Events

Thursday, 25 Dec 1975
Fighting between UNITA and FNLA break out in Huambo, and at least twenty-five were killed. It soon spreads to Namibe and Lubango

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

Saturday, 07 Jun 1980
Mirage F1AZ (#234) part of a 16 ship F1AZ force attacking SWAPO base SE of Lubango, damaged by SA-3, resulting in fuel leaks. Landed safely at AFB Ondangwa

Saturday, 07 Jun 1980
Mirage F1AZ (#237) part of a 16 ship F1AZ force attacking SWAPO base near Lubango, damaged by two SA-3s, losing hydraulic pressure, the use of the nozzle flaps and the nav computer. Landed Ruacana forward airstrip without nose-wheel.

Tuesday, 26 May 1981
A combined Operation Domino involving 32 Battalion, 44 Parachute Brigade and Special Forces was conducted to set up vehicle ambushes on the road between Xangongo and Lubango and destroy stormwater drains on the road from Xangongo to Ongiva.

Tuesday, 14 Dec 1982
4 x SAAF Buccaneers from AFB Grootfontein (24 Squadron) launch Operation Volcano against the SWAPO PLAN ‘Volcano’ base situated 35 km west of Lubango between the Umbria tunnel and the Leba Pass, with an IPMT (initial point medium toss) attack.

Sunday, 02 Oct 1983
Cuban pilot Captain Andres Valle is killed in a MiG-21 accident or shoot-down near Lubango, Angola, on October 2, 1983.

Thursday, 10 Nov 1983
Cuban pilot Captain Roberto Hernandez Alvarez, was killed in a MiG-21 incident near Lubango

Thursday, 29 Dec 1983
A formation of four 24 Squadron Buccaneers attacked the Tactical Headquarters of SWAPO outside Lubango