PROJECT: OPERATION RESTORE - THE FORMER GLORY
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THE AIRBORNE BROTHERHOOD:
NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATES
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THE "AAPKAS"
(THE W.P. LOUW JUMP TOWER)
ORIGIN OF THE “AAPKAS”:
The WP Louw Jump Tower is a 35-foot (approximately 10.5-meter) training structure located at 1st Parachute Battalion (1 Para Bn) in Bloemfontein, South Africa.
It was named after Commandant W.P. “Willie” Louw, the founding Commanding Officer of the unit.
KEY DETAILS REGARDING THE TOWER:
PURPOSE:
The tower is used for training exercises to simulate parachute jumps, allowing trainees to practice exiting an aircraft correctly and applying proper landing techniques.
LOCATION:
1st Parachute Battalion, Tempe, Bloemfontein.
SIGNIFICANCE:
The tower forms a core part of the so-called “hangar phase” of training, where recruits learn how to parachute, land safely, and handle equipment correctly before conducting live jumps.
HISTORY:
The tower was already in use during the 1960s and 1970s.
Historical photographs show it in operation during the early years of the unit.
Commandant Willie Louw was a key figure in the development of South Africa’s airborne capability.
He qualified as a parachutist in 1960 and commanded the 1st Parachute Battalion from 1961 to 1965.
1 APRIL 1964
OPERATION: RESTORE THE FORMER GLORY
This initiative is a collective commitment to our mother unit, 44 Parachute Regiment, Tempe.
We extend our deepest respect and compliments to the currently serving Officers, NCOs, and Soldiers who carry the torch today with professionalism.
This project is a living tribute to those brave paratroopers who made the ultimate sacrifice over the years; we restore this glory in their honour, ensuring their sacrifice is never forgotten. Colonel L.H. Gordon (OC 44 Parachute Regiment) has mandated Colonel (Hon) Raymond Kramer to lead this project.
DETAILED PROJECT SCOPE:
THE "AAPKAS" (THE W.P. LOUW JUMP TOWER):
Refurbishment of the historic 1961 tower to its original specifications to serve as a living monument to the Regiment’s origins.
THE REGIMENTAL MUSEUM:
Complete refurbishment and modernisation of displays to include current battles and actions, ensuring the library and equipment are up to date.
THE EAGLE CAGE:
Repair of the structure and the lawful acquisition of a replacement eagle or pair from a sanctuary, managed strictly under conservation laws, with professional veterinary care and a licensed keeper training program.
THE REGIMENTAL ENTRANCE GATE:
Commissioning an architect to design an inspiring frontage that reflects the identity of 44 Parachute Regiment and protects our serving guards from the elements.
A MESSAGE FROM THE PROJECT LEADER:
COLONEL (HON) RAYMOND KRAMER
SA ARMY INFANTRY FORMATION
This mission is a sacred trust that demands total cooperation, an absolute absence of drama,
and a willingness to give from the heart for a cause larger than any one of us.
We have been granted a rare opportunity to come together to make history—
not only for ourselves, but in solemn honour of our fallen heroes and
every brave Paratrooper who made the ultimate sacrifice for this Regiment over the years.
It does not matter the year you qualified, your rank, your gender, your race, or your religion—
we are one family and one brotherhood, bound by an honour very few others on this earth will ever know.
We are all veterans playing one collective role: to bring this "home," where we once lived,
back to its former status as the most elite unit of its kind in the world.
Our currently serving Officers, NCOs, and Paratroopers deserve to walk with the same iron pride we remember.
The time for talking has passed; it is now the time for action. Let us leave a legacy that will be known worldwide."
Operation Restore the Former Glory speaks for itself. These words carry meaning.
This is not about politics, nor personalities, nor division. It is a mission of heritage, identity,
and restoring what this elite Unit has always stood for and must always remain.
This initiative is not about any individual. It is about restoring something sacred in the history of our Regiment,
for veterans, for serving soldiers, and for generations still to come.
Let it be clearly understood from the outset: No one is forced or expected to contribute.
This is a voluntary call to those who wish to be involved in a positive spirit, those who care about the greater good,
and those who want to be part of a legacy that will outlive every one of us.
There is no ego here. No division.
