Events

Tuesday, 18 Dec 1979
A SAAF Mirage IIIR2Z conducts a tactical reconnaissance mission to Lubango and Menongue (Angola), from AFB Ondangwa

Sunday, 20 Nov 1983
Daniyal Gukov - Soviet Battalion Advisor to FAPLA flew to Menongue for further travel to Cuito Cuanavale, to the location of the FAPLA 16th Infantry Brigade.

Monday, 25 Nov 1985
An "Aeroflot" Antonov AN-12 cargo airplane in route from Cuito Cuanavale to Luanda was shot down by a SADF 5 Special Forces Team operating with UNITA and crashed approximately 43 km from Menongue using a captured  "Strela-1" on a BRDM-2 chassis

Saturday, 13 Feb 1988
The new assault force (see 2/2/88) attacks the main FAPLA logistical base at Menongue. This is followed at 22:30 by a separate MRL ripple fired at the air base at Menongue, followed at 01:30 by a second ripple using coordinates provided by a reconnaissance team in sight of the air base. The 32 Battalion force withdraws to Gimbe and hides up for the day. The attack against the air base triggers an extremely aggressive response with two MIG 23’s airborne at 07:00, firing their 20-mm cannon at every possible position where the MRL battery could be hiding. This is followed over the next few days by the deployment of a full FAPLA Brigade, supported by tanks and M 46 artillery and air cover. This aggressive posture is maintained