South Africa's Forgotten Air Wars

[@LucasBright.]

Whoever did the DCS clips did an amazing job.

[@Mthammere2010]

They probably got tips from Showtime112.

[@davidrossi5096]

DCS or Wargame Red Dragon South African DLC? Both games would have the correct aircraft from each side

[@erickcredidiooliveira201]

@@LucasBright. Of DCS can be used to foll people in believing it is real war footage It can be really usefull to good vídeos like this.

[@mephistoXFC459V]

Yes, easy to detract from the overall effect of the documentary, but here it actually adds to it.

[@Booyaka9000]

Yeah, those South African Mirage **2000s** look really good.

[@nephilimorder9622]

It's great to see such a detailed documentary on a conflict that hasn't gotten the attention it deserves, well done keep it up

[@stuartbrown2111]

as cuban I agree,, the whites fear us,,, and no we aint finished. we just got stronger.

[@TheActualChosenOne]

Happy to see more videos about the Border War, great video!

[@brianmaitai7685]

True, except for the annoying A.I GENERATED VOICEOVER!

[@cayminlast]

Crazy time, I was conscripted in 1976 and eventually discharged in 1987. Back then there was no such thing as PTSD, you were just a little 'Bush crazy' and only needed a few beers to calm down.

[@Frenzyv2]

only needing a few beers to calm down is crazy

[@cedricliggins7528]

A coworker of mine said his guerilla unit murdered many Boer families that lived isolated in the veld.

[@johnhouston9764]

​@@cedricliggins7528the ugliness of war is timeless.

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

Bos befok... the scary 1000 yard stares of the oumanne intimidated us roofies something chronic. 89/90.

[@PhansiKhongoloza]

​​@@cedricliggins7528Your co-worker is a dreamer. The farm murders only started after mandela and his anc took over. There were a few farm attacks in the northern parts of SA carried out by terrorists who infiltrated from Zimbabwe. But all of those terrs were shot.

[@wesmckay7224]

It’s amazing how nobody ever talks about the relationship between the SA Government and Israel. Both countries covertly worked together between 1975 and 1991. Without the help from Israel, with US approval, the SA military would have found it much harder to maintain their fight.It’s covered excellently in a book called “The Unspoken Alliance”.

[@jude_the_apostle]

Israel also provided technical expertise, materials, and designs to South Africa in exchange for its uranium supplies

[@PhansiKhongoloza]

​@@jude_the_apostleEven developed nuclear weapons together.

[@flip849]

They also allegedly tested a nuke together during the vela incident

[@hennies9509]

So without Israel we could not or would not be able to fight our bush war? What did the comment about Australia mean? You know very very little about what went on let me tell you that. Isra5wanted our Iranium and we wanted a few stuff from Israel. That is it. Israel hated Vorster because of the organization he belonged to early in his life.

[@MrBahjatt]

Australia as well.

[@coxsen999]

The SAAF observer that fired his marker rocket directly into the AA gun was Captain Danie Laubscher in AM 3C Bosbok 920 , today SAAF museum Port Elizabeth , the first aircraft of 40 total delivered. He was awarded a Honoris Crux Silver medal for his effort

[@VWPirates]

More Bosbok pilots were awarded than any other pilots during the bush war.

[@lourensjacobs9089]

If you know what the Bosbok is it is freaking awesome!!

[@davidp3532]

@@lourensjacobs9089 Was it also not affectionately known as a device for converting fuel into noise!? :) brave pilots

[@aristidewoodley8073]

Very nice documentary. One or two inaccuracies... But well done all around. Arthur Piercy recovered back to base after being hit, however his nose wheel did not extend and he was unfortunately ejected from the cockpit at the end of his landing roll. He was paralyzed from the waist down. I am glad to see the history of the SAAF being presented in such a unique way. The DCS F1 liveries used, are my own work provided to Aerges. The pilot patches innthe F1Cz are created from Cobus Toerien's original kit. In 1986, my father was flying C-130s for 28Sqn, and was intercepted at night by a mig 23. He would have been shotdown except for a fault that developed with the missile fuse. Thank you again for showing the history of our once proud military.

[@paulmitchell2468]

@@leandrobarsottelli1 not true at all. You really think you could motivate the South African army by means of a racist agenda? This was a war against communism.

[@dougerrohmer]

@@leandrobarsottelli1 Poepol.

[@Kltary]

I agree this video is from the perspective of the western europeans ....

[@tripwire8457]

@@Kltary Whatever people say, the war in Angola was not a race war, it was a war against communism.

[@Kltary]

@tripwire8457 left right combinations...

[@benhooper1956]

This is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen on KZbin, amazing work

[@BallisticCoefficient]

As someone who has studied this extensively and as an ex member of the South African Defence Force, this video is fair and accurate. Thank you. Great production.

[@thepolishnz]

@@BallisticCoefficient service period?

[@Qasibr]

I look back now, and it's such a shame the world forced South Africa to become a corrupt, rundown state. It was close to a 1st world country. Like Singapore, the downtrodden races should have gotten extra education and support to upgrade themselves. Singapore did this with Malays and Indians. South Africa seems to have handed power over to an uneducated, corrupt, and downright evil bunch. I say this as a non-western person, it is very sad to see racists use South Africa as an example that black people are inherently "subhuman". Giving power to the criminals in their society is unfair to everyone.

[@darrelllush5845]

I disagree. SWAPO never ever tried to infiltrate South Africa

[@mattkalk9162]

@@darrelllush5845 Yes they did, but as very small guerrilla groups, laying anti tank mines on farm roads etc.. not as a unit or group of any real size, except for after the war on 1 April 1989..

[@darrelllush5845]

@@mattkalk9162 No sir. SWAPO never operated close to South African territory. The landmines were laid in South West Africa and in Ovamboland. The closest South African border is around 950 km's from Ondangwa for example. There is no way SWAPO infiltrated that far south

[@BaktenHor]

I grew up under this fire and it's amazing to live all this again here on KZbin never knowing there was such a documentary showing everything with such detail...amazing it's all true to speck, I miss my hometown Tsumeb where I kissed for the first time with Mirages and chopper flying above our heads and remembering explosions in the distance. It's all coming back to me like travelling in time to 79.... thank you so much for this vid.

