South African 1st Parachute Battalion

South African 1st Parachute Battalion

The South African 1st Parachute Battalion was set up under Commandant Willem Louw on 1st April 1961.

This resulted after selected members of the South African Army received training and instruction at RAF Abingdon and from the British Parachute Regiment.

Operations by 1 Parachute Battalion (soon nick-named ‘Parabats’) began in South-West Africa (now Namibia) and were to continue along the border with South Africa and Angola for nearly 20 years. In April 1978 the 44th Parachute Brigade was established with the addition of 2 and 3 Parachute Battalions.

This was followed in May by Operation REINDEER, South Africa’s first major conventional airborne operation. All three battalions conducted a parachute assault on a large SWAPO base at Cassinga in Angola, supported by fighter-ground attack aircraft. The operation was successful and due to the heavy SWAPO loss of life, controversial. A last minute helicopter extraction barely saved the force from being overwhelmed by the arrival of a Cuban manned armoured column.

Commanding Officers:

Cmdt WP Louw 1961-65
Cmdt J Fourie 1965-67
Cmdt MJ du Plessis 1967-68
Cmdt GJ Viviers 1968-72
Cmdt JPM Möller 1972-74
Cmdt TE Olckers 1974-77
Cmdt (Col) DJ Moore 1978-81
Col AL van Graan 1982-83
Col CE le Roux 1983-88
Col JR Hills 1988-90
Col L Rudman 1990-91
Cmdt JPJ Brooks 1992-94
Cmdt M Taljaard 1994-95
Lt Col CL Cilliers 1995-97
Lt Col C Botha (Acting) 1997-98
Lt Col JPJ Brooks 1998
Lt Col JPS le Roux 1998-2000
Lt Col E Fullard 2000-02
Lt Col C Rogers 2004-09
Lt Col D Mziki 2009-

Compiled with the kind assistance of Jeff Schur.

Unit history under development. 

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Group photos_6

Official accounts_1

  • Parachute Forces in the South African Defence Force.

    Parachute Forces in the South African Defence Force.

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Insignia_5

  • Original shoulder flash South African 1st Parachute Battalion

    Original shoulder flash South African 1st Parachute Battalion

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  • South African original wings cloth type, 1964

    South African original wings cloth type, 1964

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  • South African advanced paratrooper wings 50 jumps

    South African advanced paratrooper wings 50 jumps

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  • South African 1st Parachute Battalion Unit Insignia with eagle icon

    South African 1st Parachute Battalion Unit Insignia with eagle icon

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Aerial photos_1

  • Former RAF Dakota in use by South African airborne forces 1964

    Former RAF Dakota in use by South African airborne forces 1964

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Photos_8

  • The Sgts dancing at the qualifying jump party Course 27V

    The Sgts dancing at the qualifying jump party Course 27V

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  • South African Paratrooper, 1st Battalion with Willempie (their para teddy mascot), 1964

    South African Paratrooper, 1st Battalion with Willempie (their para teddy mascot), 1964

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  • Presentation of Parachute Wings to Pte Jeff Schur, 1964

    Presentation of Parachute Wings to Pte Jeff Schur, 1964

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Newspaper extracts_2

  • Tower training and Sgt. Riekert in the Hangar, South African Parachute Training Centre, 1967

    Tower training and Sgt. Riekert in the Hangar, South African Parachute Training Centre, 1967

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