Hunter Group?

**curious george** · 08-10-2014, 20:53

Originally Posted by Stevin

Do do you think the Recce site would be able to pull up anything about the hunter group? Not a fan of any bull shitters, so this struck a nerve.

Yes,they would know,many/most of them wouldve moved on into what become the recces and/or would be assosiated with it.

Every "operator" is on record,and no,no records were destroyed as some wannabes will let you believe,etc.

**Desert Rat** · 09-10-2014, 11:22

the Hunter Group I believe was started around 1968 and was disbanded in 1974 and the members that qualified in the Hunter group went on to form 2 Recce which was the Citizen Force Recce group. If I am not mistaken I think Koos Moorcroft was OC of Hunter Group which specialised in Counter Insurgency. If you were in Hunter group when it disbanded in 1974 and lets say you were 17yrs old then you should be around 57 now. That is if you joined at 17 (which I doubt) and joined the year it disbanded. Just some thoughts...

**Peter Wells** · 09-10-2014, 11:46

DR - I think it is Sybie Van Der Spy you are thinking of rather than PF WO1 Koos Moorcroft. Otherwise 100%.

**Paul** · 09-10-2014, 11:55

Originally Posted by curious george

Hunter group was a precurser to the "recces",so he must very old then?

They will clear it up for you, http://www.recce.co.za/wall-of-shame-1

Not strictly true. They were the precursor to 2 Recce... formed at SA Irish in the aftermath of the Fox Street Siege.

Although 2 Recce were strictly speaking campers... they punched way above their weight operating throughout the southern Africa theatre from D Sqn (Rhodesian SAS) to combined ops with other Recce units throughout our border war and produced some legendary Recce soldiers (Oom Sybie, Willy W, etc). The Hunter Group were also the only unit other that 1 Para who were allowed to present their own airborne wings (when 5 Recce was still doing their own jump training they presented standard SA wings).

**Desert Rat** · 09-10-2014, 11:56

Yup Peter you right...not sure why Koos's name sticks in my head!

**Peter Wells** · 09-10-2014, 12:00

He had a habit of doing that

Just for info - Koos is currently doing Angolan battlefield tours since he retired.

**Toxxyc** · 09-10-2014, 12:01

Originally Posted by curious george

Hunter group was a precurser to the "recces",so he must very old then?

They will clear it up for you, http://www.recce.co.za/wall-of-shame-1

Wow some of the names on that list looks incredibly familiar!

**Desert Rat** · 09-10-2014, 12:01

Originally Posted by Paul

Not strictly true. They were the precursor to 2 Recce... formed at SA Irish in the aftermath of the Fox Street Siege.

Although 2 Recce were strictly speaking campers... they punched way about their weight operating throughout the southern Africa theatre from D Sqn (Rhodesian SAS) to combined ops with other Recce units throughout our border war and produced some legendary Recce soldiers (Oom Sybie, Willy W, etc). The Hunter Group were also the only unit other that 1 Para who were allowed to present their own airborne wings (when 5 Recce was still doing their own jump training they pr4sented standard SA wings).

Paul if I am not mistaken I believe they had their own pattern of Camo as well. 6 Recce was formed by mainly ex -Rhodesian SAS and I know of one or two ex RLI boys that were part of 6 Recce as well. That too I believe was later disbanded. Interesting times those were! I have a miniature of the Hunter wings...not earned ...but acquired from a friend...

**Desert Rat** · 09-10-2014, 12:06

Originally Posted by Toxxyc

Wow some of the names on that list looks incredibly familiar!

Believe me Toxxyc...if every wannabee was the real deal ...the SADF would have been just Elite forces...unbelievable how many arseholes try their luck at bullshitting. Most commonly around the Braai!! I have to admit though it is quite amusing when you start asking them some "difficult" questions.

**Paul** · 09-10-2014, 12:21

Originally Posted by Desert Rat

Paul if I am not mistaken I believe they had their own pattern of Camo as well. 6 Recce was formed by mainly ex -Rhodesian SAS and I know of one or two ex RLI boys that were part of 6 Recce as well. That too I believe was later disbanded. Interesting times those were! I have a miniature of the Hunter wings...not earned ...but acquired from a friend...

They did some weird shid! Did their own martial arts stuff (Joe Grant Grierson, et al). The SA Special Forces League (now Association) has a Johannesburg chapter which is called Fort Hunter. Their original pattern wings are rare and collectible. The League (now Association) issues a new pattern Hunter Wing to those of its members who hold other national wings and who jump with the League/Association.