[@CajunMarine33445]

Glad to see a documentary on the South African border wars. The Rhodesian Bush War and the South African Border Wars are often forgotten History

[@Kltary]

Because it's so garbage at liberty!

[@robertpatrick3350]

@@Kltaryso you want a version of history from only one perspective….

[@Kltary]

@@robertpatrick3350 justice, yep.

[@Off-roading1]

@@Kltary what?

[@OldRhino]

​@@Kltary There are 3 sides to every story, yours, mine and the truth, and if you don't have access to both your and my stories you will never get to the truth.

[@sielfriedtcleophaszebbygow2475]

The stories my father told me as a cannon soldier was crazy! He said once after firing their G5 cannon (I think it was that cannon), MIGs came and did a fly by looking for them and the Cubans fired back their cannons dropping shells close to them maybe about a few 100meters away. He said that was the most accurate counter fire they ever got. He says he prayed to God that day. He still has slight PTSD and it shows when he gets angry, it makes him “blind”. But he raised us well, the level of discipline the SADF taught him are still present in his life til date.

[@nickmitsialis]

Yeah one of the books I read about the final Battles in Cuito Cuneval mentioned how Angolan and Cuban MiGs would cruise overhead waiting for the G5s / G6s to fire so they could bomb them. The SADF 'higher ups' hit upon the idea of setting off explosives in the bush to give the impression that the howitzers were firing 'over there'--apparently it worked most of the time. In addition, UNITA troops were close by with Stinger MANPADs waiting for any MiGs or gunshiips to come by for a closer look.

[@STScott-qo4pw]

SADF was one of the very few properly disciplined and professional militaries on the continent. A friend of mine served in it and he he still moves like a disciplined young man at 60.

[@KyleZa87]

The south African and rhodesian defence force were definitely underrated. My conspiracy opinion is that apartheid was used as a smoke screen effort to prevent South Africa from becoming a super power. But that's all political. Our soldiers fought bravely and I have heard many stories from black service men that spoke of the atrocities that Swapo caused against peaceful villagers. They were essentially terrorists. I also worked with a guy that was part of the rhodesian fire force. Those guys were absolutely legendary. What they lacked in assets, they made up with the size of their balls.

[@kevin4615]

Thoroughly enjoyed your video. Great work, and a big Thank you. One of my deployments was with 3 sqdn at Rundu in '87, a group of us watched the Capt. Piercy landing by standing on an embankment parallel with the runway. No dragchute, no brakes (hydraulics), incompleted safety catch net at the end of the runway. Plane ditched into soft sand, ejection seat failure, damaged his legs on the front windscreen frame as it half-ejected. Fire was quickly extinguished, pilot stabilised and immediately flown to 1 Military hospital. Plane was stripped for usable parts. PS, there were also 2 boeings in service by the SAAF. Reconnaissance/radar & in-air refuelling tasks (60 sqdn).

[@STScott-qo4pw]

i didn't know SAAF had in-flight refueling training and capacity. thanks!

[@die5plaas]

@@STScott-qo4pw Oh YES they did!! My dad was Commander at 60 sqd, well after these wars though, piloting Saartjie the Boeing 707, which is now stationed at the SAAF Military Museum. He had best of both worlds having been a Mirage, Buccanneer and Boeing 707 pilot. The Mirage and Buccannneer piloting was done in these wars. Loads of stories from my childhood...

[@ThroneOfBhaal]

I'd love to see more on South Africa, it's a fascinating period of history that isn't that well covered.

[@stuartbrown2111]

its is in cuba we celebrate this victory think its time for a refresher course.

[@morisco56]

@@ThroneOfBhaal agreed man, I would love one about portugal's ultramar war too

[@neelsmuller3716]

You need to study this war in-depth to see who the victor is!

[@morisco56]

@neelsmuller3716 sadly there are too few videos about it

[@stuartbrown2111]

@@morisco56 DONT WORRY NONE FO US CUBANS FORGET,,NETHER DOES WHITEY WHO TRIED TO STEAL ANGOLA,

[@flymachine]

Beautifully done, well researched and a worthy subject. Some Mirage 2000s snuck in there but I’m nitpicking.I grew up during the tail end of the conflict and all of these aircraft were part of my childhood. We lived near an air base and daily flights of F-1CZ, Impala, Buccaneers, Mirage III, Hercs, C160 and many others would come in low over my childhood home. I was completely oblivious to the political realities at the time, my best friend on the farm was an African chap who’s family would often have me over for dinner. For people my age most of us only learned of apartheid in our teens. I must say, as many South Africans today do, it was a better country in terms of infrastructure, economy, governance and services, the ANC are a disgusting, corrupt joke.

[@oodlesofnoodles4660]

I also grew up towards end of this war. Conscription ended the year before I finished high school. Only years later in the early 2000's did I study South African history at university level and began to understand what was at stake in this conflict and how it fitted into the world stage. And also how it is "reinterpreted" to suit certain political agendas.

[@thepatriotsrage661]

You're right on S.A being better in terms of economy, governance, infrastructure and services, we all know that cANCer are corrupt, lawless POS.

[@iammiist]

South Africa was not a "better" in terms of infrastructure. 99% of the country's inhabitants were living in squalor. I dislike the ANC but to pretend the National Party was any better is downright disrespectful and incredibly divisive

[@oodlesofnoodles4660]

@@iammiist Are you implying that the "99%" (more like 75-80% if you look at population growth from StatsSA) were living in squalor solely due to Nat policies? Are you sure there's no other reason for it?

[@thepatriotsrage661]

@@iammiist No one said we liked the Nats, they were evil to the core. But the country was in better condition then than it is now.

[@MrMadenuff]

Excellent documentary.

[@davydatwood3158]

:The history of South Africa's air wars is worth paying attention to." I quite agree! Alas, my "History of 20th Century Warfare" professor (in 2018) did not agree, and wasted most of the class recycling material from his "History of the Second World War" class. I've learnt more about the Angolan / Namibian wars in this video than I ever did in uni.

