Known as the 'Flying Cheetahs', 2 (Transvaal) Squadron was formed at Waterkloof in January 1939 with the Hawker Hartbees. Redesignated as a fighter/bomber unit, the squadron spent the year training, but was renumbered as 12 Squadron in December 1939. The squadron was...
Jean-Michel Caffin is a former military officer and current business executive who served in the Rhodesian Security Forces and South African Special Forces
62 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group was a unit of the South African Army (SADF); although it was classed as mechanized infantry, it was a combined arms force consisting of a Mechanised Infantry Battalion forming the core of the group, Main Battle Tank Squadron,...
On 30 September 1985 the Angolan and Cuban forces operating in Angola suffered a spate of helicopter losses that effected their ability to support their troops. For a long time they were not able to understand what had happened to their valuable helicopters and...
In Angola during January 1986, Cuban intelligence services received reports from near the city of Huambo that many local village women were using parachute material to wrap their infants onto their backs. Rebel leader Jonas Savimbi and his National Union for the Total...
Bignoux served as a pilot, achieving the rank of Captain. He was involved in C-130 conversion training and became a commander in night-time supply drop operations. He was involved in the incident near Andulo in Apr 1986 when an Angolan MiG-23ML intercepted and...
The MB-326KC, commonly known as the Impala Mk II, is a single-seat, light attack aircraft version of the Aermacchi MB-326 jet trainer, produced under license by Atlas Aircraft Corporation in South Africa. Originally an Italian design, the MB-326...
The Mirage IIIRZ was a dedicated photographic reconnaissance aircraft in South African Air Force (SAAF) service from 1967 to 1990. The primary role was unarmed high-speed aerial reconnaissance, which included both general photographic mapping and post-strike...
The Dassault Mirage F1AZ was a dedicated single-seat, single-engine ground attack/strike aircraft that served with the South African Air Force (SAAF) from 1975 until its retirement in November 1997. It was developed specifically for the SAAF, which sought a simplified...
The Eland 90 is a South African-produced, four-wheeled light armored car that was used extensively in various conflicts across Southern Africa, most notably by the defense forces of South Africa and Rhodesia, during the Angolan Civil War and the Rhodesian Bush War....
The M79 is known as the "Snotneus" in South Africa, which translates to "snot-nose," a nickname for the weapon's distinctive appearance and the way its projectiles would land in the field. The M79 was used by the South African Defence Force (SADF) and supplied to...
Omauni was started when no roads were running west to east. When the initial reconnaissance was done with a Landrover and two Unimogs they did not find the 17h30 cutline as it was not clear where it converged with the border fence. They continued east and found the...
The 54th South African Infantry Battalion (54 SAI) was formed in 1976 as one of several modular battalions designed to adapt to operational requirements. Its main responsibility was to secure the area around the Eenhana base
The 60mm Patmor is a lightweight, man-portable patrol mortar system, primarily associated with South African defence companies like Denel Land Systems and Truvelo. "Patmor" is a contraction of "Patrol Mortar". Key Features and Specifications Type: Muzzle-loading,...
The Ratel 90 is a South African wheeled infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) variant, designed primarily for fire support with a low-velocity 90 mm gun. It was a key asset in the South African Border War, known for its high mobility and long operational range. Key Features...
the first recipient of the Honoris Crux Medal in the battalion on 17 December 1975