Only brotherhood. Only legacy. Only action.
PHASE ONE: THE FIRST STAGE OF A LARGER MISSION
The refurbishment of the Old ‘Aapkas’ is only the first phase of Operation Restore the Former Glory.
This is the opening stage of a broader heritage project that will, in the months ahead, include the museum, entrance improvements, and other historic features.
We begin with the ‘Aapkas’ because it is the most symbolic and the most urgent from a structural and safety perspective.
MUSEUM PURPOSE ONLY - PRECISION AND SAFETY ABOVE ALL
This refurbishment is being done for museum purposes only, ensuring that it will look exactly like the original icon we all remember.
This is not a simple repair.
The complexity and danger of this work must not be underestimated.
A professional structural engineer is overseeing the process, and a highly experienced and trusted ex-Parabat steelworks specialist is dedicated hands-on to this exceptionally difficult task.
No shortcuts will be taken. No risks will be accepted. Safety is non-negotiable.
The professional opinion is that these repairs will ensure the structure stands proudly for 50 years or more, with minimal maintenance.
TIMELINE AND WORD OF HONOUR:
The "Aapkas" will be completed by mid to end March 2026, in time for the 65th Anniversary of the Unit.
I have given my word that this will be achieved. After all these years, it shall be done.
This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we cannot afford to miss it.
TRANSPARENCY WITHOUT EXCEPTION:
Every cent collected will go directly into a properly administered Trust account.
Funds will be paid only to approved service providers and suppliers who are competitive, reputable, and capable of delivering the highest possible standard of work.
This project will be accounted for fully, to the penny, because that is the standard this brotherhood deserves.
A MATTER OF HONOUR AND SERVICE:
In my capacity as Honorary Colonel of the South African Army Infantry Formation, I state this clearly and unequivocally.
I do not earn a penny from this role, nor from this mission.
My service is given freely as my contribution toward strengthening the esprit de corps of our soldiers, offering guidance where required, and undertaking important projects such as this to the best of my ability.
This is about duty, honour, and legacy.
There is no room for failure in a project of this significance.
RESERVE PARACHUTE AND GRATITUDE:
I have already secured a reserve parachute of funds from dedicated veterans to ensure we begin work without delay.
To those who have already made very generous pledges, thank you.
Your commitment, generosity, and faith in this cause ensure that this mission starts immediately and strongly.
A LEGACY FOR GENERATIONS:
Every step of this journey will be documented from beginning to end, and a full documentary will be produced so that long after we have departed this earth, future generations will understand what the Parabat Brotherhood stood for and what it restored together.
We are rebuilding more than a structure - We are rebuilding identity.
RESTORATION PROCESS - PHOTOS AND VIDEOS:
AAPKAS - HERSTELWERK FOTOS + VIDEOS https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17efpjPyS0FXL9lDvzTDZC2nTvPF5VKq1
CALL FOR SERVICE: JOIN THE TEAM
This is a nationwide military veteran initiative, not confined to any single association.
We invite all paratroopers with specialised skills—particularly in trades, history, or professional services—to join the team.
All funds will be safeguarded within an audited attorney’s Trust Account to ensure full transparency.
OPERATION "RESTORE THE FORMER GLORY" BANK DETAILS FOR DONATIONS:
Deposit payable to:
Account Name: PARABAT HERITAGE FOUNDATION
Bank: NEDBANK
Account type: CURRENT ACCOUNT
Account Number: 1337245429
Branch: RRB Melrose Arch
Branch Code: 198765
Reference: Your full name and/or your Company Name (If your donation is paid that way,/ Your COY and intake if you are organising a collective donation).
Please send Proof of Payment to glennl@senlac-hill.com so we can send you an acknowledgement of receipt and a special Certificate of Donation.
CONTACTS FOR VOLUNTEERS:
MR. MIKE McWILLIAMS, RFN. (RET)
Email address: mmcwilliams@geminicarbon.com
LT.COLONEL (RET) STEVE CAMP
Museum Historian
Issued under the authority and oversight of:
COLONEL (HON) RAYMOND KRAMER
SA ARMY INFANTRY FORMATION
Project Leader – Operation: Restore the Former Glory
Email address: colonel@raymondkramer.co.za
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