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Operation Vanity
Operation Vanity
Operation Vanity was a Rhodesian military operation in Angola with clandestine assistance from the South African
Defence Force (SADF) during the Rhodesian Bush War and South African Border War. The Rhodesian Air Force
planned a retaliatory raid against a ZIPRA camp in Angola after a second Air Rhodesia Viscount was shot down on
12 February 1979.[1]:157
6.1 Operation
In retaliation for the downing of a civilian airliner of Air Rhodesia, the Rhodesian Air Force (RhAF) planned a
bombing raid against a ZIPRA training camp situated nearby the town of Luso in Angola.[1]:157 There was said to
be 3000 ZIPRA soldiers based there as well as Cuban and East German advisors.[2]:Ch5 The Rhodesians were only
able to provide four Canberra bombers for the raid and required three additional aircraft which would be provided
clandestinely by the South African Air Force (SAAF).[2]:Chp5 Three SAAF Canberra bombers of 12 Squadron, under
the command of Major Hannes Bekker, were armed with Alpha bombs and took off around 18h15 from Air Force
Base Waterkloof, South Africa on 25 February 1979.[2]:Chp5 From there they flew northwards to the Victoria Falls
airfield in Rhodesia and landed after dark.[2]:Chp5 There the navigators planned the raid for the following morning.
The strike leader was Squadron Leader Chris Dixon, 5 Squadron Rhodesian Air Force, call-sign Green Leader.[2]:Chp5
Three SAAF and three RhAF were armed with 5 Alpha bombs each while the last Rhodesian Canberra bomber was
armed with six 1000lb bombs.[2]:Chp5
All seven bombers took off on 26 February 1979 at 06h30 with the target 600 nautical miles to the north-west.[2]:Chp5
Additional aircraft were provided in the form of one Dakota command and control aircraft and two Hawker Hunter
fighters.[2]:Chp5 Initially command passed to Flight Lieutenant Ted Brent due to radio problems but would return to
Chris Dixon later in the flight.[2]:Chp5 The flight headed over Zambia and then into Angola, dodging both countries
radars, towards the Benguela Railway west of Luso then turned east and followed it toward the town.[2]:Chp5[1]:157 By
this time they had formed into two formations of four and three bombers, line abreast, hitting a rainstorm which clear
up two minutes from the target.[2]:Chp5 The bombers, now line-abreast dropped to a height of 300ft so that the Alpha
bombs, a type of cluster bomb, would cover an area 300 by 1000 meters.[2]:Chp5 As they attacked, rows and rows of
bungalows could be seen by the pilots with no anti-aircraft fire received, nor vehicles seen nor anyone on the parade
ground, giving the pilots the impression of an empty camp.[2]:Chp5
6.2 Aftermath
Having attacked the target successfully, the bombers returned to Rhodesia, the SAAF bombers to Flyde near Hartley
while the RhAF bombers flew back to Victoria Falls with one 1000lb bomb before refueling and joining the SAAF
aircraft.[2]:Chp5 Photographic evidence captured by a SAAF bomber showed the camp was occupied and there were
anti-aircraft guns.[2]:Chp5 It was said 160 ZIPRA soldiers died and another 530 wounded.[1]:157
6.3. REFERENCES
[1] Moorcraft, Paul; McLaughlin, Peter (2011). The Rhodesian War. A Military History. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen &
Sword Military. ISBN 9781848845220.
[2] Lord, Dick (2012). From Fledging to Eagle. The South African Airforce during the Border War. Solihull, England: Helion
& Company. ISBN 9781908916624.
6.4 Further reading
• Lord, Dick (2012). From Fledging to Eagle. The South African Airforce during the Border War. (Kindle ed.).
Solihull, England: Helion & Company. ISBN 9781908916624.
• Moorcraft, Paul; McLaughlin, Peter (2011). The Rhodesian War. A Military History. (3rd ed.). Barnsley,
South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 9781848845220.