Fighting Men of Rhodesia ep243 | Nick Tselentis | Choppertech

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[@fraseredk7433]

The Tselentis family were one of the several Greek families who contributed tremendously to the maintenance of the economy throughout the country 😊

[@tonysmeriglio5004]

Rhodesians were amazing in their abilities of self reliance and improvisation!! Terrible shame the end result was migration out!! Interesting talk, thank you both very much!!

[@annagriffin2865]

1:35. Just for a second, my excited heart skipped a beat when Tony said, “….I’m here in Salisbury….”‼️ Wish u’d ended that sentence with, “Rhodesia”, instead of, “England”🤣.

[@calummackenzie1797]

😂😂😂 Anna. I must admit that when l first spoke to Tony & he said that he was in Salisbury l also did a double take. Great interview Nick, & Tony's interviewing skills are improving in leaps & bounds. Great all round

[@Toncor12]

what a dream that would be lol :) (Tony B)

[@annagriffin2865]

Thnx Callum & Tony for yr remarks. Ja, doesn’t take much to ignite a treasured memory, or spark a loving yearning for Rhodesia.

[@johanroos699]

I was head boy at Marandellas High at about 1966. I was known as Goofy. I remember a Tselentis boy, possibly your brother, highly intelligent.

[@ginojaco]

Really interesting, another interview bringing home how much of and how successful a collective effort there was. In a digression from the channel's main work, it would be interesting to hear from people who were in manufacturing, about difficulties that arose and how they were overcome. 👍

[@ericdawson7097]

Another brilliant interview- some really interesting tales ! Thank you so much Nick and Tony and once again great respect and gratitude to the FMOR team for this channel and initiative.

[@fightingmenofrhodesia]

Thanks for listening

[@nathanmiller6051]

Thanks Nick for sharing your story, extremely interesting, a great history lesson indeed, appreciate! Tony thank you for this wonderful talentedly conducted interview! You're always amazing my friend 🙏 Great job gentlemen!

[@Toncor12]

Ah cheers my boet, my no# 1 fan lol :)

[@NGT_C7]

It's a pleasure, thank you for watching. My best wishes for a great week.

[@nathanmiller6051]

@@Toncor12 👍🙏

[@nathanmiller6051]

@@NGT_C7 👍🙏

[@prop8362]

Good interview by Tony. Very interesting life by Nick. Thanks heroes of Rhodesia and keeping the flame burning. We really need a lot more "first person" talks of their war experiences and emotions felt when our mates were KIA. I regret missing out on many Coppertech airstrikes. Also our highly valued womenfolk who manned radios and Forces Canteens.

[@sadflandnav]

Excellent interview thanks gents

[@haz7195]

I allways wanted to meet John Plagis, WW2 Spitfire pilot the Greek-Rhodesians were outstanding contributors to that country

[@chrisjones6736]

My father flew spitfires with Johnny Plagis. I believe he saw him in Sby not long before Johnny killed himself. There was a street named after him.

[@antkenny7944]

Hi Nick, great to hear from you. Have great memories of the Marandellas days, all the best. Regards Ant

[@NGT_C7]

Hi Tony, I hope all's well. Yes, Marandellas has a lot of wonderful memories for me; good folk who'd look you in the eyes and heart, a magic rainbow valley.

[@sidneyoreilly1135]

We pressed the armour plate for the seat that protected the chopper pilot and more things the air force needed

[@rhodesia1578]

Thanks Nick for your stories and sharing your life experiences with us all , us Rhodesians had to learn to improvise at all times in many trades .. Rhodesia produced the finest tradesmen to have the pleasure learn from .. I trained under the finest men who passed on their knowledge and talents to us all coming through the ranks . Those years of sanctions taught us to think outside the box and make what you can’t buy or order new . Most cases we made the parts better than the original parts . And today I still practice my trade in a first world country with great skill and pride . Tatenda boss John , Tony , Nick and Hannes for yet another brilliant episode 👏👏👏👌🏻 Fukamortor Nick 😂😂/ means give them hell / put fire in basic terms / Rhodesian slang 😂😂

[@fightingmenofrhodesia]

Thank you so much brother!

[@Jonathan-cj9tc]

Retreads the greatest but never really cracked the whiskey trade properly. White wine did improve from Mtepatepa area.

[@Capital194]

Very interesting interview. As a young child I and a friend of mine were given a tour of New Serum. I remember the guy giving us a tour said something like "do you know there is a wood part in that engine" while pointing at a Canberra. He said the tech guys had manufactured a bearing from Lignum Vitae wood which is a very hard self lubricating wood. I wonder if anyone else has heard this story?

