Norman Walsh

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Air Marshal

Norman Walsh

Air Marshal
Commands held
Battles/wars
AwardsLegion of Merit OLM Bronze Cross of Rhodesia BCR Exemplary Service Medal ESM

Air Marshal Norman Walsh OLM BCR ESM (22 May 1933 – 3 August 2010) was a senior officer in the Rhodesian Air Force and the first commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe.[1][2]

Early life

Norman Walsh was born on 22 May 1933 and attended

Rhodesian Air Force career

Walsh flew

In the 1970s, Walsh held senior appointments in the Rhodesian Air Force. Walsh was the Station Commander at New Sarum from 1975 to 1976.

Officer of the Legion of Merit for service as Director of Operations and other previous command and staff tours.[10]

From 1978 to 1980, Walsh was Director General Operations and during this time the Rhodesian Air Force was renamed the Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Air Force. Walsh was appointed Chief of Staff in 1980, taking over from Air Marshal Frank Mussell.

Awards

Air Force of Zimbabwe Career

In 1981, after

BAE Hawk jet aircraft to operate in the strike fighter role which were to replace the antiquated Hunters of No. 1 Squadron. In 1982, Walsh personally led the British Aerospace ferry team that flew the new aircraft from Great Britain to Zimbabwe.[4][12]

On 25 July 1982, just 10 days after the Hawks arrived in Zimbabwe, four of the eight aircraft were damaged in a sabotage attack at Thornhill Air Force Base. Saboteurs had cut through the perimeter wire and placed time-delay bombs in the aircraft engines. Eight Hunters and a Cessna aircraft were also attacked. Although it was generally accepted that the saboteurs had been South African special forces, Mugabe ordered his Central Intelligence Organisation agents to arrest the senior air force officers who had been involved in procurement of the Hawks. In addition to Walsh, those arrested included his deputy and close friend, Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Slatter. After torture and beatings, forced confessions were extracted from Walsh's personnel and after nearly a year of international pressure the men were brought to trial in the High Court in Harare. Following a lengthy hearing they were all acquitted but were rearrested by Central Intelligence Organisation agents as they left the court building.[13] It was not until international pressure had been applied for several more weeks that the officers were released. With his men released, Walsh resigned his command,[4] officially leaving the service on 22 May 1983.[14] Walsh was replaced by Air Marshal Azim Daudpota, who commanded the air force on loan service from Pakistan. Mugabe no longer trusted former Rhodesian officers and sought to replace them.[15]

Later life

Having been able to resign his position, Walsh left Zimbabwe, emigrating with his family to Australia. Walsh died at his home in Queensland on 3 August 2010 at the age of 77.[4]

References

  1. ^ "The Rhodesian Air Force". rhodesianforces.org. 2010. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  2. ^ "All military units 1967–1980". rhodesianforces.org. 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  3. ^ "In Memoria". Queen's College. 2010. Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Air Marshal Norman Walsh". The Daily Telegraph. 22 August 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  5. ^ Cooper, Tom (2 September 2003). "Central, Eastern, & Southern Africa Database: Mozambique, 1962–1992". acig.org. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Rhodesian Air Force No 1 Squadron". rhodesianforces.org. 2010. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  7. ^ Maughan, Monty (2010). "Monty Maughan Odyssey · 1962 – 1980". ourstory.com. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  8. .
  9. ^ a b "Rhodesian Air Force New sarum". rhodesianforces.org. 2010. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  10. ^ "Rhodesian Air Force Honours and Awards". rhodesianforces.org. 2010. Archived from the original on 9 July 2010. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  11. ^ "The Rhodesian Air Force". rhodesianforces.org. 2010. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  12. .
  13. ^ "Zimbabwe: Court Overruled". TIME. 12 September 1983. Archived from the original on 22 December 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  14. .
  15. ^ Matibe, Phil (31 August 2008). "Power Transfer-a tactical deactivation of the JOC". Harare Tribune. Retrieved 9 January 2024.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Air Force
Commander of the Air Force of Zimbabwe
1981–1983
Succeeded by
Azim Dauputa