19 With a Bullet (22 page)

Operation
Protea
Captured Soviet-built FAPLA Tanks

vehicles

artillery and anti-aircraft pieces —a massive haul. FAPLA became the SADF’s supplier of preference.

Mirage 1,000lb bombs soften up Ongiva’s defences during the opening of Operation
Protea
.

Operation
Protea
. Captured Soviet BTRs and tanks.

A captured Soviet Gaz truck inside the FAPLA military base of Ongiva.

D Company was later returned to Ongiva to occupy the deserted town. In the initial operation the infantry had taken the town and the paras the air and military bases. Ongiva was to remain in South African hands until near the end of the war in 1989.

Vlak
4 takes five.

Training jump over the Caprivi.

The author with Paul Greef (
left
) prior to a training jump in Bloemfontein.