[@lourensjacobs9089]

Look there lots of groups like this one, although this one is quite good.

[@gerhardbekker7798]

Thank you for a really insightful video

[@jace5190]

Loving your vidoes. One of if not the best channel on YT for military aviation history. Love the detail, old footage and DCS footage; all in the perfect amounts. Keep up the amazing work!

[@SailfishSoundSystem]

I was unaware of the intensity of the air conflicts during the wars there. I was under the impression helicopters were mostly used. Thank you for this illuminating this part of the wars for historical purposes.

[@nickmitsialis]

Read a book about the final battles in Angola at Cuito Cuneval (sp?)==it was referred to as the last battle of the cold war. At the time. the USSR and Cuba still had Angola's back as well as the Angolan and Cuban airforces having a 'technical' leg up over the South Africans. MiG23s had better avionics and weapons systems as well as the SAM and radar networks. The SA AF had to fly it's Mirages either real low (and lure the Angolans/Cuban aircraft into 'flak traps' by UNITA 'stinger' MANPADs) or at night to avoid encounters with the MiGs, and the SAs had a very limited inventory of high performance fighters that they were loathe to lose or put too much in danger (same problem with their armor, and the higher ups had a major emphasis to minimize losses of materiel and conscripts). The only weapon system the SAs had that outclassed anything Angola had was it's Artillery, especially the G6 howitzer. It took a lot of trickery to keep their batteries from being targeted by counter battery or air strikes.

[@neelsmuller3716]

Yes, we used choppers much much much more

[@scottrobinson3281]

Portugal was not defeated, it withdrew from Angola and Mozambique following a left-wing coup d'état in 1974. On the whole, a very accurate and objective video. Soldiers wearing shorts and caps were Rhodesians. The Cheetah upgrades of the Mirage III warrants a whole episode. The war ended before they could prove themselves.

[@innocentrichard2945]

It was not defeated it withdraw mate are you left minded

[@innocentrichard2945]

The Portuguese were defeated I know that because my grandfather fought that was trained in Tanganyika and latter deployed they kicked out the Portuguese 😂

[@m135i.]

@@scottrobinson3281 do you reckon the rooivalk was also developed for this? Sad whats happened to saaf..

[@PhansiKhongoloza]

@@innocentrichard2945 Rubbish! The Portuguese won militarily. Learn history. Find out about the Carnation Revolution.

[@KAMNA_Muriuki]

Who cares, all European the so-called powers left their position after causing serious damage to innocent African people. Their actions are today is classified as war crimes by the ICC.

[@kaleuclint]

In 2004 I presented a Staff College thesis on lessons from the SADF and the Border War applicable to Australia: tactical, logistical and political. Appreciate the research behind this video.

[@patchgatsby9138]

Subscribed! This is an under appreciated subject. I would love to see more on Cold War African conflicts. I think lack of footage and photos is one of the reasons Africa doesn't get more military history content. Using the DCS footage is a really good solution.

[@ockertbrits6907]

It is not American. If it were, everybody would have seen a dozen movies based upon it.

[@AndyCinDallas]

I was in the SAAF 84-86 as an air traffic controller - 2 tours to Ondangwa (Ondangs or Ondangwa Beach). We were a very good and proud force then.

[@lourensjacobs9089]

We're you in grootfontein in 84?

[@AndyCinDallas]

@@lourensjacobs9089 No

[@markwillies7666]

I was down the road in 53 BN.A kak part of the world. The glare getting out of a Flossie in Ondangwa was something else.

[@sidpineapple]

In my life i've met quite a few ex South African soldiers who fought on the border, always the most unassuming dudes who have insane stories, the majority sentiment with them is that nobody cares about what they went through, and their trauma and loss of friends was really for nothing in the end. They don't talk about it with anyone other than guys they know were in the same position...unless they trust you. there are so many of them around and many fakers too, I love to learn about the history of our country firsthand, not the bs written in history books regarding this. They had the best training around at the time and were mostly fresh out of high school when they were deployed, just kids thrown into the thick of it. I've got the biggest respect for them. Salut

[@ioijiopjkiopjkp]

This sums up a lot of my family perfectly. My father and 2 of my uncles fought in the border war, yet they don't tell anyone what happened. My uncle has 3 bullet holes in his chest but he doesn't talk about it at all.

[@lourensjacobs9089]

Yep we did win the battle but lost the war , because of politics. During my time in the SADF my eyes opened to what is really happening in the world and the rabbit hole just keeps on going 😮😊

[@tripwire8457]

Most guys think it was a waste of time. In truth though, 2 generations of South Africans grew up well. It would not have been possible without the boys in brown.

[@COMBLOCVZ58]

Have you considered that these guys are comparable to Nazi soldiers and even worse than US soldiers in Viet Nam? I don’t care what they went through, they should have refused to fight for white supremacy and left Africa the fuck alone.

[@smellsamazing]

@@lourensjacobs9089 Thank God you lost the war. Denying freedoms was an evil act

[@stevenvictor2587]

Great to see Operation Sceptic being mentioned (One of the objectives being Smokeshell). The 23mm ZSU's and 14.5's were used in a ground role by SWAPO (as mentioned in the video) - Platoon 1 of 61 Mech was unfortunately hit very hard - 3 of their 4 Ratels were shot out by the ZSU's and 14.5's with many wounded and I think 17 killed. One of my relations was killed - Vehicle commander of 21A (9G) - Corporal Paul Kruger (shot in the turret by AA fire either a ZSU or 14.5). RIP SADF heroes. Just finished reading a book on Smokeshell - all that were there on the ground at the target can be proud - a lot of psychological wounds in addition to physical wounds for those who came back - may they find peace! Thank you for your service!

[@shaunswanby8323]

The ANC swapped the European free market system with the European Socialist system. I, and many of young men, fought against this and not to preserve apartheid. Ten years after my national service the USSR collapsed and socialism no longer presented a threat. Sanctions increased and the National Party changed internally, releasing Mandela and unbanning the ANC.

