Identity
Person No.
33351
Old ROH no.
1439
Service No.
73275349PK
Last Name
First Name
John Guy
Initials
J G
Date of Birth
Unknown
Est. Birth Year
Age at Death
25
Military Service
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Unit
Secondary Unit
Air Force
Defence Force
SADF 3,263
South African Defence Force
Death Record
Date of Death
Cause code
KIA 14,310
Killed in action
Cause of Death
Killed in action, shot down south-east of Cuvelai in Angola, in Aerospatiale SA3330 Puma C #132 together with 2 other members of the SAAF and 12 soldiers of 1 Parachute Battalion
Grave Reference
Location
Notes
Son of Mrs. I. E. Turvey, of Northcliff, Johannesburg. ref. 85 years of SAAF
Citations
Unknown
External References
-
SADF.info Border Roll of Honour
SADF.info Border RoH
- South African War Graves Project
Stories 6
Capt John Twaddle was the pilot of a Puma helicopter that was shot down on 9 August 1982 south-east of Cuvelai. The co-pilot, Lt C W Pietersen, flight engineer Sgt C N Grobler and 12 Parabats were also killed.
John was my big buddy when I was in primary school at Leicester Road in Johannesberg. We used to stomp around the playground with arms linked chanting "we walk straight so you better get out of our way". He was heavily into war games in primary school and I remember watching the "Dambusters" at his house for a birthday party. We lost touch after primary school but I was not surprised that he became a pilot.
Capt John Twaddle was one of the three SAAF crew members of a SA-330C Puma helicopter, # 132, transporting men from 1 Parachute Battalion, when his helicopter was shot down by enemy 23 mm AA fire south-east of Cuvelai in Angola, crashing inverted. None of the Parabats or SAAF crew survived.
Approxemately a month after this tragedy, I was deployed with a SAM 7 team near Cuito under Mike West. Our mission: to shoot down enemy aircraft. After a few near misses on Antonovs, we eventually managed to shoot down an enemy MI8 helicopter on Angolan independence day. There was not a lot left of it after impact, but we managed to retrieve the tail plane/ stabiliser and took it back South. We labelled it JOHNS REVENGE and forwarded it to the squadron, which I beleive was in Waterkloof. RIP.
I remember the day clearly, even though it was nearly 30 years ago !! I was a Parabat, sitting in the door of a Puma next to the one that was shot down. It was terrible seeing my mates go down...knowing there was nothing we could do to assist them !! Rest in Peace ...you are never forgotten !!
John and I dated in 1976. Met him at Flop Laats parents home in Lindbro Park on they night he and his mates celebrated receiving their pupil's license.He rescued me from nearly being drowned by all the holligans! I remember Karl Gavin Sean (with the warthog) but the other names escape me. If anyone has a photo of him I would really appreciate it. He moved to Durban and later married Nicky. Please contact me if you have any more info.John was a 1st class gentleman and friend. Karen Doedens ...oh my mate was Glynnis Henry who dated Gavin at the time. The day he left this world, was the worst day of my life. But he knew he was going to go coz the last words he said to me was that he would be back in a green plastic bag. So hectic RIP my man x Karen Long nee Doedens
Dedications 1
John was a member of my pupil pilots course. He was a natural leader and an all-round good guy. It's been twenty odd years but I still remember him well.