South Africa’s Forgotten Air Wars
It is 1979. South Africa is a prosperous but troubled nation. Social tensions are high, the country is under international trade embargoes, and most pressingly, they are engaged in a high-stakes insurgency conflict, which will touch all aspects of life in the region.
Whether it be aiding neighbouring Rhodesia in its own insurgency war, fighting rebels on the border, or repelling Angolan MiGs - the South Africans, with their small, lightly equipped, but deadly fighting force, become a fearsome military in the region. Their level of efficiency is demonstrated to be not unlike the Australian Defence Force.
Today we look at the intense air wars South Africa fought from 1966 onward, in a series of increasingly intense border conflicts with insurgents from Namibia, Angola, Zambia, and within South Africa itself.
BACKGROUND
To give some historical context, the first phase of fighting broke out in 1966. At this time, South West Africa - now Namibia - was petitioning for independence from South Africa. When their attempts failed, fighting erupted between the South African Defence Force, and the South West African Peoples Organisation - or SWAPO. Specifically, SADF forces began facing armed attacks by the SWAPOs armed militia wing, the Peoples Liberation Army of Namibia, or PLAN.
Just like their neighbour Rhodesia, South Africa is an apartheid state, limiting the rights of black Africans in a variety of ways. This issue has drawn attention from the western world for some time. Rhodesia – occupied by its own war - is under international trade restrictions and embargoes for upholding apartheid policies. Nevertheless, both South Africa and Rhodesia stand by these policies. Soon, South Africa too will feel the consequences of international embargoes and restrictions.
While the border skirmishes were initially light, as the years rolled on, they grew in intensity. The Angolan Civil War in 1975 broadened the conflict. Angolan democratic forces - the UNITA led by Jonas Savimbi - defeated Portuguese colonial rule and declares independence. However, that same year, their power is challenged by the MPLA, aided directly on the ground by Cuban forces who were attempting to establish a communist aligned state in the region. South Africa had been allied with the Portuguese forces in Angola previously; now they would take the side of Savimbi’s UNITA and Holden Roberto’s National Liberation Front of Angola (or FNLA).
By 1975 the border skirmishes were now a full-scale insurgency war, and a major geopolitical piece in the broader Cold War, with Namibian forces receiving supplies from the Soviets, Algeria, Ghana, and China, and Angolan communist forces received direct support from the Cubans. South Africa’s allies - namely the FNLA and UNITA - were receiving covert aid from the US - likely through CIA operatives, however South Africa itself was in an interesting position internationally.
In response to the apartheid policies that existed in the country, the United Nations place an arms embargo on South Africa. Weapons and other essential war supplies would have to come through alternative avenues, namely through their few regional allies and capturing enemy equipment. But for the time being, they - like Rhodesia - will come to understand just how much of a pain and curse these restrictions are on their ability to wage war.
Later in the conflict, this disparity will worsen between South Africa and other regional powers. The Soviets send modern aircraft to Angola, including MiG-23s, MiG-27s, and Su-22s. The new MiGs outclass the ageing South African fleet of aircraft.
The soviet backed forces in Angola will send these new aircraft on recon flights over Namibia. Supposedly flown by East Germans and Cubans, these aircraft are literally untouchable by opposing Mirages - flying too high and too fast. At the same time, the Soviets send air defence systems to Angola using Cuban forces in the region to aid. The region is claimed to have the most extensive air defences outside of the Warsaw pact.
To understand South Africa’s air wars, we must go back to the late 1970s. They have been operating older commonwealth aircraft, as well as the Mirage III. In 1978, however, this all changed. The arrival of the new Mirage F1CZ becomes a game changer. It is arguably the best multirole fighter a smaller military can acquire at the time without breaking the bank. On the 3rd of November 1978, 3 Squadron is deployed to Ondangwa Air Force Base, equipped with their new Mirage F1CZs. The F1s are good aircraft, and they won’t have to wait long to put them to the test, as the coming decade will see the most intense fighting in the region.
OPERATION REKSTOK AND OPERATION SAFRAAN
It is March 7th, 1979. Cross border raids are becoming more aggressive against South Africa. The previous year, an operation was undertaken to quell the effect of insurgent forces. Operation Reindeer - as it was known - was a success, but this victory didn’t last long.
