Background
The Squadron is unique
both in its location as well as its aircraft types. The
Squadron’s area of responsibility includes a maritime
obligation to the Kwazulu-Natal coast as well as a high
altitude rescue capability serving the Drakensberg mountain
range. In between is a vast expanse of rural settlement
almost constantly in a state of unrest. 15 Squadron, along
with the SAPS and SA Army are involved in maintaining
control over this volatile situation by continuously doing
drug and weapon raids in the affected areas. As a result of
this 15 Sqn is considered to be the most operationally
utilized helicopter Squadron in the SAAF. It is not uncommon
for aircraft to return after one of these week-long trips
having done in excess of 100 landings. The hilly terrain and
hot conditions in these areas provide 15 Sqn’s crews with
highly valued experience. The Squadron is committed to
operational readiness, and as such conducts regular training
exercises with various civilian rescue and medical
organizations. These include the NSRI, MCSA, EMRS KZN, and
Netcare 911.
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History
Now stationed at Durban
International Airport this chopper Squadron is synonymous in Kwa-Zulu
Natal with daring feats of bravery in the air. The record books are
filled with numerous newspaper cuttings of dangerous rescues of
people from raging seas and wild wind-swept mountain peaks.
The story starts in 1939 when the Squadron was hastily formed after
the outbreak of World War II, active service started with patrols
being flown in co-operation with the Royal Navy. Early missions
included the unsuccessful search for the German pocket battle ship
Graf Spee and later the discovery and interception of the liner
Watussi whose crew, on seeing the planes, immediately scuttled the
ship to prevent her from falling into allied hands.
As the war progressed the Squadron was moved to Italian East Africa,
Aden and then Egypt where Blenheim Mk IV bombers were flown. In
April 1942 a detachment of the Squadron flying reconnaissance
operations from the famous Kufra Oasis in Western Desert saw tragedy
strike. Three Blenheims out on a mission lost their bearings over
the featureless desert ran out of fuel and eventually force landed
in the sea of sand; only one man made it back to civilisation.
The Squadron continued to change bases, roles and aircraft
throughout the war and in October 1942 while flying Bisleys joined
forces with RAF Beauforts and Beaufighters on a shipping strike
against an Axis convoy, desperately trying to get supplies to the
Afrika Korps, which were engaged in the battle of El Alamein. The
allied aircraft locked into battle with the Luftwaffe fighters and
enemy ships. Only a few of 15 Sqn Bisleys survived, however in the
process they did succeed in destroying the strategic 9000 ton fuel
tanker Praserpina carrying sorely needed fuel for the Axis forces.
Later a number of South African pilots were decorated for their part
in the assault.
Another thrilling period of service was the time spent on
anti-submarine patrols off Cyprus. Besides anti-submarine patrols
the Squadron went on reconnaissance and bombing raids against Crete
and targets on the Aegean Sea. Often while on these sorties the
small Baltimore formations crossed swords with the aggressive
Luftwaffe fighters. Eventually the Squadron ended up over Italy in
support of the 84th Army.
After being disbanded in 1945 the Squadron was not seen again until
1968 when in February of that year it was reformed at Swartkop air
base flying the newly acquired French built Super Frelons, the air
force’s largest helicopter. After being split up, “A” Flight at AFB
Swartkop and “B” Flight at AFB Bloemspruit, the Squadron moved to
Louis Botha, Durban Airport in 1981, where the pilots also started
flying the Aerospatiale Alouette III. To deal with the wide variety
of tasks assigned to the Squadron the two types of helicopters were
necessary.
The Super Frelon was a short/medium range tactical helicopter, which
was capable of carrying 27 fully equipped soldiers and had the power
to lift a variety of equipment such as landrovers and smaller
helicopters. Its large interior made it an ideal “casevac” aircraft.
Affectionately referred to as “Putco” by those who flew it, the
helicopter has been involved in numerous unusual missions in Natal,
such as dragging whales back into the ocean, attempting to lift a
downed Sikorsky helicopter from the ocean and rescuing moribund
crocodiles from Lake St Lucia when the water became too saline. Its
rescue missions included the plucking of 58 stranded Basutos who
faced certain death in the snow-covered mountains of Lesotho. The
gargantuan helicopter was retired in 1990, but the Squadron
continued to operate Alouette III and Puma helicopters.
The Alouette III, probably one of the best known helicopters, is
extremely versatile and reliable. This is borne out by the fact that
is involved in active service with more than 40 air forces
throughout the world. The likeable little chopper played an
incalculable role in the Rhodesian War. Able to accommodate five
passengers besides the engineer and pilot the aircraft has a maximum
range of 540km and top speed of 210km/h. In Kwa-Zulu Natal the “Alo”
was involved with the police, forestry department, anti-shark
measures board and mountain club to name a few.
After the integration of the homeland defence forces into the SAAF
in 1994, the LTS 650 powered BK117 aircraft, formerly in service
with the TBVC states, replaced 15 Squadrons Alouette IIIs. These
aircraft are employed for search and rescue, command and control,
communications, ambulance and many other utility tasks. In their
standard configuration for single pilot operation these helicopters
can carry up to seven passengers or two stretcher patients and two
paramedics. They can also be configured to carry nine fully kitted
troops, but are seldom used in this configuration due to operating
close to the weight restrictions of the aircraft. Two big clamshell
doors which open at the back of the fuselage allow for easy loading
of stretchers or cargo. Since 2003 these aircraft have been upgraded
and are now equipped with 750hp engines.
In 1995 the unit began replacing it’s Pumas with the locally
designed and built Oryx MLH. The Oryx is a multi-role helicopter,
which was designed to handle the harsh conditions and varied
topography of Sub-Saharan Africa. These aircraft are used for medium
to heavy transport and communications flights, task force rapid
deployment operations, fire fighting, and search and rescue
missions.
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