Customer Reviews

Winds of Destruction

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Peter Petter-Bowyer offers the world a unique airman's story of the Rhodesian Bush War. PB not only established and led the highly successful aerial reconnaissance effort but was not safisfied with it. Blessed with an enquiring, inventive mind, and without any engineering background, he not only improved the aircraft he flew but also invented a new range of weapons for them. He was and is also a well-loved and admired leader of men. He has provided us with an enthralling story.

Gp Capt Petter-Bowyer's book is a highly-detailed account by someone who served from the Federal period through the demise of Rhodesia in 1980. Largely written from memory, the book is both technically detailed in its content with regards to the employment of Royal Rhodesian Air Force (RRAF)/Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF) assets against communist terrorists but is also a very personal book in its reflections on individuals. The RRAF was equipped for employment in the Commonwealth - hence the acquisition of Canberra bombers and Hunter fighters - and had an excellent relationship with the Royal Air Force. When Prime Minister Ian Smith was left with no option but to unilaterally declare independence, the British predicted the RRAF's planes would be grounded within weeks. Eighteen years later, they were still flying (and would continue to serve in the Air Force of Zimbabwe for several years past 1980). The inginuity of men like Petter-Bowyer led the RRAF/RhAF to modify their aircraft to suit new roles. They also acquired through convoluted means new aircraft to wage their own war against terrorism. Much of the work the men of the RhAF (and their Army counterparts) did, and the national determination of the Rhodesian people was no different to modern times and is a reminder to us of the dangers of wavering in the face of terror. Like many Rhodesians now living abroad, his heart is still in Africa, and his account of what has happened under Robert Mugabe is heart-wrenching.

Petter-Bowyer hurried through the production of this book because cancer was a serious threat to him then. He has since overcome those problems and is upgrading the book to include a full index and glossary - the two glaring faults of the book. Don't wait for a new edition; this is an excellent book that is a must-read for anyone interested in southern African history, in the Rhodesian War, or in the employment of small air forces in counter-insurgency warfare.

This is an excellent book that despite it's grammatical flaws, and occasional superfluous details give the reader what so few books attempt to do these days: an honest personal account that does not bow to anyone else interpretation of events. Say what you will about Grp. Cpt. Petter-Bowyer, but the man has brains and guts and is doing his darn'dest to present the reader with the view of things as he honestly, truly honestly, saw them! So few people have that kind of integrity these days and one should feel very lucky to have had the chance to read this mans words. It's a rare thing for someone to "say what they mean, and mean what they say." This book does just that.

In addition to being a very through account of operations that the Rhodesian Air Force participated in, Grp. Cpt. Petter-Bowyer clues the reader into many other aspects of the Rhodesian Bush War that may have previously puzzled readers of other books on subject.

The author has a gift for anticipating small, yet critical, pieces of information that a reader might think in his or her mind as they are reading this book; low-and-behold, he will answer these very questions just a few sentences after they pop into your mind. I can not say enough about how thoughtful this mans writing style is; I've never seen it's like in print before.

I have read many books on Rhodesia, however, after reading this one; I feel that it should have been my first on the subject. The attention to detail and logical progression displayed within these pages is "THAT" crucial to a well-rounded understanding of what was happening in Rhodesia and to some extent, why. I enjoyed this book immensely (although by standard printing and publishing formats it's really over 1,000 pages in length [rather than the 560 that this unusual format delivers it in], and a bit hard to finish in anything less than 2 weeks.) If you are fascinated by the unique story of Rhodesia--and like me want to learn something from these courageous people's raw-deal--then "Winds of Destruction" is mandatory reading material. I only wish that I could someday meet this amazing man named "PB." He is truly made of the "Right Stuff."

This book is enthralling on so many levels. First there is the historical aspect, which provides the reader with a personal view of Rhodesia's fight for survival during the 1970s and into the early 80s, then there is the technological aspect which details some of the RhAF achievements in adapting commercial aircraft to demanding combat roles and the development of incredibly effective aerial weapons, and finally of course there is the aviation aspect, which for anyone even remotely interested in such things is riveting.

Above all else I was left with a sense of betrayal, that such a successful country, committed to majority rule, should be abandoned by the western powers to suffer defeat at the hands of terrorists who have reduced the country to its current disastrous state. I was also moved by the incredible professionalism and dedication of the author, who fought so valiantly against insurmountable odds, and who was respected equally by his own men and by those he fought against.

Let there be no mistake, the loss of Rhodesia was a stain on history, and this book rams that point home while at the same time reading like a boys own adventure of daring aerial exploits over the vast African bush. I cannot recommend it more highly.

An excellent book, well worth reading and very interesting. My only criticism being that is was a bit long. It would have been twice as good if half as long.