[@PopulismIsForBottomFeeders]

Just to specify, you're talking about the Western/Central European free market system and the Eastern European oligarchic/cronyist (post-socialist) systems, yeah?

[@BlueTurtleClips]

15:06 Taking out the ZSU-23 with a smoke rocket is like war thunder level of insane lmao

[@ohoh7570]

lmao yeah

[@jacobtrapp3772]

Here, I heard you like white phosphorus, why don't you hold this rocket for me lol

[@cedricliggins7528]

In Chad ZSU-23 are mounted on back of Toyota Hilux trucks

[@Gidi66]

@@cedricliggins7528 and during the border war we strapped captured zsu's to our own trucks, something we still do today, while not Toyota's they where originally British cargo trucks and now today they are modified South African trucks.

[@nephilimorder9622]

I literally laughed out loud omg that's a 1 in a million hit

[@groundcontrol9422]

Remembering my 1 Medium Battery Artillery mates who were involved in Ops Protea .. '81 .....

[@abongiledlova477]

As a South African I enjoyed this video. Thanx.

[@vinniebarbarino-1]

A very good documentary, my stepfathers job was to helicopter the SADF troops over the border and back again. He's a top guy, and is humble about his duties in this war.

[@WaVeTECH-b9z]

The person who created the DCS clips did an outstanding job-they really nailed it!

[@Booyaka9000]

I mean, the Mirage 2000s in SAAF livery is a nitpick, but they do look pretty good.

[@MrSparkefrostie]

Have seen some of these planes fly long after this, had no idea what the history was, to young at the time to understand or care. Very happy to see more of the history here

[@ragnarkin]

Wow, South Africa was badass back then

[@kalomboC]

@@ragnarkin and yet they still lost. Flailed against shadows that melted under fire but reappeared to torment the relentlessly. Exhausted, they limped to the negotiating table...

[@mattkalk9162]

@@kalomboC Stop smoking your socks - you have no concept of what happened, just BS propaganda that you are regurgetating..!

[@seanvanderwesthuizen8218]

We didn't lose. It was a stalemate. Proud to say my father fought in the war.

[@kalomboC]

@seanvanderwesthuizen8218 you lost

[@ZemanTheMighty]

@@kalomboC credit where credit is due, fighting actors backed by the soviets while embargoed by the whole world is no small feat. The sanctions and the embargo did much more to defeat South Africa than the shadows in the desert ever did. Fact.

[@charlesarmstrong5292]

A great documentary covering this period. I am proud to say I saw active service over the first 12 years in this conflict. Very sad to see what has become of the once proud and highly effective SADF

[@thatpak]

apartheid shit

[@wolf104th]

hi im south African thank you for making a video on us even tho we aren't Australian

[@corvanphoenix]

Neither is the Narrator 🤣 He's a pom who doesn't watch the cricket, judging by his pronunciation of 🇿🇦 words.

[@prepperpilot7379]

This is fascinating. I did not have a clue about air war during this time period. I like the DCS addition. Well done.

[@mierbeuker8148]

I was in a little unit called 32Bn in the Caprivi strip from '86 with Ops Alpha Centauri, through Modular in '87, and ended when I was casavac'd during Hooper. Most of my time was spent between Mavinga and Quito. Best time of my life by far.

[@NorwayT]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Australian Military Aviation History earned a Subscription with this one! Most of this piece of History I had never even heard of! It was a jaw-dropping experience! I really hope you will expand on this Fascinating Chapter in a forgotten Proxy-War against Global Communism!

[@scallywag9392]

Many of the video clips show Rhodesian troops, warms my heart!

[@scallywag9392]

all those skinny white legs 🙂

[@gurglejug627]

Excellent video, thanks so much. A little more on ground tactics (of both sides) would be appreciated as an addition?

[@zaheer4024]

As a South African, I never knew: We recently (last few years) spawned a low-cost domestic airline called Fly Safair, which apparently had a history in aviation. Never knew that their history, turns out to be "history". Crazy!

[@neelsmuller3716]

We have a longer and deeper history than “ your history”, actually , you don’t have much of a history in South Africa!

[@zaheer4024]

@ could you elaborate ?

[@lourensjacobs9089]

I can tel you this the SAFAIR contractors knew hou to party!!

[@JuicyJLee]

@@neelsmuller3716 the oldest known calendar in the world is in South Africa. please don't just expose your ignorance have some dignity

[@stevenvictor2587]

Yes, SAFAIR flew the civilian version of the C130 Hercules. Flew troops, cargo and casevacs between the RSA and the operational area.

[@karmatraining]

This is a very well researched and accurate video, great job, only issue was the way you pronounced some of the pilots' names was absolutely hilarious

[@Crissy_the_wonder]

Excellent work on this video

[@davidryall-flanders6353]

This was a great video. Definitely one of my favourite KZbin channels.

[@davidmok108]

I got to say, this is the best made video of this channel! Truly enjoyed every minute of it! Please make more! Also, the map showed here are too small to watch through my phone and i hope you can add some arrows/lines to show the aircrafts trails.

[@nekox16paws]

Our countries military history is terribly documented, thank you for this.

[@matengumuchana1642]

upload more of war between south africa namibia and angola and thanks for educating us

[@simonmowatt]

Great! You should also do one on the South African Air Force in WWII.

[@ockertbrits6907]

AND the SAAF in Korea. Flying Mustangs and then F80 Sabres.

[@TheMarkvdBosch]

@@ockertbrits6907 Well said, I've visited the Korean War Memorial in Seoul, there is a special place where around 60 or 70 odd names and ranks of fallen SAAF pilots are remembered on a large stone memorial. Names like Jansen van Vuuren and Terblanche and many others confirms it as a fact. I was moved to tears..so many pilots. Over 60 KIA is so many, but alas, no one even knows.. Shame really..But I was there. The Jansen van Vuuren surname had a profound effect on me. Don't get a more South African name than that. Respect!

[@bootsiehamilton1284]

wow, great video. Lots of effort and very engaging.