[@russellhaikney3809]

Yes it's true .. at the turn of the century wooden bearing and other apparatus was made of this wood

[@andrewmc8314]

Thanks Tony and Nick for this interesting episode.Keep them coming.

[@wettham715]

WOW. My mums dad got captured in Tesalonica early in ww2.

[@kyleforrester7222]

Thanks

[@fightingmenofrhodesia]

Very much appreciated, thank you!

[@TonyFoniciello]

Great talk! Thanks for sharing your experiences Nick.

[@sadzasnake1755]

Howzit Nick. So chuffed you are on mate. Been wondering how long it would be to see you on here. Marandellas forever.

[@NGT_C7]

Yep, it took Tony B. some gentle persuasion to get me to overcome my shyness 🍻

[@gordonshaw5381]

Good to see you Nick and nice talk. I was the course after you on 7 Squadron. It all happened when the South Africans left. I actually took over from you on your Chiredzi tour after Beef was killed. After the putt putt refuellers which required a lot of maintenance they installed electrically driven refuelling pumps. I think you had left by then.

[@Jonathan-cj9tc]

Saffas seen the writing on the wall there plus was revving up in SWA and Angola around about then.

[@bernardgreville1685]

Wud love to hear from coloureds that served.

[@vpompv8946]

Brilliant interview!

[@23rhodie]

Howdy Nick, great to see you on FMR & listen to your story, well done mate & hope all is well with you & the family

[@stuartspoffee6113]

A most interesting interview gentlemen. Thanks Nick and Tony.

[@antonhuman8446]

Thank you. Dodsington Farm Eddie and Moira Mostert. Hartley/Gatooma/Chakari loop road. Where at all can I research any possible news regarding these wonderful people. Or their kin? Please, and thank you.

[@user-kx8np1pu2k]

That is Correct, Wild Switzerland told us it was not possible

[@user-kx8np1pu2k]

I worked for Wild Survey Instruments and we installed a RC10 Aerial Camera in a Canberra . We also had a specialized Camera to measure the Wings

[@NGT_C7]

Hi, Best wishes for a great week. Was that one if the camera that was installed in the bomb bay. I can remember the photo recon tasks the aurcrew had; they'd take off early morning and arrive lunchtime thanks to the Rhodie addition of extra fuel tanks in the bomb bay.

[@user-nx2lj8fc3f]

Hi Nick...thank you for giving the interview...super interesting...amazing memory you have...question....a very good friend of mine Kevin Coetzee was also a tech....did you know him?

[@user-nx2lj8fc3f]

It is Hans Sittig that made the above comment....don"t know where this user-stuff came from...lol

[@NGT_C7]

Hi Hans, name doesn't ring any bells, was he in the Air Force as a TF (Territorial Force) or regular? Either way, ge must've been after my time or our paths never crossed in the bush or Sarum. It was a case of 1 day R&R for each bush week, (Squadron commitments permitting) approx 1 week hanger work and back inthe bundu again.

[@PatKing-ub6qh1rt4w]

@@NGT_C7 Hi Nick. Kev Coetzee joined 7 Sqn the same time as me in early '79. He was a Radio tech. We were both in Thornhill before and had tried for a couple of years to transfer to 7.

[@mikenorton3294]

It's sounds like the capture Nick made was political commisaar Martin Mazarura ( pseudonym) about 12 km north west of enterprise base during April 1979. Operation Enterprise. He was used as a propaganda tool to encourage voters in the April elections which brought muzorewa to power. He did sky shouts from an islander for which he recieved much ground fire from the insurgents.

[@umvhu]

Audio is not too clear and my hearing is not too good either

[@Toncor12]

It was a serious battle to get it that clear but please do listen on headphones it makes a huge difference. (Tony B)

[@Jonathan-cj9tc]

Can you lip read?

[@tightcamper]

Pity about the low audio.

[@fightingmenofrhodesia]

Yes the audio wasn't great even though I boosted it by 50%. Apologies! It's a challenge since we are limited by the hardware the interviewee has available.

[@rhodesia1578]

@@fightingmenofrhodesiamy side of the audio was perfect John 👌🏻 good job as always !

[@Toncor12]

Please do use headphones, makes a huge difference.

[@leojmullins]

The Russian economy is now experiencing the same extraordinary benefits from being sanctioned that Rhodesia's economy did.

[@ginojaco]

Not so, there is no comparison whatsoever.

[@tightcamper]

I not sure the Russians quite have the same mindset we had. In Rhodesia we drove responsibility down. In Russia they centralise.