Rhodesian Special Air Service

Rhodesian Special Air Service
Flaming sword[1] symbol of the SAS
Active1951 – December 31, 1980
CountryRhodesia
Allegiance British Empire (until 1965)
 Rhodesia (1965–70)
 Republic of Rhodesia (1970–79)
 Zimbabwe Rhodesia (1979)
Branch Rhodesian Army
TypeSpecial forces
Motto(s)Who Dares Wins
ColorsLight Blue  
EngagementsMalayan Emergency
Aden Emergency
Rhodesian Bush War

The Rhodesian Special Air Service or Rhodesian SAS was the tier one special forces unit of the Rhodesian Army. It comprised:

  • C Squadron, Special Air Service Regiment (Malayan Emergency (1951–1953)
  • "C" Squadron (Rhodesian) Special Air Service (1961–1978)
  • 1 (Rhodesian) Special Air Service Regiment (1978–1980)

C Squadron, SAS Regiment was formed during the Malayan Emergency by volunteers from Rhodesia. It was disbanded in 1953 and became the nucleus of "C" Squadron (Rhodesian) Special Air Service, operational from 1961. In June 1978 "C" Squadron (Rhodesian) Special Air Service became 1 (Rhodesian) Special Air Service Regiment until Rhodesia became Zimbabwe in 1980.

  1. ^ The Originals by Gordon Stevens ISBN 978-0-09-190182-0, Page 57, "(Bob Bennet)....designed by Bob Tait....he called it a Flaming Sword, but it became a winged dagger over the years", "(Johnny Cooper)....Bob Tait MM & Bar....designed it......and it's not a winged dagger. They're flames. The sword of Excalibur. When "The Winged Dagger" came out we laughed our heads off."

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