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

Thank you for the frank and open account of the situation during the Border War without confusing the issue with political propaganda from both sides. The ground troops mostly interacted with the helicopters and transport aircraft, including the venerable Dakota from WWII. My older brother flew up twice from Pretoria to the Operational Area, once in a 'Flossie' or Hercules, and again in a Dakota. He was with Logistics Command as a driver, and during Ops Modular his vehicle was straffed by a Mig while carrying 155mm artillery shells to supply the ongoing battle for Cuito Cuanavale. The only damage they found was on an ammo crate that rendered the two shells therein unserviceable. My brother brought the battered Soviet round back home for me as a souvenir.

[@idemditto]

I am very interested in war history but I knew nothing about this. Very nice that this can now be found on KZbin. No idea what was happening there in the continent of Africa.

[@fortesfortunajuvat6782]

Not forgotten.

[@daffidkane8350]

First rate military to second rate. Second rate two tier economy to third rate kleptocracy. Third rate democracy to failed state for the majority. Trying to see how it’s improved for the majority except for a new Black elite

[@johnhouston9764]

Well described to this American reader.

[@1wun1]

There are no more Bantustans, that and the land acts were the blunders of apartheid.

[@fgoogleinthea7475]

The west was certainly on the wrong side of that conflict.

[@TheWildernessChannel]

The sanctions and anti-Apartheid activism had more to do with the world wanting control of South Africa's rich mineral resources, and our strategic location on the tip of Africa than any real concern about human rights. South Africa was a great country and now it is being systematically destroyed. It is run by a bunch of megalomaniacal black elites with no regard for their own people.

[@terenceharris2838]

Great video and accurate on the history. However, the SAAF never operated the Mirage 2000 as depicted in some of the CGI.

[@bennettbullard7308]

@@terenceharris2838 he is using dcs to depict this. They don’t have a mirage 3 model yet so he is doing his best by using a mirage 2000 with an SAAF livery.

[@SeanBZA]

@@bennettbullard7308 Plus it is actually a Cheetah C,D or E, depending on the area and time what action was going on. most of the Mirage III airframes were converted into them over time. We had lots of the removed avoinics units that were kept as sources of assorted mechanical parts to fix the later versions, because of SNECMA and Thompson being the main source to Dassault of precision mechanicals, so a lot of the synchro units were a standard part. Coil here, resolver there, I used the dead units to replace fan bearings, as that was the sole 115VAC rotating assembly by my area.

[@Booyaka9000]

@@SeanBZA Cheetahs only appeared after 1986. And the Cheetah C didn't arrive until 1993, three years after the war ended. And none of them were involved in the fighting-- that's according to the SADF.

[@alwaysready4017]

Wow, this is a great documentary..thanks for sharing

[@zippitydoohdangtwang]

I was in Ops Daisy and Ops Protea. There were more Ops' around that time, but lesser known. They all kinda flowed into one another, busy pretty much non stop. Well for me it was like that. I only differentiated the names in hindsight. Excellent compilation. My only minor critique is that some of the footage is from Rhodesia several years earlier

[@George_M_]

The French never pass up a chance to violate arms embargos. Their dedication to arms proliferation is almost...Soviet.

[@M-akena]

Yeah, France is now the 2nd arms supplier in the world just before the Russian Federation ^^

[@Carpet-y9l]

😂

[@lianvandenheever6387]

We needed Mirage 2000s and did not receive any

[@paulantonio740]

Well done. I have an interest in the Portuguese, Rhodesian, and South African counter-insurgency wars, and their geo-political implications from the 1960s thru the 1980s, but the air war component is always fascinating.

[@DomanaxTV]

Great video. It's crazy that we never really got taught any of this in history (I am a South african). We learn about other wars in other countries, but we ignore our own history...

[@masterq2.033]

Partly because it would expose the incompetence and disgusting tactics of the ruling party.

[@stevenvictor2587]

Because it is not politically correct to learn about the conflict - some see it as a war to defend apartheid - which is one lens to view the war - although there are many lenses. It was the third biggest conflict of the Cold War after Vietnam and Russia's invasion of Afghanistan from 1979 - 1989 - one lens (Fight against communist aggression and expansionism). It was a war to uphold principles and standards - another lens. Conflicts are not black or white (no pun intended), they are grey with right and wrong on all sides. As much as the current dispensation wants to vilify the "losers" i.e. Pre-94 South Africa and Rhodesia, the Nats did the EXACT SAME THING when they came to power in 1948. Parades and commemorations for South Africa's WW2 veterans were almost non-existent a few years after the Nats came to power - because of the anti-British sentiment as a result of the Boer War. South Africans didnt learn about South Africa's important contributions to the allied victory in WW2 because the government of the day were anti-British and now the current government also have biases of their own. It also didnt help that thousands of white South African WW2 veterans protested and marched against apartheid in the 1950's (one of them being DF Malans cousin and South African WW2 hero - Adolph "Sailor" Malan). Again, history not taught in South African schools - you would think it would be - because it was an anti-apartheid protest - but the protestors werent the right pigment - so dont fit the narrative of anti-apartheid. Just like the ANC (and other current governments of Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique) changes street names, town names and SANDF regiment names, so did the Nats! Roberts Heights became Voortrekkerhoogte (ANC renamed it to Thaba Tswane), Sophiatown became Triompf and regimental names and ranks of the Union Defence Force and later the SADF were changed to erase the British influence. Although many of these were changed back after strong protest.

[@caeruleusvm7621]

@@stevenvictor2587 Thank you for your sober-minded, fair and interesting post. You mention a little-known facet of white SA history - something I like to mention to Afrikaans friends griping about recent name changes. They had no idea that post 1994 triumphalist behaviour imitates their own tribe's post 1948 approach. Name changes can be a complicated subject - all I wish is that each side and each generation leave their own heroes out of it - whether it's Roberts or Verwoerd or Sisulu. I'm totally cool with the Gariep Dam and the like. The changing of founders' names is another matter.

[@Krulique]

Great video and great history - greetings from Poland

[@jern_huang]

Wow! interesting documentary, thank you for this rare footages.

[@migaelburger2378]

This is an amazing video. Well done!

[@cbo2715]

This is a really well made and interesting documentary! Thank you and best regards from Switzerland!

