Fighting Men of Rhodesia ep51 | Pete Simmonds Part 1
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- Опубликовано: 21 окт 2024
- Part 1. Pete talks about his early life growing up in Chipinga and his time at Plumtree School. He later joined the Rhodesian Airforce and was wounded in action flying over Mozambique. More amazing stories to follow about his time in 7 Squadron doing Fireforce missions in Part 2.
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Great interview Hannes and Simmo (wonderful work once again by John).
For interest:
15.10.1976
Air Lieutenant Peter Hamilton Swayne Simmonds BCR
Air Lieutenant Simmonds has served continuously on operations since the commencement of Operation Hurricane. He has been engaged in numerous contacts with the enemy in the course of which many terrorists have been killed and others captured. Air Lieutenant Simmonds has come under heavy fire on many occasions and, despite being wounded, has maintained a cool and professional approach to operational duties. During one recent combined ground and air action, Air Lieutenant Simmonds was the air commander of a total of ten aircraft. In a series of heated contacts with a large group of terrorists, he displayed outstanding qualities of command and his tenacity contributed largely to a very successful operation. During this same operation his fine example brought high praise from the security force members involved and particularly from the local army commander who flew with him throughout the action. On this, and other occasions, Air Lieutenant Simmonds revealed an outstanding degree of determination and personal bravery.
Well done Russell! Valuable input that is much appreciated.
Amazing stories of very brave soldiers in Rhodesia. Thank you The Old Girl in KZN SOUTH AFRICA.
And here I am getting a splinter under my finger nail thinking that is sore. Hats off
What a good oke and another fascinating recollection. Another modest guy, see Pete forgot to mention he was head boy at Plutree and got colours for swimming and water polo (didn’t know they had water at Plumtree).
Mr Simmonds memory for names, dates, locations is staggering. The adrenaline got him back home safely but three holes in the legs. Grim. Looking forward to part two.
A wonderful account and narration by Peter, of what could have turned into a very disastrous ending were it not for Peter`s flying skills. Much respect for all the brave Blue jobs who provided such fantastic overhead cover and helicopter support to the men on the ground. Many unsung heroes in our Rhodesian Air Force. Salute
Lekker interview,I am glad you agreed to doing it and thank you for adding Rhodie humour 🙏🤜🤛👍🤙😉.
Thanks Hannes Pete .. such interesting stories being aired 40 years on .. much appreciated Pete for your time and for sharing your experiences.. the blue jobs were really the best .. they had everything I guess but did so much for the brown jobs on the ground. Well deserved indeed.. respect ✊ .
Such incredible humility, which is a common trait of the brave! Respect!
Great story. Thank you for producing it. Look forward to more stories.
Rhodesian history brought alive - what a treasure! Thank you gentlemen Pete, Hannes and John.
A great interview Hannes and Simmo.4 squadron were the A team.Thank you for your series Fighting Men Of Rhodesia, stories that must be told and not forgotten.
Hatters
Dr Charlee Griffiths. Became the Selous Scouts Dr and is now living here in Lancelin just north of Perth. A good man indeed
A true gentleman Air Lieutenant Simmonds thank you so much for your account in the video you are are true hero and look forward to part 2.
Wow what an amazing story. Hard to imagine flying with your legs shot up like that.
Thanks for sharing these videos Hannes and John.
Get a hair cut you hippy!
Great job dad - love you lots and cant wait for part 2!
Lovely thing to say Keith. Good man.
Hi Pete great to see you all grown up.!! lol You shuttled me from Centenary to the Zambesi floor twice by helicopter. God Bless Mate!!!
My WORD, Stefan. I have thought of and remembered you many times over the years. As an old Shamwari I do not think I have any pals from the Inet that take me back as far as you and I. Was is Highlands School all those years ago.
Im writing this from my wife's FB so it looks like my name is Colleen but I havnt changed sex!!!
Was nice chatting to you today John, i hope you guys can do a video series of the daughters and sons of the Selous Scouts. Watching these videos is bringing back of memories of me being aged 0-6 years old. Thank you so much for educating me guys, my father never told me much. Watching these videos is bringing some enlightened on what everyone went through in 80s.
