sadf shoulder patch - circa sadf/fapla joint ceasefire

[whydtinogo]

Does anybody know this shoulder patch? It being used as an avatr by a member of this forum and there seems to be little - none - information on the patch. I never saw this patch in my time and its driving me mad. Any information would be appreciated - thanks http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/images/icons/icon5.gif


114402

[Cpl Kat]

Is that supposed to be a skull? Not much detail in this photo. Is that the best photo you have?

It's quite unusual for a patch to worn on a rank brassard in the SADF.

[whydtinogo]

115197Cpl Kat
Thanks for the response. I copied the avatr below. Im guessing that its an accurate copy from the picture. The file name on the site is deathshead, though the "skull" looks more like a breathing apparatus than a skull. With the wings at the back I guessed it maz have been some sort of parabat "HALO" badge, though my search brought nothing. From my perspective the browns look real and it doesnt look as if the picture has been photoshopped, though I do take your point re the brassard. Given the cammo, I think that the black troops are FAPLA. Given the body language on both sides there is little animosity so Im guessing that the contact was during the ill fated ceasefire brokered as part of the 1984 Lusaka Accord. But I cant imagine why a parabat would have been involved in the monitoring. Alternatively this could be a still from the MID sponsored film Red Scorpion (though I doubt it), and I dont want to ask my old boss Russell Crystal - and I aint doing that. Thanks for your help.


115196
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/images/misc/pencil.png

[Cpl Kat]

That's a much better photo, thanks. I would say it is a skull with bat wings behind it. The way that it is worn suggests that it is a unit flash, although it's odd to see a unit flash sewn onto a brassard like that. You would expect it to be a tupperware type flash instead. There are several SADF flashes with a skull but I've never seen this one before. I took a quick look through the Owen book but did not find it. This seems to be a subdued version of a unit flash and there are very few subdued unit flashes in the Owen book.

I agree that the wings indicates some kind of parabat association. Bat wings could have some kind of night jump meaning.

Why don't you PM this person and ask them what it means?

[whydtinogo]

Thanks I will do - Im new to this and didnt know I could! I notice that he hadnt answered any questions on the forum regarding its meaning - hopefully he'll answer a private message. Appreciate your responses - thanks alot.

[Bokwa]

The thread states sadf/fapla ceasefire. The camo uniforms however is Swapo branch camo specifically made by Bulgaria for Swapo? I suppose that Swapo could have been at the ceasefire.

http://www.sacamo.co.za/South%20West%20Africa%20sw004.htm

[ICUS]

I am in concurrence with Bokwa about the camouflage. It seems to be the Bulgarian-made branch pattern (heavily influenced by the branch pattern of the JNA), and that is generally attributed to being worn by SWAPO. It could be some FAPLA wore this also, although I have never heard that claimed.

[Cpl Kat]

Thanks for the clarification about the uniforms.

However, the original question from whydtinogo was about identifying the shoulder patch.