Operation Wishbone
Operation Wishbone was a military operation in Angola during December 1980 by the South African Defence Force (SADF) and South African Air Force (SAAF) during the Angolan Civil War and South African Border War.
| Operation Wishbone | |
|---|---|
| Part of the South African Border War | |
| Location |   Ongiva Xangongo Operation Wishbone (Angola) |
| Planned by | SAAF |
| Objective | Air attack by the SAAF against a PLAN bases inside southern Angola. |
| Date | 19 December 1980 |
Background
The mission called for mid-level bombing attacks by the South African Air Force (SAAF) against SWAPO's PLAN bases in Angola at Oshiheng near Ongiva and Palele close to Xangongo.[1]:Chp6 Four formations of aircraft were assembled at either airbases at Grootfontein or Ondangwa in Namibia/South West Africa.[1]:Chp6 The aircraft formations consisted of either four Buccaneers or Mirage F1's and one lead aircraft, a Canberra bomber.[1]:Chp6 The Canberra bomber would signal when the bombs would be dropped on the target.[1]:Chp6 The operation took place 19 December 1980.[1]:Chp6
Aftermath
Intelligence gathered after the attack proved that the bombing at the height chosen had been inaccurate and that the PLAN bases were unoccupied during the attack..[1]:Chp6
References
- Lord, Dick (2012). From Fledgling to Eagle. The South African Airforce during the Border War. Solihull, England: Helion & Company. ISBN 9781908916624.
Further reading
- Lord, Dick (2012). From Fledgling to Eagle. The South African Airforce during the Border War (e-book). Solihull, England: Helion & Company. ISBN 9781908916624.
- Louw, Martin; Bouwer, Stefaan (1989). The South African Air Force at War. Melville: Chris van Rensburg. ISBN 0868460842.
- Steenkamp, Willem (1989). South Africa's border war, 1966-1989. Gibraltar: Ashanti Pub. ISBN 0620139676.