17 Feb 1976 Serpa Pinto

FAPLA captured Serpa Pinto and continued to advance southwards. Combat Group Piper, which was still holding Caiundo, was ordered to pull back to South West Africa immediately, but their route would take them through Savate. During the withdrawal, the Bravo Group members at Savate hid in the bush to maintain the secrecy surrounding Operation Budgie