Facta Nostra Vivent: Memories from The South African Air Force Central Flying School (1922 - 1995)

FACTA NOSTRA VIVENT - OUR DEEDS WILL LIVE

This is not an official history. It is a compilation of historical information and stories from those who served at CFS. This is a story about the South African Air Force Central Flying School in all its guises from its early days up to the end of the Harvard era in 1995. It covers a brief history of the school, the training methods and the aircraft. It is about the first steps in a military aviation career, the ab initio period of selection and basic training. It does not cover the later advanced phases which are a vast field in their own right. It is about pupes and their instructors and is told in their own words. Commanding Officers have added their memories. Finally the author seeks, with the help of the SAAF Museum and Harvard Club and Arnie Meneghelli, to trace the fate of the Harvard in retirement.

The book contains interviews and contributions from early cadets like Judge Cecil Margo and  Dr AD Wassennaar and other WWII pilots and instructors. Former Commanding Officers like Colonel Clements, Brigadier Boyle, Colonel Tienie van der Kaay, General Ben Vorster, General Crow Stannard remember their time at CFS along with Air Traffic Controllers, Instructors and ground crew. General Des Barker and Lt.Col.Ray Houghton remember the Harvard vs Impala story. Numerous pupils recall events during their early flying days. These include Monster Wilkins, Scully Levin, Gerrie Radloff, Karl Jensen, Steyn Venter, Martin Rutsch, Winston Thackwray, Dave Upfold, Anton Kriegler, Hermann Olmesdahl. Historian Graham du Toit assisted with pupes course badges and details of fatal accidents. There are memories from some who grew up at Dunnottar and memories from the lines books at Dunnottar and Langebaanweg. Historians Steve McClean and Dean Wingrin assisted with information and photographs. It is a book for that huge audience of pilots who took their first flights at the CFS but will also appeal to Harvard & aviation enthusiasts of every sort .The story ends with the phasing out of the grand old Spammy in 1995.

The book consists of 331 pages and contains over 300 photographs (inc. colour copies of paintings by Derrick Dickens, Paul Buchel and Darryl Legg) in a large 219 x 273 mm format on 90 gsm paper. The softcovers are all signed and numbered. The hardcovers are signed with a limited edition card which can be endorsed with the buyers name.

COMPILED BY: ANDREW EMBLETON, hardcover.