[@chrisswift7689]

Great doco. I didn’t know much about the SA insurgencies, so was very informative. I suspect you are right about the SAAF, that they currently have few serviceable aircraft.

[@WayneKitching]

The observer aircraft would is likely to have been an Aermacchi AM3 Bosbok, with a single prop and a very conventional configuration, not a push-pull with twin booms.

[@Theworldaccordingtomickey]

Key to the SAAF's success was training, discipline and maintenance of scarce equipment. Their standards were high, and at one point the French airforce wanted to buy some old Puma choppers that the SAAF had written off as their air frames were no longer considered safe due to metal fatigue. The French wanted them to strip out instruments. When the French examined the airframes they were astonished that they had been written off as they were still well within spec for them. Instead of stripping the instruments out they shipped the full craft back to France. Tx for a balanced video.

[@hennies9509]

South Africa General drew up the plans for the RAF and a South African created Top Gun for the USA and another South African drew up the blue prints for the UN.

[@vigourboost8316]

You’re right. South African General Jan Smuts became a member of Lloyd George’s war cabinet in 1917, and was tasked with improving the air defences of British cities and producing a report on the feasibility of a combined air force. His recommendations led to the creation of the RAF. It was also Smuts who helped to structure the League of Nations and draft its Covenant in 1920, and who helped to inspire and shape the UN Charter in 1945. In 1968 South African Brigadier General Dick Lord did a two-year exchange tour with the US Navy at NAS Miramar flying A-4 Skyhawks and F-4 Phantoms. There he wrote the USN Air Combat Manoeuvring Manual and his training methods were instrumental in the creation of ‘Top Gun’ in 1969. Per Ardua Ad Astra

[@ockertbrits6907]

@@vigourboost8316 Good show. Jan Smuts was also the shadow Prime Minister of teh UK during WWII. Had Churchill been killed he would have been the British Prime minister.

[@lourensjacobs9089]

​@@ockertbrits6907dit not know that.

[@lourensjacobs9089]

It does make sense knowing what is happening at the moment regarding the UN.

[@vnet1975]

Another South African brought in Tesla electric cars & Space X.....

[@johanjohnleach8504]

Great summary! Well done!

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

Thanks for posting this. My Family survived WWII in the Netherlands. Lot's of the dutch left the country after in the 1950's my Dad's brother went to South Africa. I never met him or got to see him just his son Paul . I was born in 1968. Im trying to learn more about anything South African. My Dad and his brothers would all be just over 100 years old. Dad went once for his brother's funeral. He was my age. 57.

[@SailfishSoundSystem]

South African Border War The Bush War in South Africa: A Conflict of Asymmetric Proportions The Bush War in South Africa, also known as the Namibian War of Independence and the Angolan Bush War, was a largely asymmetric conflict that took place from 1966 to 1990. It was fought between the South African Defence Force (SADF) and the People’s Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), the military wing of the South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO). Background After World War I, South Africa gained control over South West Africa (now Namibia) from Germany. As the African nationalist movement gained momentum across the continent, SWAPO began to organize resistance against South African rule in the 1950s. In 1962, SWAPO formed PLAN, which started operating in South West Africa, using guerrilla tactics and infiltrating civilian populations. Escalation The SADF responded with military operations against PLAN targets, leading to a gradual escalation of the conflict. By the late 1960s, the war had become a major conflict, with both sides suffering significant casualties. The SADF introduced conscription for all white males in 1967, and the war became increasingly brutal, with both sides employing tactics such as ambushes, sabotage, and raids. International Involvement The Bush War was closely intertwined with the Angolan Civil War and the Mozambican War of Independence. The Soviet Union supported SWAPO and PLAN, while the United States and Western Bloc countries supported South Africa. The conflict became a proxy war between the two superpowers, with South Africa receiving military aid and training from the US and Western Bloc countries. Key Events 1966: PLAN launches its first attacks against South African targets in South West Africa. 1967: SADF introduces conscription for all white males. 1975: Angola gains independence from Portugal, and SWAPO begins to receive direct support from the Angolan government. 1978: SADF launches Operation Reindeer, a major military operation against PLAN in Angola. 1989: The SADF withdraws from Angola and Namibia, and the conflict gradually subsides. Humanitarian Impact The Bush War resulted in an estimated 11,335 deaths, including both military personnel and civilians. The conflict also led to widespread displacement, with thousands of people forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in neighboring countries. Legacy The Bush War was a significant conflict in the history of Southern Africa, shaping the region’s politics and economies for decades to come. The war marked the end of white minority rule in Namibia and paved the way for the country’s independence in 1990. The conflict also highlighted the complexities of asymmetric warfare and the challenges of counter-insurgency operations in rural areas.

[@DavidOlver]

i was born in 68 too

[@sulaak]

Immigrants

[@mattkalk9162]

Try some of the South African FB groups (civil and military vets), also where did they live in SA, what work did they do etc..?

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

@mattkalk9162 they lived there and my uncle is buried there. Dad used to write but has been passed away for over twenty years. I've lost contact with my Dutch South African side of my family and I wish I could go find them to visit. My cousin Paul Boogaard is retired in the Netherlands and doesn't keep in contact with his siblings in South Africa. We are typically hard-working and hard-headed. I try to stay out of that. I'm neutral. Thanks for asking

[@lianvandenheever6387]

Congrats on an excellent documentary. Keep up the good work 😊

[@Andre_XX]

The most unknown, ignored war of the 20th century.

[@dragonstormdipro1013]

Kinda true. However I would add India Pakistan war of 1971 and 1999 to the list

[@giloro85]

On the same level as the Nicaraguan civil war

[@ThoughtinFlight]

The smoke rocket directly hit the gunner XD what a D20 roll crit hit

[@JohnMustartPsalm91]

Excellent video!

[@ioijiopjkiopjkp]

Great video, a lot of my family fought on the South African side. My uncle survived 3 bullets through the chest, and my other uncle worked in intelligence. My dad told me of live fire accidents in training.

