[4] Walsh finished the 1960s as Officer Commanding the Flying Wing at New Sarum Air Force Station.

[11] Walsh's priorities were the recruiting of new personnel from the former guerrilla fighters and replacing outdated aircraft with up-to-date types.

Key to this second priority was the acquisition of eight British BAE Hawk jet aircraft to operate in the strike fighter role which were to replace the antiquated Hunters of No.

In 1982, Walsh personally led the British Aerospace ferry team that flew the new aircraft from Britain to Zimbabwe.

[4][12] On 25 July 1982, just 10 days after the Hawks arrived in Zimbabwe, four of the eight aircraft were damaged in a sabotage attack at Thornhill Air Force Base.

In addition to Walsh, those arrested included his deputy and close friend, Air Vice-Marshal Hugh Slatter.

After torture and beatings, forced confessions were extracted from Walsh's personnel and after nearly a year of international pressure the men were brought to trial in the High Court in Harare.

Following a lengthy hearing they were all acquitted but were rearrested by Central Intelligence Organisation agents as they left the court building.