The overlooked, underrated, and forgotten ...

[charter6]

Katangese Secession in early post-independence Congo? Great mercenary stories from that one, and it definitely has had long-term impact on that part of the world.

[Tom Odom]

Katangese Secession in early post-independence Congo? Great mercenary stories from that one, and it definitely has had long-term impact on that part of the world.

Yep. Good friend of mine, now deceased, helped plan and execute it with Tshombe. And then repeated the act in 1964. that would be Fred Vandewalle, Tam Tam #1. le Tam Tam was the newsletter he used to send out to all of those old Congo hands. His book, L'Ommengang on the Simba rebellion is excellent if you can read French and find a copy.

[selil]

Egads, I had this as a question on a midterm this semester. I would have given a tooth for this list about a week ago.

[charter6]

Tom, the big secret I'd give an arm and a leg to find out more about is the Tshombe 1968 rescue rumor -- that a bunch of mercenaries rescued him somehow and brought him to Rhodesia, although he died shortly thereafter.

I think it became the basis for the movie "The Wild Geese", which is one of those classic late '70s action flicks.

[Tom Odom]

I remember the flick. It was big in the skydiving community at Ft Bragg. As for a rescue, I just don't know. Certainly is possible although I always found the actual mercs were of much lesser quality than protrayed by film or Mike Hoare. Makes great myth and film. But for the guys like Fred VdW or DV Rattan who were with these guys up close; they were very much a mixed bag.

Best

Tom

[marct]

Just a couple to add to it;

The Lower Canada Rebellion 1837
The Red River Rebellion 1869-70
The Metis or North-West Rebellion 1885