Another great interview. Thank you. Glad to hear the airforce history first hand.
Incredible! Thank you, yet again!🙏🙏 What inspiration for the youth of today, if only they could listen and learn. 😎
Couldn't agree more!
They are to worried about incorrect pronouns.
Another fascinating account for history ;)
Glad you think so!
Great discourse Pete. I remember those times well.
HI Pete long time no see. Great stories, at least you are a better talker than me. I found it very difficult as too many memories came back. Best wishes Beaver.
You did very well Beaver, don't sell yourself short boet
I enjoyed all your talks, and appreciate the effort to share
Great video, thank you for documenting these legends.
Great story!!! 👍👍👍
This was a good one for sure. Great stories.
Glad you enjoyed it
Hi Peter. I just spoke to Charlee Griffiths a few moments ago. I told him that you had mentioned him after your Proverst injury. He was quite humbled that you mentioned him and he sends his very best regards to you. . Ken Perth Australia 🇦🇺
Thanks for passing on the message and please pass on my best to Dr Charlie and thank him from me for looking after me so well all those years ago
@@petersimmonds5128 Absolutely Peter it will be an absolute pleasure indeed. Cheers
True Grit, no Bull-Shit.
Broster says : Hannes. UBHS education was supreme. Well done that man. Susan Broster
Brilliant interview
Gee Pete, don't sell yourself short boet, reading your citation for your BCR shows you are a great man that many respect. It was a captivating interview so let's see no. 2 please, especially about that big fireforce op mentioned in your BCR citation. Kudos to Hannes and John too.
Thanks for that
Dr Charlee Griffiths has some awesome tales to tell, of this I am certain.
My friend Rony Roberts, her husband was in police DSO Dave Roberts. I knew a lot of the people he mentions, Phil Tubbs and Henry Jarvie especially, as I was up there a couple of weeks doing typing.
It's great to know they are rooting out the fakes. Thanks and cheers :-)
False valour.
@@vadermarvel Yes, stolen valour, bloaters and Walter Mitty's.
Those were the days when men were men
When will we get more interviews of this great series?
Plenty in the pipeline! :)
Thank you so much. I am a South African but my mother grew up in Bulawayo. Her father, Norman Shillingford was chief accountant on the railways. My mother was given a ride on Roy Welensky's steam engine once . Norman was awarded the MBE as he was chief boy scout for Rhodesia amongst other activities.
I love your series as my military involvement in the SADF was far removed from Rhidesia.
Amazing story brilliantly told
in thinking about it on a military point of order - he heard two bangs. this reminded me of rhodesian army double tap method of shooting which would mean it was someone in RAR? Was that the entry and exit out the cockpit or other bullets hitting at the same time?
if it was CT's in Mozambique then it seems remarkably accurate fire dead on the pilot? Furthermore he had the canopy down, was at stall speed and did not report hearing groundfire. if it was CT's then incredible discipline shown that they did not shoot him up much earlier as soon as he got in the vicinity?
Was the shooter a Russian sniper attached to Frelimo? he does not report any other bulletholes in the plane. there is no follow up story to say that the RAR immediately engaged and got the guys who shut up Simmons plane.
Anyone got a factual debrief/other theory to this amazing story and operational escape
Kevin the two bangs were only two of many that were fired at me. I only heard the two because they were the only two that hit my plane. One hit me and the other went through the plane behind the cockpit. They were CTs that Mike Wilson and his team had finally caught up with after days of tracking. Unfortunately he did not know he had caught up to them until they sprayed their ammo at me. For the record I never did get round to dropping his maps and batteries.
@@petersimmonds5128 cheers peter appreciate the clarification - my dad was ww2 Mustang pilot with SAAF 5 Squadron - he was shot up a number of times with ground fire - Italy and Yugoslavia - they had a steel plated seats - otherwise i wouldn't be here! Very sadly 86%of the squadron was lost during his tour - mainly due to navigation problems the old wristwatch, air speed and wind speed system with limited ground map reading with cloud and fog being the deadly enemy