[@rjbair6865]

vuur en beveeging ... fire and movement I nearly had my foot shot off by a platoon member who did not clear his R1's chamber and once back at base, pulled the trigger doing 'safety' clearance. Taute you little sh*t! He got 'oppies' by the RSM, Sergeant and Corporals for the whole night for that.

[@AdurianJ]

The first MMO game i played in 2000 had an older guy in it that had been a ground soldier in this conflict on the south African side.

[@claysecora8734]

Just discovering this channel, incredible content! Top notch.

[@nelsongomez8267]

great video!!!

[@kapunda6741]

What is really good is that in the aftermath of the war former PLAN fighters and SADF members are friends today. They reminiscence about the war and listen to each others stories of the war.

[@HeathenFitness]

South Africa and Rhodesia were the greatest Nations in Africa.

[@1wun1]

Unfortunately their land acts were contradictions to otherwise good managements.

[@basemanawakens6089]

@@HeathenFitness they should be able to recreate such "greatness" in Europe...

[@HeathenFitness]

@ one day we will.

[@shakiMiki]

@@HeathenFitness looooooool

[@Cactus-Jack69]

@@shakiMiki Ja the Looool of a socialist communist! Look what it brought you?

[@jthwaits]

More on the SA bush war, please! Also, Wargame: Red Dragon has SA units and could also be used for footage.

[@calemandkirstie4365]

Don't take my word for it but there was a bush and they fought over it. Sometimes in or on top of it.

[@kallelaur1762]

A long while ago I bought this book: "Vlamgat: the story of the Mirage F1 in the SAAF" and it's a good read

[@ockertbrits6907]

For your information; Vlamgat means fire arse in Afrikaans... Good nickname for a jet.

[@TheSnuggs01]

South Africa has the second oldest Air Force in the world.

[@1wun1]

Wow

[@dmg4415]

They have some JAS39 nowdays.

[@dionoliveira4058]

Nothing like it was unfortunately.....our entire military is now sub-standard.

[@coxsen999]

@@dmg4415 Most of the SAAF today hardly ever flies and there is low aircraft serviceability mainly but not only caused by being completely under funded

[@dmg4415]

@coxsen999 Corruption or just bad management?

[@bennybenitez2461]

Outstanding most enjoyable.

[@waskus]

30.000 feet. Apparently these pilots never learned to fly via War Thunder... There you use 200 feet all the time:D

[@lourensjacobs9089]

Specifically the Impalas.

[@the_real_bin_chicken]

awesome work with the dcs clips

[@bosnbruce5837]

I dunno but to me Mirage III has always looked more modern than Mirage F1. Not to mention 3>1

[@cedricliggins7528]

Mirage F-1 looks like a trainer jet

[@lourensjacobs9089]

It is what is under the skin of the aircraft what you do not see. We used what we had , most of our gear was from ww2 and what we took from Russian supplied weapons.

[@benlouw7009]

Great video and great effort using DCS to help

[@CaptainQuark9]

Whoa, whoa WHOA! Rhodesia was never 'an apartheid state' like South Africa. Yes, Africans in Rhodesia were disenfranchised and limited in the areas they could live, and I am not trying to defend that, but there was never the level of separation they had in South Africa; for example, our domestic servants lived in small houses at the bottom of the gardens of the people they worked for, rather than having to evacuate completely areas designated as 'white', as they did in South Africa, having to commute for hours every day. Rhodesia and South Africa were VERY different animals!

[@CaptainQuark9]

There was once a joke doing the rounds in Southern Africa, that FNLA stood for the Portuguese saying "F@ck, Now we Leave Angola"

[@Hiram1000]

"Our domestic servants"... .....what time machine did you step out of?

[@malnaai6467]

so different that the people still wanted freedom.

[@thekraken1173]

“our racism is better than your racism”

[@TheSnuggs01]

If Rhodesia was an apartheid state, please explain why the security forces were made up of more than 80% black troops, it’s not correct to rewrite history based upon assumptions. Where did the Wests influence end up assisting Rhodesia, resulting in the comical failure of Zimbabwean led dictatorship of their “hero” Mugabe.

[@zanderlabuschagne2368]

