SADF Bush War Shenanigans, circa. late 1980s

White Portuguese troopie carrying a wounded African comrade in Mozambique, 1970.

Paratroopers or “Parabats” from the 3 Parachute Battalion, South African Army, recovering the body of Rifleman Edward “Eddie” James Backhouse, today in 1977. He was 22 years old.

The opposing SWAPO forces he faced, had been funded and trained by the Eastern Bloc. They were well entrenched behind a maze of infantry trenches, anti-aircraft guns,…Read More

A Portuguese Air Force #F-84 Thunderjet being loaded with ordnance in the 1960s, at #Luanda Air Base.

Portugal was the last user of the trusty Thunderjet, putting it to great use during the long Colonial Wars. Equipped with rockets or bombs, Thunderjets operated with relative impunity alongside the Fiat G.91 until around 1972, when PAIGC and…Read More

#32Bn LCpl Kashitapo leading the Company ‘Comicio” circa. 1980

Angolans receiving artillery training in Kühlungsborn, East Germany 1984. The guys the SADF found themselves fighting during the Border War were no pushovers, and seldom seen pictures like these prove it. Unlike the communist guerillas of Portuguese Africa and Rhodesia, the Angolans were trained in conventional tactics. On top of that, they were…Read More

Portuguese mercenaries fight for the Front National de Libération de l’Angola ( #FNLA) during the Angolan War for Independence, 1975

Artur Freitas (right) and two of his comrades of the Companhia de Caçadores nº 312. This photograph was reposted with the permission of this elite ex- Portuguese Caçadore.

The world ” Caçadore ” translates to English as “Hunter”, with Caçadore units in the Portuguese Army dating back to 18th century, and earning a legendary status as elite ligh…Read More

portuguese flechas angola

Border War. Iconic photograph taken by the late great Herman Potgieter of a South African Air Force #C47 Dakota from 44 Squadron, taking off opposite a defence bunker near the runway threshold at #Eenhana, South West Africa/Namibia.

Copyright: Herman Potgieter