SADF forces push into Angolan territory and attack several SWAPO outposts, which are being used as staging grounds for incursions. This will be Operation Rekstok. Coinciding with this is Operation Saffraan, in which forces strike PLAN bases in Zambia.
The South African Air Force play a significant role in these operations. Supporting from the air are Canberras and Mirages. A strike group of Mirage IIIs and Canberras head over Zambia to hit strongholds, clearing a path for troops, before heading to Henhombe Angola to strike a SWAPO base.
The next day, they are tasked with more ambitious missions, striking targets at Huambango, Muongo, Vila Franca, Oshono and Capindi. Thus far the strikes are effective, and ground forces have seen success.
On March 14th, two new missions - both strikes within Angola. The first flight head out to strike an African National Congress camp at Nova Catengue, south west of Lobito, Angola. After a successful strike, they head back to base. The second group head out to what is believed to be an enemy camp in Ediva, Angola. The flight heads in, led by Mirage IIIs and trailed by several Canberras. However, disaster strikes, one of the Canberras is unexpectedly hit by some sort of anti-aircraft fire, and immediately plummets to the ground. The flight - low on fuel - must return to base, but a search and rescue flight of Mirage F1s take off and being circling the site. When the rescue team arrive, they find both pilots fatally wounded, an uncommon loss for the SAAF.
The two operations are large for the time, but nothing compared to what is coming. Cross-border raids continue to plague South Africa.
OPERATION SCEPTIC - 1980
In 1980, it was decided that another operation was needed to clear out insurgent bases. Once again, it was the border regions under threat. A large-scale sweep against SWAPO forces would take place, larger than previous operations. And with that, operation Sceptic was drawn up.
South West African forces are split into Battle groups 10, 53, 54, and 61. Battle group 54 is to push up into Angola and knock out a SWAPO headquarters referred to as Smokeshell, in Chifufua. SADF troops in the other three battle groups will then need to secure an area in the region of Mulemba to make room for a helicopter advance airfield, then clear out thirteen smaller bases east of the headquarters which had been identified by recon flights. The airfield would primarily be used to send troops up to Smokeshell via helicopter.
Mirage F1s are to be used in air-to-ground roles, carrying rockets and bombs.
On May 25th, the first phase begins. Battle group 54 pushes into Angola, clearing a small path to Smokeshell. They encounter unexpected PLAN resistance, but the advance continues swiftly. It will still take them some time to finalise phase 2 of the attack.
On June 7th, the first of the airstrikes begin. To support SADF forces, Mirage F1s begin attacking the major bases at Lubango. Two aircraft receive damage over the heavily fortified bases, surviving the incident. A second attack occurs concurrently against Smokeshell, using Mirages and Buccaneers.
By this time battle group 54 has nearly completed its objective, and on June 9th they have reached the staging area 90 kilometres inside Angola, and start setting up the advance airfield.
On the morning of June 10th, the large-scale phase of the operation begins. The three other battle groups leave Eenhana towards Smokeshell.
At 8am, SAAF Mirages, Buccaneers and Impalas are tasked to three targets; Smokeshell, Mulola, and Ondova, which the battle groups hope to reach by late that afternoon. However, this time, the PLAN are ready to counter these strikes with far heavier AA. They have 23mm guns, and SA-7 missile sites.
The South African Air Force take-off and head into Angola. On the ground, there are number of difficulties; no one has been able to supply enough aviation fuel to the advance airfield, and helicopters can’t ferry troops to Smokeshell. Nevertheless, the airstrikes soften up the three designated targets in a show of force.
Midday arrives too soon, and the advance is going far slower than expected. Battle group 53 begins counter-attacking PLAN forces east of Mulemba, covering the way for battle groups 10 and 61 to attack Smokeshell directly.
The SAAF continue striking Smokeshell and other targets of opportunity within the vicinity. Luckily for the SADF, PLAN troops have been distracted by the aircraft overhead, focusing their attention and firing at the passing jets. The arrival of the two battle groups at Smokeshell catches the PLAN off guard. The SAAF hold off the air assault, giving troops on the ground time to overrun the facility. Intel comes from the ground force - Smokeshell is reported to be a complex network of underground bunkers and defences, more advanced than expected.
