Roos, Johannes Gysbertus (J G)

Lt. Roos died with Sgt Stacey when their Allouette Gunship was hit by an RPG a short while before Operation Protea began in August 1981. I see that this incident is recorded as taking place in 1980, but I can assure you that it occured in 1981. ( Updated - Ed ) The wreck of the helicopter was brought back to the Airforce Base in Ondangwa and it was a shock for us National Serviceman to see such devastation. I managed to take pictures of the helicopter and still have them, twenty two years later. Both Pilot and Flight Engineer were wonderful people, friendly and approachable on the flight line. I was fortunate enough to have flown with them when they did "top cover" May they both RIP.

Lt J G "Brut" Roos was killed in 1981 near Ongiva in Angola during Ops Protea.

Lt Roos and Sgt Stacey were the crew of the Alouette shot down over Mongua on 25 August 1981. I was a platoon commander in combat team 'Mamba', part of 61 Mech Bn. On this day, our job was to take Mongua, north-west of Ongiva. The Alo crew assisted us with navigation to the target through the thick bush to the south of the town, and they did a great job. The job was acutally meant to be done by a Bosbok aircraft crew, but the Bosbok had mechanical trouble, so Lt Roos and Sgt Stacey took over. We were very close to the target area, maybe 500 m or so, when the Alo was hit by a 14.5 mm anti-aircraft fire. It crashed right behind our Ratels, and members of our unit recovered the bodies of Lt Roos and Sgt Stacey, and also the wreck. We later found the 14.5mm on the target, in pieces after taking a hit from one of the Ratel 90s. They played a key role in this attack, but paid the ultimate price. Rest in peace... H van Dalsen vdalsens at iinet.net.au