17 August, let us pause to remember the young men from our Generation who answered the Sunset call.
17 Aug 1962: Two members from 17 Squadron were killed when their Alouette II Helicopter, Serial No. 1454 flew into High Tension Cables in Du Toit's Kloof and crashed in flames. The crew were:
PX/22816 Lieutenant Keith Lynford Martin. He was 22.
P/8353 Sergeant Andrew Robert Foote. He was 39.
17 Aug 1963: B/70171 Captain Richard William Davies from 40 Squadron was killed when his AT-6 Harvard, Serial No. 7322 struck High Tension Cables and crashed near Benoni. He was 27.
17 Aug 1977: 74293275BC Lance Corporal George Allen Deacon from 2 Field Engineer Regiment was killed in an accidental explosion at Okalongo. He was 19.
17 Aug 1977: Two members, one from 5 Squadron and the other from 8 Squadron were killed when their Atlas MB326M Impala Mk I, Serial No. 561 crashed at Riemvasmaak Bombing Range near Upington while carrying out a night bombing exercise. The crew were:
01550540PE Major James McFarlane Wilson Kerr (OC 5 Squadron). He was 30.
66000068PE Major Barry Leonard Moody (OC 8 Squadron). He was 38.
17 Aug 1981: Two members from 4 Field Regiment were killed in Military Vehicle accident at Oshivelo. The casualties were:
77350411BG Lance Bombardier Henri Victor Louis Olver. He was 19.
78251287BG Gunner Dirk Jacobus Loubser. He was 20.
17 Aug 1988: Special Constable Filimon Ndevaumba from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K (Koevoet) was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 29.
17 Aug 1990: Two members from Eastern Transvaal Command were killed when their Samil 20 vehicle overturned at Pafuri. The casualties were:
88742176HD Rifleman Agus Mlahlekm Khoza. He was 28.
89770044HD Rifleman Mphakati Isaiah Mkhombo. He was 33.
17 Aug 1991: 80544232PE Major Harper Martin Geldenhuys from 32 Battalion was accidentally killed at Pomfret while making a video of a C-47 Dakota as it was taking off from the runway. He was standing on the end of the runway and as the aircraft passed overhead, the aircraft tail wheel struck him on the head, killing him instantly. He was 26. (He was the son of Lieutenant General J.J. Geldenhuys).
Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten.