Looking every bit as deadly, South African Defence Force troops kept a very careful lookout for these iconic Soviet era attack helicopters. This rather surreal and dark image of a enemy Angolan Hind Helicopter operated by FAPLA taking off in Angola during the Border War in the late 1980’s.

The Mil #Mi-24 (???? ??-24, NATO reporting name: Hind)…Read More

South West Africa /Namibia cira 1982. A convoy of South African Defence Force #Buffel anti-mine armoured personnel carriers about to go out on patrol near the Angolan border. Clearly seen is the vehicle hull which is in a ‘V ‘shape designed to deflect blasts from land mines away and upward, also clearly seen is the basic configuration of wheels…Read More

Looking every bit the SADF Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) – and epitomising a very special and unique breed of men, feared and loved by the troops and NCO’s (and some junior commissioned officers) all at the same time. Easily identified by the South African crest worn behind a red patch on the sleeve. This is Seargent Major H.G. Smit – the…Read More

#Puma

SADF #Ratel IFV callsign Zulu 41 of Battle Group 49 – #61Mech, halted between Ongiva and Mupa in southern Angola during Operation #Askari – 1983. Note the battle damaged farmstead up ahead.

Famous image by Herman Potgieter of a South African Air Force DC 3 Dakota in 1979. An aircraft of World War 2 vintage the DC3 was known as the ‘vomit comet’ by the troops during the Bush War (partly due to low altitude hot air turbulence over Ovamboland). This DC3 is probably on it’s “milk run” ferrying troops and supplies from Grootfontein to…Read More

Enjoy this stunning image of perfect formation flight by 2 squadron South African Air Force’ in their then ‘new’ Mirage III’s in 1968 – still in their colour scheme of silver metal and red lightning flash, before changing to their bush war camouflage scheme – photo by Edward Dickinson. #MirageIII #2Sq

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