Soon chaos breaks out. The PLAN has regrouped, and they begin a strong counterattack, turning the 23mm AA guns against the advancing troops in the base. The counterattack results in a number of casualties; the AA guns tear to shreds a number vehicles, killing those inside and those fleeing. As the sun sets, the troops are forced to pull back, leaving the base to the PLAN.
Attacks will resume the next day, and over the next three weeks relative victory will be achieved by the South Africans. On June 29th the decision is made to begin withdrawing back to Namibia. Suddenly, they are attacked by the People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (or F.A.P.L.A). The SAAF are called upon to support the withdrawing troops.
Jets move in to provide cover and suppress forces attempting to cut off the retreating battle groups. For the next few days, fighting will be nonstop, and the Air Force will continue to cover the withdrawal. Finally, the last of the troops make it back on July 1st. A chaotic operation, it is a precursor to the types of battles that will be faced, with increasing intensity, over the coming decade.
Operation protea 1981
On the 23rd of August 1981, the campaign would move to its next phase. Codenamed Operation Protea, SADF command believed that another strike against SWAPO was necessary. This time, three attacks would take place; against its logistics bases at Xangongo and Ongiva. The SAAF would have the important role of providing the initial air strikes to soften up these targets.
At midnight on August 23rd, SADF battle group 10 enters Angola through Ruacana. They are to head to Xangongo by 11:30. As the sun rises, the attacks begin. Battle group 10 begins opening fire with artillery, on cue as the Air Force arrives. SAAF aircraft move in and begin striking predetermined targets in the town. Recon aircraft report that SWAPO forces are fleeing, leaving behind a group of Irish Catholic nuns in the village, who are rescued.
As this finishes up, air attacks begin at midday at nearby Xangongo, to aide another three battle groups pushing up into the village. A large flight moves in; 6 Canberras and 4 Buccaneers strike air defences in the vicinity. Then a group of mirages move in with conventional bombs; 8 mirage F-1AZs, 6 F-1CZs, and 4 Mirage IIIs. They strike targets across the base, causing absolute chaos. Finally, a group of Impalas move in with rockets and spray the area as a suppression tactic. The aircraft depart after 10 minutes, and at 12:10 a half hour artillery barrage begins.
By 13:45, the troops had pushed up into the area, but were now pinned down by ZSU AA guns being sprayed into the bush. An observer aircraft spots the guns and calls in air support. Mirages turn up, and begin bombing, but they miss the target. They try again, but to no avail. The observer aircraft flies directly over the target and fires a smoke rocket as a marker, but by this time the Mirages are out of fuel and ammo. However, unbeknownst to the observer, his smoke rocket had directly hit the gunner of the ZSU, and by 18:00 the troops had secured the area.
On August 27th, a new phase begins. Today, troops will attempt to secure Ongiva from the PLAN, which includes an airfield. Battle group 10 leaves from Xangongo toward Mongua, and then towards Ongiva. At 7:00AM the attack will begin. Early on, the SAAF do a pamphlet drop over the town, warning the civilians and FAPLA to move out, since their fight is with the PLAN.
As the clock strikes 7:00AM, two Mirage IIIs move in for the first strike of the day. They are to strike anti-air defences near the runway. They open fire, striking targets, but anti-air coverage is stronger than expected. An SA-7 fires off a missile, hitting the tail of one of the aircraft. They return to base, and a second group - far larger than the first - is prepared to take over.
At 7:45, four Mirage F1CZs move in and begin hitting whatever they see taking shots at them. Both AA guns and SA-7s begin firing into the sky. Two minutes later, four Mirage IIIs show up to carry on the strike. They see some success, but AA fire is strong. Then four minutes after this, another four Mirage IIIs roll in. The strikes are causing chaos. Things are more intense than expected. At 8:00, ten Canberras and Buccaneers roll over the town but are way off target. Finally, at 8:10, six Mirage F1AZs move in to finish the job, releasing airburst bombs directly over the airfield, and five minutes later another six F1s hit the brigade headquarters in the town.
