSA during my time out there (74/76) with David Woodhead (based in Jo'burg) being the MP. Lopiz L. later on left BHL/Helicopter Services PTY. to join Court Helicopters.

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