This is a SADF #Buffel Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) captured by #PLAN combatants (PLAN was the military arm of #SWAPO). Four Buffel APC’s were captured intact in different battles during the war. The picture was taken between September 1987 and March 1988 by Col K.A. Satenov, the Soviet military advisor to the 1st and 20th PLAN Brigade…Read More

Here, in a media relations photograph an Angolan MPLA (Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola) sapper receives instruction on laying a mine.

Note the tin on the side to separate the topsoil and the bottom soil so when the mine is covered the lighter topsoil is applied last to conceal the disturbance to the earth. Operating procedures also i…Read More

Great photograph by Peter Marlow of a South African patrol travelling in an ‘Buffel’ anti-mine armoured troop carrier near the Angolan South West Africa/Namibia border.

From the looks of the men and weaponry this looks like a ‘Citizen Force’ unit in the late 70’s/early 80’s. The Citizen Force where made up of national servicemen who had…Read More

Dramatic image of an elite South African rapid response unit, flown into action by SAAF Puma helicopters, seen on patrol near the Angolan border. Photo copyright Peter Marlow

On 1 may 1986, a South African Air Force Dakota while on a flight to Ondangwa at about 8000 ft was hit with a soviet SAM-7 shoulder fired surface to air missile. The explosion ripped off most of the Dakota’s tail. To add additional pressure to the crew, the Dakota was full of military VIP passengers including the Chief of the Army.

Captain C…Read More

At the going down of the sun, an amazing photo of two South African Air Force Impala Mk II jets over a radar unit at Air Force Base Ondangwa,.

‘Floats like a Butterfly, stings like a Bomb’. Operation Modular 8 October 1987. Destroyed SADF 61 Mechanized Battalion Group Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV).

The South African armored column had penetrated deep into Angola and had just formed a laager to take bearings on their position and objectives. Two Angolan Mig fighter jets had spo…Read More

SADF joint army and air force operations in South West Africa (now Namibia). 1988 #Ondangwa Air Force Base (AFB), here is a great photo capturing a reaction force on the move, here seen walking past a SAAF Alouette III under general maintenance on the apron. Photo copyright Outapi War Museum.

Well armed SWAPO PLAN operators prepare to move out from a ‘kraal’ after conducting an insurgent mission into South West Africa/Namibia.

Formed in 1966 as the armed wing of the South West African Peoples’ Organisation, PLAN – the Peoples Liberation Army of Namibia – had developed from a handful of poorly armed guerrillas to eventually even b…Read More

Much has been speculated and written regarding the circumstances under which this Angolan MiG-21bis (C340), piloted by Lt Vinez landed up on Schneider-Waterberg’s farm near Otjiwarongo, South West Africa (Namibia).

On 14/12/1989 a MiG-21bis Fishbed of FAPA, took-off from the airfield at Lubango (FNBU position 14:56South 13:35East). Lt Vinez at…Read More