Very nice and detailed, thank you for covering the topic in such detail. But there are some "summarized" sentences and inaccuracies, here are some details specific to Safraan/Rekstok (06:32): The Mirage III's did not join the Canberras and Buccaneers on the strikes in (or near) Zambia. 1979/03/05. 8x Mirage III CZ and 2x Mirage III RZ (there was supposed to be a third) from 2 Squadron departed Hoedspruit for Ondangwa via Upington (straight to Ondangwa from Upington). At the same time, 2x Mirage III D2Z and 2x Mirage III EZ from 85 CFS left Pietersburg to join 2 Squadron's CZ's. I was told this was the only time 85 CFS was deployed for combat. 1979/03/06. Opening strike for Rekstok (still under Safraan - the name changed to Rekstok after the opening strike but I only have the perspective of the air force so I might be missing details). At 0630B, 4x Buccaneers (3x with 8x 450 kg bombs, 1x with 4x 450 kg bombs + bomb bay fuel tank) of 24 Squadron departed Waterkloof to strike "Camp 52" wherever that may be (somewhere along the border between Zambia and Angola). The plan was for the Buccaneers to drop their bombs 30 s after the Canberras had dropped their alpha bombs on the same target at 0802B. This did not go according to plan and the Buccs did not meet the Canberras at the target location. The 4 Buccs landed at Grootfontein which also hosted the deployment of Canberras. Throughout the entire morning the Mirage III's did strikes and CAP's using rockets, 30mm cannon and 250 kg bombs. In the afternoon the Mirage III RZ's did recce missions. The first Mirage III strike was at Mongua (just north of Ondangwa, north west of Ongiva) with 6x Mk 82's. Later at 1230B, 2 pairs of Buccs took off from Grootfontein to strike two more targets (this time all 4 carrying 8 bombs) known as "Franca 3" and "Franca 4", wherever that may be I do not know but the Mirages were doing their own thing at this time closer to Ondangwa. The recce Mirages took a photo of MPLA 14.5 mm AAA at Ongiva next to a runway. 1979/03/07. In the morning the Buccs repeated the same attack as the one in the afternoon on the previous day. The Buccs did another mission just before lunch. The Mirages did a lot of cockpit standbys while they were waiting for more targets from the Cessnas. The RZ's were getting shot at from around Ongiva. The Mirages did another strike on a camp at or just before dusk. The Buccs did strikes over the next few days on Etifu, Senanga, Cahama and Nova Catengue. 1979/03/08. Cessnas do target spotting while Mirages are on cockpit standby, Cessnas found a target and Mirages attacks. RZ's are still getting shot at when over flying Ongiva. Buccs didn't do much. One Can flew to tactical HQ to transport someone for a briefing on the first night strike. The Buccs departed at 2100B for the strike, 26/32 hits on target. 1979/03/09. At 0840B a Bucc took off for an ESM mission. More cockpit standby's for Mirages while Cessnas look for targets but now towards the west near Ruacana. By the afternoon one Cessna was getting shot at which led to more Mirage strikes on a camp and bunkers about 17 km west of Naulila. Troops and choppers were deployed to the east so there were no ground units participating in these strikes. 24 Squadron was supposed to leave but plans have changed. 1979/03/10. Mirages attack same target as previous day as Cessnas are reporting that the majority of the base is still undamaged. The Buccs remained at base. 1979/03/11. Mirages attacking the same camp as the day before, choppers are now flying troops in. RZ's fly a recce mission on Cahama and was getting intercepted by MiG's, the RZ's evade and the MiG's disappear, minutes later the MiG's appear on radar again right above the target area. 2x CZ's are scrambled to intercept them but the MiG's returned to Lubango. The Buccs remained at base. 1979/03/12. No CZ's flew, it was only cockpit standy's for them. RZ's flew to Mpacha but had to divert to Grootfontein on their way back due to bad weather. BAR-LOCK radar at Lubango was confirmed. Buccs remained at base. 1979/03/13. RZ's photograph a huge area covered in trenches a few km's south of Cahama. During the late afternoon Mirages attacked the location. Cans did not participate in this strike. The Buccs flew missions but I don't know if they participated with the Mirages or did their own thing on this day. 1979/03/14. 3x Buccs take off from Grootfontein at 0710B for a strike on Nova Catengue, they strike at 0815B followed by Cans which also took photographs for BDA. They flew past Lubango on their return without incident. The Buccs and Cans did another mission after their return joining the Mirages in a combined strike on the camp at Cahama photographed the previous day. Mirages went in first, marking the targets with rockets, followed by 4x Cans with 300 alpha bombs each, followed by the 4x Buccs with 8x 450 kg bombs each. A Canberra was lost 30 miles from the target (it did not immediately plummet to the ground as stated, the pilot was hit and killed, the aircraft was still flying with the navigator for a few minutes, explained in substantially more detail in the books I reference below). After landing it was discovered one of the Buccs was hit with small arms fire. Mirage III EZ's and D2Z's of 85 CFS departs to go back to Pietersburg. 1979/03/15. 4x Mirage F1 CZ's arrive. The Buccs return to Waterkloof and lands at 1630B. (I don't know the status or whereabouts of the Cans at this point) 1979/03/16. Shortly after 0800B the first two Mirage III CZ's depart to go back to Hoedspruit. They stopped at Grootfontein for fuel. The first formation landed at Hoedspruit at 1300B. (I don't have the perspectives of 12 Sqn and 85 CFS. 85 CFS was with 2 Squadron. It may be that the Cans of 12 Squadron participated in some of the attacks by the Mirages where I did not explicitly mention them, I just don't have any specific detail to say exactly if and when and where they participated other than what I have included. It was typical for the Buccs and Cans to hit the same targets. The details on 24 Squadron and the bit on 12 Squadron are referenced from the books written by Johan Conradie and Members of 24 Squadron titled "Buccaneers of 24 Squadron").

[@vorda400]

I have a feeling that we are living in these crazy times again

[@matthew1882]

Just a point to note; the second MiG21 shootdown in October 1982 is disputed. A Cuban pilot recently released an extensive book which claims that the MiG was damaged but survived the engagement. Rankin was also suspect about claiming the kill. Whether or not the MiG21 was destroyed is kind of up in the air but the South Africans definitely came off better in that particular engagement.

[@splean75]

Great video!

[@wk7337]

This is one your best videos yet!

[@danp5073]

Angola was pretty well subdued, they didn't defeat Portugal the other regions at war and political issues did

[@sulaak]

still a defeat

[@lourensjacobs9089]

Same outcome.

[@kosielandsberg9032]

Awesome video

[@andrewmorke]

Correction: Piercy was severely injured when his damaged F1CZ made a dead-stick landing.

[@christoduplessis8177]

The SADF was close to the best army in the world man to man at this time. Outmatched on equipment and fighting an insurgency war against superior numbers they overwhelmed the enemy and had their foot on the throat of the Angolans. Only international pressure prevented the sacking of Luanda.

[@sulaak]

Rubbish, they lost numerous wars to Angolans and Cuban forces.

[@christoduplessis8177]

@sulaak sit down and calm down. There was one war. Not numerous wars. There were numerous battles (a concept out of reach of your feeble mind), and all the main battles went to the SADF. An easy way to determine that is look at dead and wounded soldiers, and captured and destroyed armaments. The tally is so far to the side of the SADF it is laughable the other side even called themselves an army. Yes people died and skirmishes went both ways but tell me which major battle went the Angolan and Cuban way. I will wait for you to desperately Google a response. Tsek.

[@antoniedutoit3847]

@sulaak you don't know what you are talking about. The SADF was ranked as one of the top 6 armies in the world at that stage. I was there and we kicked butt.

[@lourensjacobs9089]

Yep that was the first time I questioned , the hole war story what are we doing here. 😊

[@lourensjacobs9089]

​@@sulaak if we were not stop by our own politics we would have cleared Africa!!!!

[@bremnersghost948]

@15:17, Smoke rocket took out the AA gunner, what's the odds on that? Bets the Pilot rarely had to buy his own beer after that lol

[@GodGunsGoverment]

Thank you for the Video.😊 Applaud the effort. ,💚❤️🇿🇦