Information by Sarah van Rooyen 

As many might know I am an Aviation nut. I love working with aircraft and learning new things and getting my hands dirty is no problem to me. My love has grown for the military and the military aircraft because of working with them at the few Air Shows and on Saturdays at The Harvard Club of South Africa.

About 3 years ago at the Swartkop Air Show was the first time I laid eyes on the C-130 Hercules, also known as “The Beast”, medium transport aircraft. I had only seen it in pictures before that and I knew there was something different and special about that plane. I knew from the minute I saw the Hercules that, that was the aircraft that I wanted to fly. The more I see the Hercules the more my love grows for it.

I have never been allowed in or around the Hercules and this made me want to experience it, see it, smell it and touch it even more. Every time I see the Hercules fly past my heart wants to rip out of my chest and take flight with the Hercules.  It is almost as if my heart is doing a dance to mimic the every move of the Hercules.

I have wanted to visit 28 Squadron for a long time and Flight-Sergeant Benjamin William Pearce was kind enough to organize that I have a tour around 28 Squadron to learn more about the C-130.

It all started with entering the gate and I could feel my excitement building up by the second. Entering the Squadron and seeing all the Air force guys around me made me feel honoured to be there. The mechanics were in and out all the time, you could see they were busy at work because of the oil smudges they had all over their arms and how they would talk to each other expressing how they felt with the spanner and not just an empty hand. It gave meaning to their conversations.

The ops room was neatly organized so that anyone could find things on request and not have to fumble around when something or someone was needed in a rush and everybody would know where they must be and what they must do.

Warrant Officer Pretorius was kind enough to give me the tour around the Hercules and tell me a little bit about the aircraft and just what it was capable of.

The moment I walked into the hanger is a moment that I will never forget and I am sure that those who were around me won’t forget my reaction either; I could feel my smile growing by the second. I may have looked bizarre with this inscrutable smile, but I didn't mind. I walked in and the spectacular aroma of fuel, oil, rubber and metal filled my nostrils and I said out loud with my eyes beginning to water from excitement, “Aahhh it smells like heaven”, and this made me laugh too.

A brief history of 28 Squadron

Interestingly, 28 Squadron was formed in Almaza, Egypt on 1 June 1943. The Squadron started out with 24 Avro Ansons.   Its first detachment was on 6 June after a short time of familiarization training.  The Squadron also received 3 Vickers Wellingtons but on 28 July received the Douglas Dakota, which was to be its permanent aircraft.

By 20 August the Squadron was fully operational and began its scheduled runs.   The squadron’s role was to transport troops and cargo to and from their destinations.

In November it lost 2 Anson LT279s due to water in the fuel tanks, and an Anson LT340 was lost after failing to return from a Special Operations Executive flight.

In 1944 two Ansons were lost but this was due to machine error and not crew error. The Ansons were withdrawn in April. The crew then had to gain experience on the Dakotas. Through out 1944/45 the Squadron maintained an excellent record of only losing 1 Dakota and its crew. They were then also supplied with 2 Beech Expediters for communication purposes.

In September 1945 the Squadron moved to South Africa and was based at Swartkop Air Force base. In 1948 a sister unit was formed and was equipped with Harvards operating out of Baragwanath. In the time of the Russian blockade in West Berlin the Squadron did some 2500 flights carrying 8300 tons of cargo. 28 Squadron was the most active Squadron in the South African Air Force.

In 1949 the Squadron was used to collect the SAAF’s 9 De Havilland DH104 C.Mk.1 Doves. The Squadron also started an ambulance service as it could carry many casualties quicker to their destinations.

In 1952 the squadron was equipped with 14 Dakotas, 7 Venturas, 3 Devons, 3 Harvards and a Sikorsky S-51, and in addition to that, the 2 De Havilland DH114 Heron 2s in 1955.

The squadron received the first 5 Lockheed C-130B Hercules at Air Force Base (AFB) Waterkloof on 16 January 1963, and received 2 more on 7 March.  One Buccaneer suffered a flameout and ditched south of the Cape Verde Islands. The Hercules stayed to initiate the search for the drifting crewmembers.   These aircraft were safely transported within the safety of the Hercules.

The Squadron’s capabilities were enhanced further when it received 9 Transall C-160Z medium transport aircraft from France in 1969. The Transell could not take the payload that the Hercules could but make up for that with a larger hold to accommodate bulkier cargo.

Over 23years the Transells and the Hercules provided a perfect combination. The Squadron was the most reliable and this was as a result of the dedication of the ground crews and pilots.

On 5 May 1978 the South African Defence Force (SADF) launched raids in Angola and this initiated the role of the Hercules dropping Para-troopers and then participated on joint operations with the army from September 1981.

Since the Squadron received the Hercules and Transalls there was one accident with a Transall on 30 May 1980 when it was forced to make a wheels-up landing as it was carrying ammunition. It was repaired in no time and returned to service. There were a few other incidents to date but none of them were crippling to the Squadron.

When needed the Transalls also assisted in the maritime searches. The Transalls were used to ferry the Puma to their destinations as it could fit inside with only the rotary system being disassembled.

In the 1990’s the Transalls were earmarked for retirement, as the Hercules and Dakotas were felt sufficient to handle the low conflict. The 9^th Transall was flown to AFB Swartkop on 15 May 1993 to become part of the SAAF museum collection. They also celebrated the Squadron’s 50^th Anniversary in 1993.

The Hercules has stayed the same since its arrival in 1963 with only upgraded systems and cockpit modifications. The Hercules will continue to serve for many years to come.

A little about the Hercules

I learnt things about the Hercules that I never knew before and the more I learnt about where it could land, the amount of passengers, Para-troopers, casualties, fueling, crew, the best seats in the belly, the cockpit, how the engines were started with compressed air and cargo that it could take, the more I wanted to know.  Seeing the places that 28 Squadron had been to was amazing and showed the passion that each person had within this Squadron. I even learnt that it could land and take off on an aircraft carrier and virtually any other surface from snow to tar, and thought that these were truly uncanny capabilities. Aircraft companies are not going to be able to replace “The Beast” anytime soon.

Hercules specs

After the design was completed the first prototype took to the skies on the 13 August 1954. It then entered service in December 1956. The SAAF received the Hercules in service in 1963. It can carry 92 troopers, 64 Para-troopers and 74 stretchers. The Hercules became a favorite amongst pilots. The Hercules has served the SAAF for 49 years and many more to come.

I had the privilege of meeting Major Caro “Chucky” Duven, our lady pilot on the C-130. She is an amazing woman for all she has achieved. Maj. Duven is a true inspiration to me and I am sure many can say the same! Hard work pays off and dreams can be achieved like she achieved hers. 

Seeing the many Squadron badges on the passage way wall shows how many other Squadrons have come to love 28 Squadron, its people and of course the Hercules. You can spend a whole day talking about the history behind each Squadron and the things they do.

When I walked out the doors of 28 Squadron I felt like I had traveled on the many journeys that the crew and the Hercules have traveled. I was also sad that I was leaving my little bit of heaven; I wanted to stay there. This experience has been once in a lifetime for me and shall forever stay reported in my books as the best. “The Beast” has a special place in my heart and will be there till I die.

If you look closely enough at the Hercules when standing nose to nose with it, you can slowly see that it gains its character and will smile at you and wink, just to say “Hi.”

I want to thank Flight-Sergeant Benjamin William Pearce and Warrant Officer Pretorius for the spectacular opportunity that they presented me with and for everything that I have learnt. I cannot wait to learn more.

I would also like to thank the 28 Squadron tremendously for the hospitality and the knowledge it has shared with me.