The day ends in relative victory, as the troops finally make it to the airfield, albeit after receiving much more heat than expected. Upon taking the airfield and the headquarters, they discover thirteen dead Soviet advisors, and one still alive. The SADF reports that a mechanised FAPLA convoy is escaping northwards along a particular road, and the next morning, Mirage IIIs and Buccaneers hunt them down and destroy most of the armour.
Operation Protea is widely considered one of the greatest successes for the South African Defence Force thus far in the war. For the Air Force, they have proven their effectiveness in air-to-ground combat. However, things will soon change. The SAAF take note of increased activity from Angolan air assets as MiG activity increases in the region.
November 6, 1981 - OPERATION DAISY
On November 6th, 1981, the SAAF will see their first air-to-air victory since the Korean War. At Ondangwa, two MiG-21s are seen heading toward South African territory. Two Mirage F1s are scrambled; flying lead is Johan Rankin, with his wingman Johan du Plessis. Taking off, they pitch into an unrestricted climb, reaching 25,000 feet before leveling off over Cahama. Du Plessis suddenly sees the MiGs flying in the opposite direction, parallel to them. The Mirages jettison their tanks and turn left, coming in behind the unsuspecting MiGs.
The team move in for the kill, but the MiGs are heading into the sun. There’s no way the Matra 550 will track the enemy aircraft so Rankin moves in and fires a burst of cannon shells, striking a MiGs fuel tank. The two MiGs suddenly pull to the left - a one circle fight. Du Plessis takes on the second MiG, trying to line up a missile shot. Rankin continues to chase the lead. Suddenly, the lead decides to reverse the turn, a deadly mistake. Flying directly into the gunsight, Rankin shoots the MiG at extremely close range. It fragments into pieces, the pilot barely managing to eject. Rankin quickly pulls out of the way of the cloud of debris. Meanwhile, Du Plessis lines up the wingman twice in this high-G fight, but his Matra missile will not fire. It has G limit restrictions and refuses to fire. Everyone breaks off. Returning to base, Raskin is hailed a hero. Nevertheless, the victory is short lived, as enemy forces continue to expand.
May 13th, 1982, sees a second air victory, at least technically. A mirage F1 sees an Angolan MI-8 idling on the ground. This helicopter is transporting senior officers. The Mirage moves in and fires off its cannon, strafing and destroying the chopper and earning what was on paper described as an air-to-air kill. The next real Air Force kill will not take place until October.
October 5th, 1982, will see the broadest air combat yet. That morning, a pair of Canberras are sent on a recon mission. Their job is to scout the border regions for SWAPO camps which might be used to launch missions into south Africa. In the first Canberra are Commandant Bertus Burger and Major Frans Conradie. In the second is Major Des Barker and Major Gert Swanepoel. Two F1s are sent to trail as escort. Flying lead will be Johan Rankin, over a year after his first kill. His wingman is Captain Kobus Toerien. This time Rankins aircraft looks different; it is wearing the first of a new blue-grey low visibility scheme, looking sleeker and less obtuse than the standard camo of his wingman’s aircraft. The aircraft are still on the ground with engine problems and take off far behind the Canberras.
At 10:28, the Canberras are picked up by Angolan radar at Cahama. The Angolans believe they are alone. At 10:40 two MiG-21s take-off, and are picked up on radar between Virey and Tchibemba heading towards Cahama. Flying the MiGs are Lieutenants Marrero Rodriguez and Gilberto Ortiz Perez. As they head to intercept, a second pair are placed on standby at Lubango.
Ground control advises the Canberras to veer away as the MiGs are seen closing in. The Mirages - now airborne - are vectored towards the MiGs at 30,000 feet.
As they close in, the MiGs pick up the Canberras at 10 nautical miles off the nose and move in. Shortly after, Toerien visually sees the MiGs off to their right, at the same altitude. The pair jettison tanks and move in to engage. Rankin switches on his radar, alerting the MiGs who also jettison tanks and begin manoeuvring. The two groups turn into each other, and flash by into the merge. Quickly, and with eyes looking down, Rodriguez pulls his MiG into a sharp turn, narrowly missing Toeriens Mirage which was at the same altitude. Toerien recalled that he flew so close that he could see Rodriguez’s helmet.
