In the dramatic power struggle for Angola in 1987, South African Air Force Mirage F1s tackled MiG-23s in the skies above south-western Africa. Lionel Reid recounts the story Angola 1987. The Soviet and Angolan MPLA forces decided on an ambitious plan: a large-scale...
After completing his basic military training, Gagiano started his South African Air Force career as a student pilot on the AerMacchi MB-326M in July 1968 at Flying Training School Langebaanweg. After completing his "wings test", on 28 August 1969, he was transferred...
HQ of several guerrilla training bases run by the CSI – Chief of Staff (Intelligence). This base was located in the Angolan border region and was associated with specific SADF Special Forces, Intelligence, and "Other" units. It was one of several bases, such as Fort...
The Aérospatiale Alouette III was a pivotal and versatile light utility helicopter in the Rhodesian, South African, and Portuguese Air Forces during the various Southern African conflicts, particularly the Portuguese Colonial War and the Border War (or Bush War). It...
Derek William Andrews was born in Wyndham (WA) on 4 January 1950. He first served in the Citizens Military Forces (CMF) from 13 February 1968 to 18 November 1969 and then enlisted in the Australian Army on 24 November 1969. After basic training he was posted to the...
The armourer Flight Sergeant didn't like it one bit - "Captain, our orders were to load your aircraft with 72 standard HE rockets. I cannot change that on your request!' He was quite correct of course. The type of weapon used in an air attack is determined after...
Our first operation, code-named First Blood, was to destroy a temporary base in Zambia belonging to SWAPO, the guerrilla group fighting for the independence of South West Africa [now Namibia]. The base was a small transit camp, situated less than ten kilometres over...
After the Hippo APC, the Buffel was the second-ever mass-produced V-shaped hull, open-topped, Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV) / Armored Personnel Carrier (APC). It was made and used by the South African Defense Force (SADF) at a time when South Africa was subject to ever...
The Ratel 60 is an infantry fighting vehicle of South African origin. It is a variant of the Ratel series of infantry fighting vehicles. The Ratel 60 can be used for indirect fire and battlefield support. In South African service it was issued to combat engineers. The...
Awarded the Honoris Crux for his action during Operation Coolidge
Recce Operator Badge 303
Bert Sachse commanded the South African Army's 5 Reconnaissance Regiment (5 Recce) during two different periods. He first led the regiment as a commandant from 1983 to 1984, and later returned as a colonel to serve a second term as commander from 1990 to 1993....
