07 June 1980. The South African Air Force Mirage F1AZ 237 of Captain Isak C. du Plessis on the runway at Ruacana, after making an emergency landing after sustaining battle damage.

His SAAF Mirage was part of a 16 ship F1AZ force attacking a SWAPO base near Lubango, it was damaged by two SA-3 ground to air missiles. Losing hydraulic pressure, the use of the nozzle flaps and the nav computer, Capt du Plessis managed to land the stricken aircraft at the Ruacana forward airstrip in South West Africa/Namibia without the use of the nose-wheel. Capt I.C. Du Plessis awarded an Honoris Crux – 2nd type for bravery in the recovery of an stricken aircraft