At the same time, Rankin has pulled behind Perez’s MiG. Perez sees him. Rankin quickly fires off a Matra at the limit of the weapons employment zone; the missile cannot turn in time and misses. A second is fired in the middle of the envelope, essentially at point blank. It explodes nearly immediately in front. A plume of flame erupts from the MiG, clearly a fuel line. Perez pulls out of the fight and heads to the deck, calling for backup. Back at base, a second pair of MiGs scramble to save their friends.
Rodriguez is still in the fight, merging again, attempting to pull between the two Mirages to keep both in a defensive posture. He begins circling down, pulling the fight towards the deck, where his MiG may have the turn rate advantage. Descending from 30,000 to 6,000 feet, his situational awareness worsens, dividing his attention between the two F1s. Descending at a steeper angle, Raskin manages to pull within the MiGs turn circle, and takes a gunshot; hitting the left wing and tail. With a high closure rate, he takes another shot but somehow hits his trigger safety guard. He undoes this, now only 200 meters away, and takes a final shot, hitting a fuel line that burst into a plume of smoke and flames. This supposedly causes a compressor stall on Raskins aircraft, as both Raskin and Toerien overshoot the MiG.
Rodriguez manages to escape safely from the fight. The Mirages lose visual ID and both split off back to base, concerned the other two MiGs will soon arrive on the scene. The backup MiGs, however, had lost the Mirages on their scopes, and had been circling Lubango. For Johan Rankin, this second successful engagement further elevates is status in the South African Air Force.
Over the following six years, the war in South Africa would worsen dramatically. Fighting would become more intense on the ground, and in the air, as the Soviets furnish an even more formidable force for the Angolans.
1987
It is now 1987. Several things have changed for South Africa, and not for the better. The Soviet Union suddenly deploys 50 MiG-23MLs to the Angolan region. Extremely fast, technologically advanced, and able to outrun the Mirage F1, the deployment of these poses a serious threat. Their main base will be Menongue in central south Angola.
Angola had never fought a proper air campaign against the SAAF but with arms embargoes set against South Africa the Cubans encouraged a war of attrition against South Africa. Part of this aggression would be to challenge the South African air dominance head on.
The SAAF notes this, and quickly deploys F1CZs to Rundu Air Force Base on the northern Namibia border with Angola, roughly 423 kilometres from the Menongue base. Both sides know that the MiG-23 lacks the agility advantage over the F1. Instead, the Angolan operators will employ a World War 2 tactic: approaching rapidly, taking shots while passing by, and then continuing through without merging into a dogfight.
This will soon be put to the test, as Mirages and MiGs are starting to encounter each other in the skies. The first engagement occurs on the 10th of September, 1987. A MiG is picked up on scope by radar operators crossing over Namibia. An F1 is scrambled to intercept. Climbing to altitude, ground control directs the pilot to the MiG. The Mirage pilot gets a visual ID on the MiG and moves in for the shot. The MiG notices, and begins speeding up and maneuvering. The F1 takes the shot, firing off a Matra 550. The MiG by this time is rapidly speeding away. The M550 is notoriously unreliable and misses the aircraft completely. The two break off and return to base with no casualties. But not long after, another engagement will take place…
On the 27th of September a group of Angolan helicopters are picked up on radar and shortly after, a pair of MiG-23s. Leading this flight of MiGs is Major Alberto Ley Rivas, and flying wingman is Lieutenant Juan Carlos Chavez Godoy. The aircraft are within intercept range. In response, four F1s are scrambled from Rundu Air Force Base to make the intercept. Leading the South African flight is Commandant Carlo Gagiano, and his wingman is Captain Arthur Piercy.
Closing in rapidly, the flight is now above the MiGs, but ground control are confused. The flight lead looks down, and suddenly sees the MiGs. He sees a flash; a MiG has fired off two AA-8s. The F1s break, the first missile flies over the flight lead, the second flies next to Piercy and explodes, damaging the rear of his aircraft. The two MiGs flash past, too fast to be countered, and disappear. Piercy recalls the entire encounter was only 40 seconds long. He returns to base with a damaged fuel pump, electrical system, drag chute, and hydraulic system. Coming over the fence at high speed, he lands but over-speeds into the opposite fence. The aircraft is written off, but the pilot is ok.
Changing tactics
This engagement confirmed several fears. The Russian technology was robust and fast, and their missiles could at least track to a decent degree of accuracy. It also highlighted that the F1 could not guarantee victories over the MiGs, thanks to older tech, slower speeds, and most importantly the poor performance of the M550 missile system. If this war of attrition was fought with the status quo, the South Africans knew that they would lose.
It was time to change plans. The Mirage pilots knew that opposition forces still feared their F1s, even if they now had the edge. The decision was made to use decoy aircraft to simulate large numbers of Mirages operating in different areas. The intent was to avoid air combat as much as possible through fear tactics, which in turn would lower the chances of engagement which would drive home an attrition war in the air.
Coincidently, at this time huge amounts of Soviet weapons were being intercepted or stolen by UNITA, who by proxy handed on many weapons to the SADF. In fact, at this point so much Soviet weaponry was making its way in to SADF hands that troops regularly began using ZSU anti-aircraft systems and RPG7s, alongside other motorised and mechanised equipment. Modified ammunition was then produced for these stolen goods, in some ways helping to overcome the embargoes placed on South Africa.
At the same time, the SAAF also need transports. They desired Hercules, but embargoes prohibited US sales or sales by other allies of the military C-130. To get around this, an airline was set up. Known as Safair, the company made the purchase of 17 L-100s, the civilian variant of the Hercules. Of course, Safairs primary customer was the SADF.
The war would continue, and these stories are just some of the many tales of success against the odds for the South Africans. However, their adversaries - much like the Viet Cong - proved highly adept in guerrilla warfare, and the South African engagement in the Border War would slowly simmer out. Two final important engagements for the Air Force were Operation Hooper and Operation Packer, although these are best saved for another video.
Savimbi and the UNITA would gain stronger sway over communist rebels thanks to CIA backing in the late 80s, whilst South Africa would face its final large engagements.
On the 20th of February 1988, a Mirage F1AZ from 1 Squadron (serial number 2-4-5) was hit by a SA-13 near Cuito Cuanavale, in Angola – one of the few combat losses of the Mirage in South Africa’s service. Cuito Cuanavale would be the largest theatre of war in Africa since World War 2, with over 10,000 solders killed as Cuban, Angolan, Namibian and South African forces clashed. 40,000 Cubans had been ordered by Castro to move south from Lobito in one final engagement before leaving the continent. As they marched south, thousands of PLAN troops picked up their weapons, left their bases, and joined in the ranks for this final battle. South Africa went on full alert - codenamed Operation Excite - and began sending teams to stall the advance. Things were not looking good, and 140,000 South Africans were called up for service. Yet surprisingly, the Soviets suddenly were opened to negotiation, and a peace process was begun later that year, but not after much blood had been spilt in this south west African nightmare.
In 1990, Namibia would be granted independence, and the South African Border War would come to an end after 24 years of fighting.
Conclusion
Today the South African Air Force is long past its glory days. Some reports indicate almost the entire Air Force is grounded due to technical issues. The future of the South African Defence Force is unclear, and whether its Air Force will make a strong return.
However, the insurgency wars in South Africa were unique, requiring tactical skills beyond what money could buy. There are some fundamental lessons we can take from these border conflicts; the South African’s highly effective performance with limited resources in the 70s and 80s is likely a reflection of how Australian air and ground forces would perform under similar circumstances, albeit with less restrictions than the South Africans. Australia has a similar arid terrain, expansive open spaces, and a small but well-trained military. A war on the Australian continent could reasonably fall into similar insurgency and counterinsurgency warfare very quickly; the landscape is not kind to rolling armies, but could favour guerrilla fighters travelling lightly, using unconventional tactics. Thus, the wars in South Africa, are instructive episodes of military history that are worth paying attention to.
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